With all four-year-olds in California eligible for prekindergarten by the 2025-26 school year and State funding available for counties to plan for universal preschool for three-year-olds, communities across San Mateo County are actively preparing to expand high-quality early childhood education options to meet this increased demand. 

Research has consistently shown that quality early learning and care programs contribute to children’s overall healthy growth and development, strengthen families, and support the county’s economy as parents are able to more fully engage in the workforce. In San Mateo County, these programs are provided through a diverse delivery system that includes public and private schools, licensed child care centers, and licensed family child care homes, with each setting offering unique elements that support the needs of individual children and families. 

The San Mateo County Office of Education, First 5 San Mateo County, and the Child Care Coordinating Council administer Quality Counts, San Mateo County's quality rating and improvement system, which measures and guides quality improvement in early learning centers and family child care homes in the county. Quality Counts assesses programs using several measures, including teacher and director qualifications, program environment, and effective teacher-student interactions. Quality Counts also provides educators with coaching, professional development opportunities, and grants to improve sites and programs. Early childhood educators are also encouraged to join the California Early Care and Education Workforce Registry, which is designed to verify and track the employment, training, and education accomplishments of early childhood education teachers and providers, further promoting quality and safety.  

As San Mateo County expands learning options for its youngest residents, the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council, its partners, and the many early learning providers in the county will continue to support and provide high-quality programs and transparency so parents can feel confident with the option they select for their children.

For more information on the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council, please visit the Council's website.

Nancy Magee
San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools
Child Care Partnership Council Co-Chair

Dave Pine
San Mateo County Supervisor
Child Care Partnership Council Co-Chair

A printable version of this letter is also available.

October 12, 2022