San Francisco’s universal preschool system draws attention across California

A recent report recognizes San Francisco as a leading example in developing a universal preschool system that meets the diverse needs of families across the city.

Published by the Learning Policy Institute, Universal Preschool in California: Promising Practices for Mixed Delivery Systems arrives at a pivotal moment as California undertakes a significant expansion of Transitional Kindergarten and increases its investment in early learning. The report highlights San Francisco’s mixed-delivery system as a model for other communities seeking to strengthen their own early childhood infrastructure.

San Francisco’s approach to universal preschool offers families a broad array of choices, including child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start, and public school programs. By providing this range of options, the city ensures that families can select early learning environments that best align with their unique needs and circumstances.

At a March briefing in Sacramento, Ingrid Mezquita, Director of the Department of Early Childhood, described San Francisco’s ongoing efforts to bridge the preschool and child care systems. She traced the origins of this work to the Preschool for All initiative, launched in 2004, which laid the foundation for the current Early Learning For All strategy. Mezquita also emphasized the enduring partnership with SFUSD, which remains central to the city’s collaborative approach to early childhood education.

By establishing early childhood as a sustained, long-term priority, San Francisco has fundamentally shaped its approach to serving young children and families. The creation of a dedicated agency, coupled with a comprehensive strategic plan and policy agenda, reflects the city’s commitment to ensuring that every child enters kindergarten fully prepared to succeed from the very first day.

Significant effort has gone into streamlining the process for families to access information about available programs and to navigate the application process. Families can connect with resources at community events such as the City Kids Family Fair and SFUSD’s Enrollment Fair, or use Early Learning SF’s universal application to search for programs and receive assistance with the cost of care. The overarching goal is to ensure that families have multiple, accessible pathways to the information and support they need.

The report further notes that San Francisco has established shared quality standards across the Early Learning for All network. To support programs in meeting these standards, the city provides a range of resources, including training, coaching, technical assistance, and shared tools. These supports are designed to foster continuous improvement and ensure that programs are well-equipped to serve families effectively.

A central focus of San Francisco’s strategy is supporting early educators. With the passage of Baby Prop C, the city has been able to provide sustained funding dedicated to increasing teacher compensation and expanding professional development opportunities. The report highlights that San Francisco is unique in California for both raising teacher qualifications and ensuring that educators receive a living wage at scale. This achievement is a point of pride and a cornerstone of efforts to build and retain a highly qualified early learning workforce.

As Transitional Kindergarten expands, San Francisco remains committed to strengthening care for infants and toddlers. Nearly all 3- and 4-year-olds in San Francisco are already enrolled in preschool across the mixed-delivery system, and Prop C funding is being used to help providers enhance facilities, broaden the range of services, and offer targeted support to educators working with the city’s youngest children.

According to Mezquita, the city will continue its efforts to close the school readiness gap by expanding eligibility for subsidies, increasing the availability of infant and toddler spaces, supporting educators who serve the most vulnerable children, and strengthening early identification of developmental delays.

San Francisco’s universal preschool system is the result of years of collaboration among community organizations, early learning providers, and SFUSD. The shared goal remains to ensure that every young child in the city receives the strong foundation they need to thrive.