2024 Annual Impact Report

The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC) works to give every child the best start in life and make our city a great place to raise a family. In 2024, we expanded access to early learning, strengthened family support, and celebrated a remarkable rebound in kindergarten readiness.
Read on to learn more about how DEC is making an impact.
A Note From Our Executive Director

As the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood embarks on another year, we continue to lead the nation in delivering transformative early childhood services.
This year, we are celebrating a remarkable milestone: a major rebound in kindergarten readiness for children entering school in San Francisco. Readiness scores are now 68% overall, the highest they’ve been in over a decade. We see improvements across all racial/ethnic groups and subgroups. As we continue to navigate national post-pandemic challenges, this progress reflects the impact of our collective investments in early education access, early educator compensation, social and emotional learning, and individualized early childhood programs.
We are thrilled to have more families participating in locally funded early care and education programs, family resource centers, and developmental screenings for the third straight year in a row. New initiatives like the Sparkler mobile app give families tools to help support their children’s development, while early educator wages have increased by as much as 47%, ensuring the vital early education workforce is recognized and supported.
Together, we are creating a foundation where every child in San Francisco can thrive. Thank you for your partnership in this critical work as we build on these successes and embrace the opportunities ahead.
—Ingrid Mezquita, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood
In FY 23-24 DEC invested...





in professional development and training
Our Impact by the Numbers
10%
increase in overall kindergarten readiness since 2021

7,882
children enrolled in free child care through Early Learning For All

34%
more children eligible for early learning financial support

30
child care sites added to the Early Learning For All network

16
new early learning facility developments were funded, creating space for 265 more children

3,007
educators received higher compensation, with increased wages as much as 47%, through the Workforce Compensation Initiative

5,706
children screened for developmental delays or special needs, a 23% increase from last year

11,254
children and families participated in parenting classes, playgroups, events, and other activities at Family Resource Centers
Our Impact on Kindergarten Readiness
Since the Department of Early Childhood launched, children are entering kindergarten significantly better prepared to succeed.

This is an exciting moment. Children are more likely to do well in kindergarten when they start school with the foundational skills they’ll need to succeed. But kindergarten readiness doesn’t stop there. It continues to benefit students all the way through high school graduation.
10%
overall increase in kindergarten readiness from 2021 to 2024
9%
increase in readiness among African American and Latino children
San Francisco is one of the only major cities in the country where kindergarten readiness data shows gains, and we are excited that the needle is moving quickly.
Kindergarten readiness now exceeds pre-pandemic levels in nearly all demographics. These increases will have lasting impacts on the success of San Francisco’s children.
Kindergarten Readiness of Entering SFUSD Students by Race/Ethnicity and Special Needs
No Data Found
A Race Equity Focus
Many factors contribute to children’s readiness for kindergarten, among them race, gender, home language, and family environment. Achieving equitable outcomes for all children requires intentional effort and dedication to race equity.
These gains in kindergarten readiness across all student populations reflect DEC’s steadfast dedication to breaking down barriers and creating an inclusive early childhood system that works for everyone.
DEC is deeply committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to the resources and support they need to thrive.
What is Kindergarten Readiness?
Kindergarten readiness tells us if a child has the skills they need to do well in kindergarten. During the first six weeks of each new school year, every incoming SFUSD kindergartener is assessed on key literacy skills, social-emotional learning, wellness, and early math skills.
By examining all these areas, we create a snapshot of each child’s readiness for the requirements of kindergarten.
Graphic adapted from Applied Survey Research

Kindergarten Academics

Self-Regulation

Social Expression

Self-Care and Motor Skills
Kindergarten Academics
Self-Regulation
Social Expression
Self-Care and Motor Skills
Why Increases In Kindergarten Readiness Matter
Getting children ready for kindergarten is like laying the first stone on a path to a bright future. Research shows that how prepared a child is for kindergarten can significantly impact how well they do in important outcomes including behavior, attendance, and academic performance, from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Children who start kindergarten ready are more likely to succeed, while those who start behind often struggle to catch up. By investing in our youngest learners right from the start, we can create a positive, lasting change for our children and our city.
Being fully ready for kindergarten makes a big difference in later grades.*
*Learn more in the full report, “Examining the K-12 Journey through
San Francisco Unified School District.”
Children who are ready for kindergarten:
Demonstrate higher scores in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math standardized tests
Are less likely to be suspended
Are more likely to graduate high school on time
How DEC Is Impacting Kindergarten Readiness
What sets San Francisco apart? Since 2022, DEC has developed initiatives that focus on the factors proven to contribute to kindergarten readiness. We are creating a unique “system of care” that strategically supports families and young children:

Financial support for families to help make high-quality early care and education accessible to all SF residents.

Early educator compensation, professional development, and quality supports that value our teaching workforce and equip them to deliver high-quality early learning experiences for children.

Child health screenings and consultations to ensure kids are healthy and ready to learn.

Family Resource Centers that connect families to vital support and resources.
This all-hands-on-deck approach makes San Francisco a standout city for kindergarten readiness. We’re not just measuring readiness—we’re making it happen!

Our Strategies
Over the past year, DEC has deepened its investments and expanded initiatives to support young children and the adults who care for them. By taking a multi-generational approach, we continue to strengthen families and amplify our impact across the community.
Explore DEC’s progress and the positive outcomes of our initiatives and investments below.

Historic Expansion to Early Learning Access & Participation
This year, more families than ever are eligible for free high quality early childhood education, thanks to DEC’s historic investment toward universal early learning access.

Targeted Facilities Expansion to Close Opportunity Gaps
DEC has been investing aggressively in highest priority neighborhoods to expand capacity where the most families overall, as well as the most families of color, live.

Grew Workforce Compensation & Quality Investments
The Workforce Compensation Initiative is a landmark pay increase, now supporting more early childhood educators than ever in both Centers and Family Child Care Programs.

Reaching More Families: Family Resource Centers
Family Resource Centers continued to increase the number of children and parents/caregivers served. Data shows that participation in Family Resource Center programs has a meaningful impact on family wellbeing.

Expanded Universal Developmental Screenings
DEC has prioritized expanding access to screenings through traditional screening locations and new partnerships. Screening rates have rebounded strongly since the pandemic.

Invested More in Our City’s Youngest Children than Ever Before
Our investments are not only historic, they are groundbreaking. San Francisco is investing more per capita in children 0-5 than any other municipality in the country!