First of its Kind Longitudinal Study Reaffirms DEC’s Investments to Support Kindergarten Readiness
![5 children ranging in age and height stand from tallest to shortest left to right in front of classroom chalk board](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Longitudinal-Study.png)
A new study that followed San Francisco Unified School District students from the time they entered kindergarten until they turned eighteen, demonstrates the critical importance of investing in children and […]
In 2023, DEC Made San Francisco an Even Better Place for Families
![close up on happy toddler and children outside at street festival](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/impactReport_post-1024x713.jpg)
This year, we changed the game for parents in our city. Our new strategic plan, published this year, set the stage for lots of innovative and impactful new initiatives to […]
SF’s Workforce Compensation Initiative Provides a Blueprint for Other Cities
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DEC’s Workforce Compensation initiative is providing a blueprint for other cities looking to increase early educator compensation! In a recent report from Bank Street College of Education, Paths Forward to […]
Early Intervention and Specialized Services System of Care Request for Grant Applications is Now Open!
![Young children playing outside on picnic blanket](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SFDEC-EISS-RFGA24-01.jpg)
The Department of Early Childhood is guided by long-standing research, which shows that the first five years are a critical time of growth and development for young children. Thus, it […]
Family Resource Center Request For Grant Applications is Open!
![woman smiling and holding infant outside](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GoodSam1-113-1024x683.jpg)
It is with excitement and gratitude that the Department of Early Childhood (DEC) announces the launch of the fourth funding cycle for the Family Resource Center Initiative and this corresponding […]
Connecting to SF Families: DEC’s Weekend of Family Engagement around the City
![two women standing with balloons at a table with a DEC tablecloth on it in a park](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/image_6487327-1.jpg)
If you were strolling through San Francisco this weekend, you may have seen DEC’s table. We were out and about, getting to know the children and parents in three of […]
A Brighter Future for San Francisco’s Children: Early Education Milestones and Aspirations
![elementary aged boy reaching his arm up through bubbles blown on crowded street](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/210_230428_NN_2199-1-1024x682.jpg)
Every half-decade, the San Francisco Child Care Planning and Advisory Council (CPAC), in partnership with the Department of Early Childhood (DEC), undertakes a significant endeavor: crafting a comprehensive needs assessment […]
Expanding Access to Quality Child Care in San Francisco: Financial Support for Early Learning Programs
![mother holding a baby with father and toddle child sitting on park bench](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_1411-1024x683.jpg)
San Francisco has always been at the forefront when it comes to prioritizing early childhood education and ensuring that every child has access to high-quality care. In a remarkable move, […]
Making Magic at the First Annual SFQC Infant/Toddler Conference
![woman reading book to toddler in a child care setting](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6-f5-0056.jpg)
Over 100 early childhood educators, coaches, and consultants gathered on June 9 and 10 for San Francisco’s first infant/toddler conference, hosted by DEC and WestEd. The event, Pathways to Security, […]
The Fun Has Just Begun: DEC’s Family Resource Centers Celebrated SF’s Week of the Young Child
![preschool aged child playing outside](https://sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DSC_2615-1024x683.jpg)
Every year during the first week of April, communities across the nation celebrate the Week of the Young Child to honor and uplift the importance of early learning, young children, […]