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California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD)

URL: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd

On September 18, 2018 the California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division (CDE/ELCD), formerly the Early Education and Support Division, announced its new name and the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan (PDF). The new name captures their role in supporting a mixed-delivery system that incorporates multiple funding streams and supports children birth through age 12. The ELCD’s vision is that, “All California’s children have a strong early learning and care foundation, supporting the whole child and school and lifelong success.” Its mission is to “Lead an innovative, inclusive, and high-performing early learning and care system by advancing equitable opportunities that optimize thriving children, families, and communities.”

Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD) Resources page on the CDE Website

Re-Opening: Updated Guidance for Child Care Programs and Providers

  • Additional Resources from ELCD

    • Access to Inclusive Early Learning and Care Programs for Students with Disabilities May 2019
      This letter from the California Department of Education reaffirms expectations for access to inclusive early learning and care programs for students with disabilities in California. As California continues to pursue a system of education that adequately addresses the needs of each and every student in the least restrictive environment (LRE), providing access to inclusive early learning opportunities for students with disabilities is fundamental.
    • California Department of Education Streaming Video Collection May 2019
      The Early Learning and Care Division launched the California Department of Education Streaming Video Collection, an online streaming video subscription service. Users may now access the companion videos for California’s educational resources on one simple platform.
    • Resources for Homeless Children and Youths
      Resources related to homeless students’ rights to enroll and participate fully in school.
    • Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant Implementation (RTT-ELC)
    • Child Care Funding Testimony by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
    • California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan Resources (CCELP)
    • California’s Early Care and Education Training Portal
      Assists you to locate:
      • Professional development programs funded by California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division
      • Some ECE and child development public college online coursework
      • Health and safety trainings.
    • California Early Childhood Online (CECO)
      To support early childhood teachers, the California Early Learning and Development System provides an integrated set of resources based on state-of-the-art information for early learning and development and best practices in early education. The courses provided on the California Early Childhood Online (CECO) Web site enable teachers to increase content knowledge and ability to provide developmentally appropriate experiences for children in their care. Meeting the developmental needs of young children and their families requires a comprehensive approach. CECO provides access to comprehensive resources and courses in one centralized location to meet the ever-changing needs of the early childhood field.
    • All About Young Children
      The ELCD is pleased to announce the online publication All About Young Children: Information for Families on Children’s Early Development. This publication provides resources for families based on the California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations and the California Preschool Learning Foundations. It is now available at http://allaboutyoungchildren.org. This website presents information for families that focuses on key infant/toddler learning and development foundations and preschool learning foundations and includes discussion about those foundations by groups of parents.
    • Early Childhood Educator Competencies Videos
      The California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Competencies describe the knowledge, skills and dispositions that early childhood educators need in order to provide high quality care and education to young children and their families.
    • Family Engagement Framework
    • Bridges 2014 E-Journal
      This issue of Bridges will focus on the California Collaborative on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CA CSEFEL), which promotes the social–emotional development and school readiness of young children from birth to age five.
    • Seeds of Partnership
      Seeds of Partnership assists special educators, administrators, staff, and families involved in programs for children with disabilities. We aim to create or provide avenues and tools to increase improvement of partnerships, provide professional development resources, and tools that will assist LEAs seeking to improve their family engagement program practices and educational outcomes. This project is funded by the California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division (SED) and is under the auspices of the Sacramento County Office of Education.