California has been cutting programs not adding new ideas, but it clearly wants to add early learning work because it’s a major element of the state’s bid for some of $4.35 billion in fresh federal education reform dollars, according to California Progress Report.

… California mentions early learning repeatedly throughout its 129-page application – a recognition that early learning programs play an important role in making the state competitive for a share of the funds. -- “Early Learning Key Part of Race to the Top Education Reform Conversation.”

In its request for billions of Race to the Top dollars, Cali also appeared to endorse PreK-3rd – a movement to better integrate early learning with the first grades of school, Catherine Atkin, president of the non-profit Preschool California, wrote.

…Among the 800 local educational agencies that signed agreements to address each of the Race to the Top reform areas, nearly a third also committed to improving the quality of early childhood education by helping students make better transitions between preschool and kindergarten, a voluntary element of the agreements.

(Check out the relatively short article. It is worth a few minutes.)

Obama Update: I didn’t hear a lot about early learning in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. In fact, I didn’t hear anything until roughly 34 minutes into his speech, when he mentioned his plan to nearly double the child care tax credit.

Don’t Forget English Language Learners: I came across a set of researchers’ ideas on Twitter about how to use economic stimulus funds to help English language learners. There is a section devoted to Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant towards the end.