• California has been awarded a $52.6 million federal Race to the Top (RTTT) Early Learning Challenge Grant. Separate from the regular RTTT program which is now in round 3, the Early Learning Challenge Grant will help more California children get good care and a good start at learning, which we know is key to their long-term success, at school and beyond.
  
  The grant will primarily fund local Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) being developed by Regional Leadership Consortia - voluntary groups of local First 5 commissions, county offices of education, and county governments. These Consortia will work with licensed child care programs, school districts, and child care partners. The local QRIS are meant to make information about the quality of child-care programs readily available to parents and policymakers though simple, independent, and publicly available ratings.
  
  Over time, the QRIS are expected to help improve the availability of high-quality, linguistically and culturally appropriate service to children with high needs. These include infants and toddlers, dual-language learners, and children with disabilities and other special needs.
  
  To win, states had to craft rating systems for their programs, appropriate standards and tests for young children, and clear expectations for what teachers should know. California was one of nine states receiving the grant.
  
  Read California Department of Education press release.