Early Childhood Strategic Plan

A bold new strategic plan for San Francisco’s Department of Early Childhood (DEC) recognizes the critical need to invest in San Francisco’s culturally diverse youth to counter disparities in mental health, academic performance, and physical health. Research shows that kindergarten readiness is a key educational benchmark that leads to future success. Yet, Black, Latino, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous children face persistent inequities in health, social, and cognitive skills necessary for kindergarten readiness—and continued school success.

A grassroots innovative planning process put parents at the center of the conversation—because parents are the experts on their children and know what they need to thrive. MIG and the DEC facilitated discussions with Black, Monolingual Spanish speaking, and Monolingual Cantonese speaking cohorts, with each conversation led by a representative of the cohort’s ethnic and cultural background. Parents, providers, and partners highlighted to a need to advance racial equity across the system of care. Together, participants outlined a plan of action to make San Francisco a place where race is not a predictor for early childhood outcomes.

While parents affirmed that the City is already investing in the right services, through activities focused on racial equity and power sharing, participants identified missing links between the DEC’s current investments and preferred child development outcomes, pointing to a need to improve the user experience, accessibility, and delivery of all programs and services.

The resulting San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Strategic Plan 2023-2027 positions the Department of Early Childhood Education to make a holistic, lasting impact on early learning, child health, and family strength.