Early learning is the key

San Jose Mercury News: Wednesday was the deadline for states to apply for grants from the U.S. Education Department’s Early Learning Challenge, which aims to strengthen and expand access to preschool, particularly for low-income kids. California’s Education Department is preparing an application, but it’s unclear whether Gov. Jerry Brown will add his signature, which is required. He should.

The grant could bring California up to $100 million to improve access to preschool, licensing standards and teacher training. It could also be used to help design the state’s new pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds.

Early learning is perhaps the key component of any plan to improve educational outcomes over the long term. Kids who attend preschool start kindergarten ready to learn. Those who don’t are behind from Day One.

With budget cuts limiting preschool access for low-income kids, $100 million would make a big difference. Brown apparently has philosophical objections to the Obama administration’s education policies, but he needs to put them aside and apply for a grant.