Press Release

AFT Project Receives Grant to Promote Early Childhood Education Center for the Child Care Workforce and the California Federation of Teachers Join Effort to Build Support for Universal Preschool in California

Washington, D.C. — The David and Lucile Packard Foundation awarded a planning grant to the Center for Child Care Workforce, A Project of the American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation (CCW/AFTEF). In partnership with the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), CCW/AFTEF will use the grant to increase understanding and promote support among CFT members for California’s Preschool for All initiative that promotes universal, voluntary preschool for all 3- and 4-year old children.

“This project exemplifies why CCW teamed up with the AFT -- to engage educators at all levels as well as organized labor to lead the charge for early childhood programs that include a highly-qualified and well-compensated cadre of early childhood teachers,” said Marci Young, CCW/AFTEF’s director.

The joint effort is the first project between an AFT state federation and CCW/AFTEF since the early childhood education group became part of the AFT Educational Foundation in 2002. Together, CCW/AFTEF and the CFT will use the grant to create a comprehensive communications and outreach plan to encourage union members to participate in California’s Preschool for All efforts. Once created, the plan will be submitted to Packard Foundation for consideration for an implementation grant.

“CFT is thrilled to join the Preschool for All effort,” said CFT president Mary Bergan. “Working with CCW/AFTEF will help us to engage and mobilize our members and the labor community to make universal preschool a reality in California.”

The AFT represents more than 1.2 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel, higher education faculty, nurses, healthcare workers, and federal, state and local government employees.