Education executive and preschool advocate Celia Ayala has been appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California Early Learning Quality Improvement System Advisory Committee.
Ayala, 54, chief operating officer of Los Angeles Universal Preschool, has worked for more than 30 years as a teacher, administrator and advocate for the children of Southern California. She has sought to expand educational opportunities for children during early stages of life.
As part of the committee, Ayala, featured as one of Hispanic Business' 100 Most Influential Hispanics in 2008, will recommend a state Early Learning Quality Improvement System. This system will develop policy and a plan for improving the quality of early education programs throughout the state. For example, it will include a rating scale to help parents make educated decisions on preschool programs for their children.
The advisory panel will also assess and analyze California's existing early care and education infrastructure. Other issues that may be studied are teacher compensation and qualifications; and group size and ratios. The committee will offer an interim report to the Legislature and Schwarzenegger by Dec. 31, and will complete a final report one year later. The post does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary.
"Research confirms the social and economic benefits of early education for children and families as well as society," Ayala said. "Children who attend effective preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten. They have stronger language skills in the first years of elementary school, and they are less likely to repeat a grade or drop out of school. These benefits are especially evident for low-income children and English-language learners."
Since 2007, Ayala has served as chief operating officer of Los Angeles Universal Preschool. LAUP, created in 2004, is an independent, public benefit corporation dedicated to making voluntary, high-quality preschool available to every 4-year-old in Los Angeles County. It serves as a model for universal preschool systems statewide and across the nation.
