By improving access, quality and provider reimbursement rates, this budget proposal would go a long way towards creating a stable and comprehensive care and education system that improves prospects for working families, and provides our youngest learners with the opportunity to thrive and succeed in the 21st century.

Many people I know and talk to about home visiting programs seem to think of them as a “nice to have” service. But these programs provide much more than words of encouragement.

Evidence-based home visiting programs have been found to reap long-term, positive effects for the children and parents enrolled. More than 20 states have established state plans and mechanisms to draw down federal Medicaid dollars to fund home visiting programs. California should join them, and distinguish itself as a state that values evidence-based programs that improve the economy and the healt

More than $1 billion in cuts made to California's child care and early education system since the Great Recession have not yet been restored. Although some important steps were taken to rebuild the system last year, it is still miles away from being what families need.

Ann O'Leary reflects on Next Generation's accomplishments and discusses what's next for the Children & Families program.

Economic equality, poverty, and child care advocates will join legislators at a press conference today to call for new policies that will help secure women’s economic empowerment in California, and benefit families and communities across the state.

A new report out today shows that just one in three California registered voters (36%) is aware of the state’s Paid Family Leave Program, a decrease from 43% observed in a similar Field Poll survey three years ago.

Supervisor David Chiu today announced the introduction of city-wide legislation that, if enacted, will give thousands of hourly workers in the city of San Francisco the predictable schedules—and regular pay—they need to secure their families’ well-being.

A major focus of the coverage during this week's Climate Week in New York was the costs of climate change to businesses and the dawning realization that advanced energy is increasingly a good economic bet.

Just as children’s minds are formed by what they read, so too is our national narrative formed by how our media frame and report the news. So reading really is fundamental - both to our kids, and to the health of our planet.

Today, Next Generation is releasing “Helping Hands: A Review of Home Visiting Programs in California” to highlight the importance of voluntary home visiting programs throughout our big, diverse state. In the coming months, Next Generation will continue to pursue a research agenda focused on home visiting, in collaboration with Children Now.

State elected officials, labor leaders, community advocates, parents and caregivers share research on the nation’s first paid family leave program and highlight the need for increased awareness among low-income, hourly and latino workers.

State elected officials, labor leaders, community advocates, parents and caregivers join together to celebrate the nation’s first Paid Family Leave program.

After months of planning, negotiation, and anticipation, Governor Brown’s signature last week on this year’s budget signals a new day for tens of thousands of families around the state.

In California, we like to lead. I’ve said it before. It’s an idea woven into the marrow of Next Generation, and this week it was proven true again.

California can and should take a stand on closing the word gap by investing in early learning and development.

In California, we’ve seen the positive impact Paid Family Leave has had on the well-being of families. That’s why I’m proud to be part of a growing state and national movement winning paid family leave and paid sick days for all workers.

We all know that one weather event can't be tied to climate change. But there is no doubt that we are in the grip of major climate change and likely seeing the “new normal” that we will face in California – increased heat, less precipitation, more wildfires, poor air quality, rising coastal waters – all of which will have a dramatic impact on major sectors of the state's economy.

The proposed legislation will support national and statewide efforts to encourage breastfeeding and care for ill family members.

Governor Brown’s 2014-2015 budget contains significant investments in schools, additional aid to children and families, and a healthy projected surplus for a state that has not seen such positive figures in years. Yet the Governor’s Budget Summary contains no language speaking to the need for increased investment in preschool, or early childhood education.

An expert review by some of California’s top economists has found that the oil industry has been inflating its projections of jobs that could be created by a potential new California oil boom.

International climate talks in Warsaw show modest progress. Colleges continue to wage divestment campaigns on oil and coal companies.

After 365 days, Hurricane Sandy may have receded from the collective consciousness, but for people who lived along the path of the hurricane, their lives, as they knew them, are over forever. This week we remember them and look forward to all the progress happening today, like California signing The Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy, an agreement with Oregon, Washington and British C

Clear lakes and powdery slopes power a massive $106 billion tourism sector in California. Lake Tahoe’s tourism sector alone furnishes 17,000 local jobs. But a lot of visitors leave the lake unaware that its clear waters—and the local economy they sustain—may be at risk from our changing climate.

The impact of Hurricane Sandy continues today and NY works to protect itself from future climate-driven disasters. Energy-related carbon dioxide pollution in the U.S. reaches its lowest levels since 1994.

Researchers at the Public Policy Institute of California and the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality have produced a new way of measuring poverty for the state, modeled after a similar federal effort. It's Called the California Poverty Measure, and it has a lot to tell us about the state of poverty in the Golden State.

While HealthCare.gov experiences technical glitches, state insurance-exchanges show signs of success. Children face challenges including the skyrocketing cost of asthma, the need for dental and vision care, and whooping cough.

San Francisco just became the first municipality in the country to pass a law providing working parents and caregivers the “right to request” flexible or predictable work schedules.

We’re now about as certain that climate change is real and man-made as we are that cigarettes kill. To take the analogy further, by not acting to curb climate change, we’re immersing the planet in a huge, inescapable cloud of second-hand smoke.

The IPCC gathers this week to approve parts of the 5th assessment report. The EPA issues regulations for new power plants, and Governor Brown signs CA SB 4.

California decision makers should ensure that any expansion of oil development in the state is consistent with existing rules aimed at reducing the pollution that causes climate change.

With elected officials and energy experts buzzing about the potential for a major boom in oil production from California’s Monterey Shale, little attention has been given to the risk that a new oil boom could undermine the state’s plans for addressing climate change.

Despite the claims by climate deniers that global warming is slowing down, evidence of the Earth’s rising temperature is ‘irrefutable’ and ‘alarming,’ to quote Secretary of State K

As the ACA unfolds, we will be watching, and writing about what this transition will mean for the millions of people in California who need health insurance and will soon be able to get it.

September 13 is the deadline for the California legislature to pass its final bills, and Sacramento is hopping.

Over 4,000 firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire, the 11th-largest wildfire in California history. Sen. Fran Pavley’s bill requiring oil and gas companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used during the fracking process is brewing a ‘Coca-Cola’ battle over trade secret protection.

Harvard professor Robert Stavins guest posts this week. Check out his latest essay on California’s cap-and-trade program, from his excellent blog, "An Economic View of the Environment."

The data from the Center for Disease Control demonstrating obesity rates dropping among low-income preschoolers has the First Lady strutting her stuff. The songs, “Veggie Luv” and “U R What You Eat,” are part of an album of hip-hop songs inspired by the “Let’s Move Campaign.”

Next Generation researcher Robert Collier investigates the risks of hydrofluoric acid, a chemical which may be the key to unlocking the Monterey Shale and developing its vast oil deposits.

Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, guest blogs this week on the evolution of Australia's climate strategy (guess who they're taking notes from).

Using Census data we mapped key indicators that affect a child’s life chances in California ZIP codes: poverty, educational attainment, health, and family structure.

President Obama has re-prioritized his domestic agenda and boldly will move on climate change. Interlocking policy efforts by the departments headed by Moniz, McCarthy and Jewell comprise an indispensable part of the White House strategy.

Acidizing is a powerful oil production technique that could lead to an oil boom in California's Monterey Shale, but little is known about its potential risks.

If you knew that offshore fracking was happening in California, you're one step ahead of state officials. There's tons more info our new report on the Monterey Shale.

New report from Next Generation highlights “acidizing,” little-known oil production method that could fuel California oil resurgence

Overweight kids may be consuming far more calories than their doctors or parents realize, but recent studies show efforts made by communities to make healthy foods available to kids register promising reductions in childhood obesity rates.

Three new reports directly address the fragile state of the planet. The first discloses that carbon emissions have already locked in 4 feet of future sea-level rise.

Extreme weather is picking up like Barry Bonds' home run average in 2001.

Sometimes we all need a reminder that we have the power, and agency, to do something about climate change.

News that matters to the Next Generation.

The horrific explosion at Lac-Megantic is unfortunately not an anomaly in the oil business. Despite this tragedy, though, there's also some hopeful news this week.

Students participating in the Alliance for Climate Education program put their knowledge into action, filming parts of their schools where physical repairs could improve energy efficiency, and student health.

News that matters to the Next Generation.

Limiting exposure to poor air is good for school budgets, and even better for kids' health, says a new study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Despite a surplus, state schools have unfunded energy retrofit projects that could save millions of dollars a year for underfunded schools.

News that matters to the Next Generation.

News that matters to the Next Generation.

California's budget surplus could help children in poverty, argues Ann O'Leary in this op-ed cross-posted from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Today's changes to health care and K-12 education funding are a step in the right direction, but won't matter much tomorrow without earlier and broader investments in kids.

CPI ran financing models and interviews at schools across the state to find out how to maximize Prop 39's impact on California schools.

15.4 billion barrels of oil in the Monterey Shale could set off a new black gold rush in California. Next Generation is exploring the implications for our state's economy and climate.

President Obama's pre-K funding plan would simply give money to states to educate their children locally. No government take overs, just easy cash.

The President's proposal to fund pre-K through an increased cigarette tax has already been proven to work and could effectively save money and lives. But there are still skeptics...

California's leadership on energy and climate is helping it build a special relationship with the world’s second-largest economy.

The $7 million school solar program in Salinas, where almost a third of children live in poverty, is an investment poised to return dividends for students.

Deciding which schools will benefit the most from Prop 39 funds is trickier than it sounds, but school bond history is a useful clue.

California has the nation's highest poverty rate according to new census data. In the face of such startling evidence, the state legislature can no longer ignore the problem.

Kate Gordon and Ann O'Leary respond to California Governor Jerry Brown's "State of the State" speech, January 24, 2013.

While California has not yet fully recovered from the Great Recession, the Governor is making good investments in health and education.

We applaud the energy and climate change components of Governor Brown’s new budget.

California's children are by far the most numerous victims of increased poverty across the state. One in five children in California lives in poverty; nearly half live either in poverty or perilously close to it. In an alarming twist, more than twice as many California children live in poverty as seniors – a fact that should give grandparents across the state pause.

New Report Finds 23% of California Kids Living At or Below Poverty Line; 30% of Hispanic Children Impacted; Fresno, Lake, Merced Counties Have Highest Rates

Prop 39 funds can produce savings and improve learning in California public schools.

Education is strongly linked not only to career success but to health- even more cause for concern about our high school dropout rate.

Investment in Solar Energy Creates Tens of Thousands of New Jobs and Spurs Significant Economic Growth in the Region; California Leads the Way, Accounting for a Quarter of Country’s Solar Workforce

When the perception and the reality of green jobs are so obviously aligned, it’s hard to see what the argument is about.