MCOE Early Education Launches Awareness Campaign on Early Learning Options

The Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) Early Education Department held a press conference on March 26 at the MCOE Downtown Center to provide an overview of the current early education landscape and announce the launch of the Universal PreKindergarden Campaign.

The campaign, which will include billboards, social media advertisements and commercials, will help raise awareness on the early education and early childhood care options available to families in Merced County. 

During the conference education leaders and partners spoke on the importance of investing in early education, providing multiple early care options and ensuring that families are aware of those options.

“Preschool is foundational, not optional,” said Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen. “High quality childcare needs to be available for every child in the county.”

MCOE Early Education Executive Director Rosa Barragan added that early education programs such as Transitional Kindergarten, preschool, Head Start and family child care are all important to ensure that families have choices.

The conference also included an overview of the early education workforce. “As we expand Universal PreKindergarten in Merced County, one of our priorities is building and sustaining a strong early education workforce,” MCOE Early Education Director Lorena Burrola said during the conference. Burrola continued to say that with the expansion comes an increased need for early educators. 

Tietjen added that 60 new teachers were recently recruited into the early education workforce. 

The conference also included talking points from First 5 of Merced County Executive Director Scott Waite and MCOE Governance and Community Support Manager Dr. Vanessa Mininger.