Assemblymember Alvarez Visits EveryChild CA Member, Educational Enrichment Systems

Assemblymember Alvarez Visits EveryChild CA Member, Educational Enrichment Systems Hilltop Child Development Center

When we think about legislators, we often picture someone working inside the State Capitol in Sacramento. For many Californians, that can feel far away from daily life. But what if the Legislature could come to you?

Legislators spend the first part of their week in Sacramento and return to their districts at the end of the week, and those district visits matter. They give elected officials the chance to move beyond policy discussions and see firsthand how state decisions affect children, families, and the providers who serve them.

That is exactly what happened when Assemblymember David Alvarez, Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, visited EveryChild California member Educational Enrichment Systems' Hilltop Child Development Center in his district. He came to see the work happening in his own community, and what he found left an impression.

As Assemblymember Alvarez walked through the outdoor learning space, he observed that it did not feel like a child care center. It felt like a sanctuary.

For providers across California, that comment captures what the work is really about. A strong child care or preschool program is more than a place where children spend the day. It is where children are known, supported, and encouraged. It is where teachers notice developmental needs early, help children practice new skills, and create the conditions for learning to happen naturally.

During the visit, the EES Hilltop team walked Assemblymember Alvarez through what it actually takes to build and sustain a high-quality early learning environment, trained and nurturing staff, thoughtful curriculum, appropriate ratios, developmental assessments, stable classrooms, and ongoing communication with families. Each of these elements matters. And each carries real costs.

The conversation also turned to the policy pressures facing community-based providers. EES Hilltop shared that TK expansion has shifted enrollment patterns, particularly as more four-year-olds transition out of center-based programs, leaving many providers now serving younger children who require smaller ratios and more intensive support. At the same time, costs for staffing, food, facilities, and insurance continue to rise.

The team clearly made the case for rate reform: if California wants high-quality programs that meet strong standards and provide stable care for families, reimbursement rates must reflect the real cost of providing that care. They also spoke to the importance of contract flexibility and how providers need the ability to meet families where they are as children grow, eligibility changes, and community needs shift.

By the end of the visit, Assemblymember Alvarez had not just toured classrooms and outdoor learning spaces. He had heard directly from the people who make those spaces possible, and seen the care, expertise, and real pressures behind the work. As the legislator who oversees education finance in the Assembly budget process, that kind of firsthand understanding matters.

Site visits like this bring early learning policy back to the place where it matters most: the classroom. They allow policymakers to see the children, teachers, and environments behind the budget numbers and program names.

EveryChild California is grateful to our member Celine and the EES Hilltop team for opening their doors and welcoming us into their program. We are also grateful to Assemblymember Alvarez for taking the time to visit, ask questions, and learn directly from providers, and for his continued commitment to understanding the ECE system from the ground up.

Interested in hosting a legislative visit? Our advocacy team is here to help you get started. Reach out to Alicia Hatfield, alicia@everychildca.org