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Linda Jacobson
writer/editor
I am a writer and editor specializing in covering education and children's issues.
Articles
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For 20 years, First 5 has used the tobacco tax revenue to finance health, education and other programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. What have we learned?
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With an early-learning advocate now headed for the governor's office, the state's First 5 commissions say it's time to link pre-K and K-12 data to boost student success.
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As more states consider legalizing marijuana, California's First 5 agencies are on the forefront of educating the public about the impacts during pregnancy and in homes with young children.
The story was produced as a project for USC Annenberg's 2018 National Fellowship.
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As revenue declines from one 'sin tax,' California considers tapping another for children's programs
Taxes on recreational marijuana "won't be a panacea," one First 5 official said, but advocates still hope they'll be directed toward early intervention and education.
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Topics
The impact of the First 5 initiative, spearheaded by actor-director Rob Reiner, is complicated to measure because of the lack of longitudinal data.
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Topics
The story was produced as a project for USC Annenberg's 2018 National Fellowship.
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First 5 supports a host of different programs. That can make it difficult to assess what kind of impact the spending has made over the years, observers say.