Overview

California is witnessing a significant increase in enrollment in transitional kindergarten (TK) even as public school enrollment declines. This surge, however, has led to the closure of hundreds of community-based preschools, exacerbating the shortage of licensed childcare for children under four years old.

Research indicates that approximately 1,100 preschools have closed since 2019, impacting the availability of childcare spaces and potentially raising costs for families. Experts express concern over the long-term implications of these closures on early childhood education.

Key details

  • Enrollment in transitional kindergarten has risen from nearly 117,000 students in the 2022-23 school year to 213,000 students in the current year.
  • About 1,100 community-based preschools have closed in California, accounting for nearly 10% of the total preschools.
  • These closures have eliminated licensed care for around 32,000 young children.
  • Experts warn that the closures may lead to increased childcare costs in a state where infant care averages over $20,000 annually.
  • Bruce Fuller, an education professor at UC Berkeley, stated that many of these centers are unlikely to reopen.
  • Policymakers aimed to create a universal pre-kindergarten program to alleviate pressure on preschools, but the unintended consequence has been the loss of community-based centers.
  • State leaders had hoped that TK would free up space for 3-year-olds in preschools, but less than one-third of 3-year-olds are currently enrolled in any preschool program.
  • The California State Preschool Program is making progress in enrolling 3-year-olds, but at a slower rate than TK.
  • Assemblymember Corey Jackson emphasized the need to learn from the pandemic's impact on community infrastructure for childcare.
  • Community preschools have warned that losing 4-year-olds to TK could threaten their financial viability due to differing teacher-to-child ratios.
  • Tuition from older children helps support the cost of caring for infants and toddlers in these centers.
  • High-quality preschool education is particularly beneficial for children from low-income households.

Context

The closures of community-based preschools come in the wake of a significant policy shift aimed at expanding access to early education through a large-scale TK initiative. This initiative, while increasing TK enrollment, has inadvertently strained the existing preschool infrastructure.

What happens next

Legislators are currently negotiating the state budget and are aware of the challenges faced by community preschools. They are exploring solutions to address the impact of TK on these programs and the broader implications for childcare availability.

What we don't know yet

Details on specific legislative measures being considered to support community preschools and the timeline for any potential changes are not confirmed.