Overview
- California implemented free transitional kindergarten only at public schools, diverging from states that also fund seats at private centers.
- UC Berkeley reported that more than 150 preschools closed in Los Angeles County from 2020 to 2024, with TK expansion cited as a contributing factor.
- In LA County from 2021 to 2024, enrollment growth in the wealthiest areas was triple that in the poorest, reflecting uneven access to the free program.
- Private providers that offer wraparound and alternative-hour care report declining enrollment, reducing options for families who rely on longer schedules.
- Separately, districts face rising insurance premiums after a 2019 law expanded liability, leading to unfilled teacher vacancies, canceled renovations, and test score drops the year after $1 million‑plus settlements, with administrators urging policy guardrails.