"There were once so many children at Frisha Moore's Elk Grove preschool that families filled up the waitlist. Now, one of her playgrounds and two classrooms sit empty because one key group of kids has stopped coming. Dozens of families in recent years have opted not to enroll their 4-year-olds at Moore Learning Preschool & Child Care Center, she said. Instead, they're putting their children in transitional kindergarten, California's new public pre-kindergarten grade."
"Even though she provides a full day of preschool, compared with transitional kindergarten that lasts only about 3.5 hours, Moore can't compete: Public school is free. She hasn't broken even in months and thinks about closing the preschool, "every single day." That would remove 91 licensed child care spots from the county, including 20 for children under age 2, for whom child care options are particularly scarce."
"Transitional kindergarten's expansion is one of Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature educational achievements and a key part of his legacy on how California cares for its youngest residents. Early childhood advocates were delighted when he was sworn into office seven years ago, his arms around his scene-stealing 2-year-old son."
Transitional kindergarten expansion in California has led many families to enroll 4-year-olds in free public TK instead of private or nonprofit preschools. Private providers that offer full-day programs cannot compete with free part-day TK, causing significant enrollment declines and financial strain for centers such as Moore Learning Preschool & Child Care Center. One preschool faces possible closure, which would eliminate 91 licensed child care spots in the county, including 20 infant/toddler places. Governor Gavin Newsom has expanded TK and nearly tripled funding for subsidized child care and early childhood programs, but advocates note that some promises about universal preschool and access for working parents remain unfulfilled.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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