"This is a major expansion over the course of five years - it's historic," said Hanna Melnick, senior policy advisor at the Learning Policy Institute. Schools need additional space, supplies, teachers, and outreach to families. Progress varies by district and school.
"It's very exciting that California has prioritized early learning," Melnick said. "It's going to be messy no matter where you go to expand this quickly."
The most common reasons for not enrolling kids in TK were lack of before- or after-school care or distance from home. Some families opt out of public education altogether or wait until children are 6 years old to enroll.
"We knew coming from the pandemic that enrollment across the country has fallen in preschool everywhere," said Hanna Melnick. "We simply don't really know what's happening with a lot of families."
#transitional-kindergarten #parental-concerns #enrollment-challenges #early-learning #educational-expansion
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