Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

3 hours ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

3 hours ago

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

4 hours ago

US Construction Spending Dips in July

4 hours ago

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Law Redrawing Congressional Maps

4 days ago

US Air Force will Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

4 days ago

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

4 days ago

Minneapolis Children Revealed Courage, Absorbed Fear During Church Shooting

5 days ago
Preschools Lose Students as Transitional Kindergarten Expands in California
Anya gvwire profile photo (1)
By Anya Ellis
Published 7 months ago on
January 22, 2025

California’s implementation of universal transitional kindergarten has had adverse effects on preschool programs, new data shows.

Share

California’s implementation of universal transitional kindergarten has adversely affected already struggling preschool programs, which are attempting to adapt to the shifting marketplace.

A recent data snapshot from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley shows that preschool enrollment of all age groups fell during the pandemic and has only partially rebounded. Particularly, there has been a large reduction in enrolling 4-year-olds. Find the study here.

It is not certain that transitional kindergarten expansion is the leading cause of this due to its overlap with COVID-19. However, early education programs are suffering.

Universal TK in California

Gov. Gavin Newsom released California’s Master Plan for Early Education and Care in 2021, and it listed specific goals. One of them was providing 3- and 4-year-olds with access to high-quality learning. The state began phasing in universal TK and income-eligible preschools across the state.

In the governor’s 2025-26 school year budget, $2.4 billion was provided to fully implement universal TK for all children who turn four by Sept. of the school year. This provided access to about  60,000 additional students. Also, $1.5 billion was put toward lowering the average student-to-adult ratio in TK classrooms from 12:1 to 10:1.

To compensate for the majority of 4-year-olds now enrolling in TK, preschools have shifted efforts to signing up more 3-year-olds. In Fresno, preschools, often marketed as academies, are offering programs for children as young as 6 weeks old.

“It’s not just a matter of getting the right curricula, books, and furniture for the classroom—many educators who have built a career on teaching four-year-olds will have to adapt their teaching practice for a younger age group,” CSCCE says.

The CSCCE conducted an early educator survey in spring 2024 to gather information on this transition. The survey drew responses from 945 educators — 508 family child care providers and 437 center teaching staff.

The findings indicated that nearly 60% of center teachers, who are more accustomed to teaching 4-year-olds, would consider switching to 3-three-year-olds, but only 20% would want to teach infants or toddlers.

Early educators typically want to remain in their current programs, especially those teaching children under the age of three with 70% wanting to stay.

However, there is more uncertainty among teaching center staff. Fewer than half of teachers, working across all age groups, indicated they want to continue with their program. And, about half of the staffers don’t expect to be working in a center three years from now.

Need for Public Funding in Preschool

Preschool tuition is expensive and many parents can’t afford the high rates. Yet, early educators are some of the lowest-paid workers in the country.

According to CSCCE, turnover is incredibly high among early educators due to low wages and lackluster benefits.

Centers lack the resources to increase teacher pay, which results in a continued struggle to staff classrooms. These programs, which serve younger children, have smaller group sizes by law and are forced to raise prices to offset reductions in enrollment.

Brighten Academy, a preschool with multiple locations in Fresno and Clovis, charges $370 for a week (five days) of full-day care from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. That adds up to $1,480 per month. Additionally, there is a $75 initial registration fee and $48 materials fee.

Comparably, Clovis Unified charges $35 per half-day, which is three hours of preschool. This comes to $6,195 for a full school year. Additionally, the district offers a free program to those who meet financial requirements.

Preschools receive little to no state funding, relying on student tuition to cover expenses.

(Center for the Study of Child Care Employment – 2018)

“Family child care is not recognized as essential and is not treated with respect. It also barely pays the bills I have now, let alone when my child is going to high school or college. I need more stability and — heaven forbid — some benefits like health care and unemployment,” a family childcare provider from Contra Costa County told the CSCCE.

Educators are hoping California aligns opportunities with teacher aspirations, so there is a pathway for teaching infants to three and teaching TK. Preschool teachers can only be aides in TK classrooms if they enroll in a credential program. These experienced teachers are worried about losing their students and continuing to struggle financially.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Recognition of Palestinian State Would Spur Sprint Towards Two-State Solution, Envoy Says

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Celia Ann Santiago

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Attack DUI, Arrest More Than 100 Drivers in 3 Weeks

DON'T MISS

Republican US Senator Ernst Says She Won’t Seek Re-Election

DON'T MISS

Caleb Quick Update: Families of Victim, Getaway Driver Share Condolences

DON'T MISS

CA Law Silences Abuse Victims in Court. The Legislature Could Finally Change That

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Nab 11 DUI Suspects During Saturation Enforcement

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

DON'T MISS

US Issues Iran-Related Sanctions on Network of Shipping Companies, Vessels

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Celia Ann Santiago

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Attack DUI, Arrest More Than 100 Drivers in 3 Weeks

UP NEXT

Republican US Senator Ernst Says She Won’t Seek Re-Election

UP NEXT

Caleb Quick Update: Families of Victim, Getaway Driver Share Condolences

UP NEXT

CA Law Silences Abuse Victims in Court. The Legislature Could Finally Change That

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Nab 11 DUI Suspects During Saturation Enforcement

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

UP NEXT

US Issues Iran-Related Sanctions on Network of Shipping Companies, Vessels

UP NEXT

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

UP NEXT

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

Anya Ellis,
Multimedia Journalist
Anya Ellis began working for GV Wire in July 2023. The daughter of journalists, Anya is a Fresno native and Buchanan High School graduate. She attended University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 2024 with a degree in film and media studies. During her time at Cal, she studied abroad at Cambridge University and proceeded to backpack throughout Europe. Now, she is working to pursue a masters in screenwriting. You can contact Anya at anya.ellis@gvwirenews.kinsta.cloud.

Republican US Senator Ernst Says She Won’t Seek Re-Election

27 minutes ago

Caleb Quick Update: Families of Victim, Getaway Driver Share Condolences

46 minutes ago

CA Law Silences Abuse Victims in Court. The Legislature Could Finally Change That

2 hours ago

Fresno Police Nab 11 DUI Suspects During Saturation Enforcement

2 hours ago

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

3 hours ago

US Issues Iran-Related Sanctions on Network of Shipping Companies, Vessels

3 hours ago

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

3 hours ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

3 hours ago

Thousands of Israeli Reservists Report for Duty, as Military Chief Clashes With Ministers

3 hours ago

Vogue Appoints Chloe Malle to Succeed Anna Wintour as US Editorial Head

3 hours ago

Recognition of Palestinian State Would Spur Sprint Towards Two-State Solution, Envoy Says

LONDON — The recognition of a Palestinian state by leading Western nations will trigger a sprint towards a two-state solution, the head of t...

18 minutes ago

Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK Husam Zomlot speaks at an event in Chatham House, in London, Britain, September 2, 2025. (Reuters/Hannah McKay)
18 minutes ago

Recognition of Palestinian State Would Spur Sprint Towards Two-State Solution, Envoy Says

Celia Ann Santiago is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for September 2, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
23 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Celia Ann Santiago

23 minutes ago

Fresno Police Attack DUI, Arrest More Than 100 Drivers in 3 Weeks

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) walks to a policy luncheon meeting on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 15, 2025. (Reuters File)
27 minutes ago

Republican US Senator Ernst Says She Won’t Seek Re-Election

46 minutes ago

Caleb Quick Update: Families of Victim, Getaway Driver Share Condolences

San Diego Courtroom
2 hours ago

CA Law Silences Abuse Victims in Court. The Legislature Could Finally Change That

2 hours ago

Fresno Police Nab 11 DUI Suspects During Saturation Enforcement

3 hours ago

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend