The Unexpected Consequence of TK: Why Los Angeles County Preschools are Facing Closure
California’s Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programme,intended to provide a free year of schooling for four-year-olds,is having an unintended adn detrimental effect on the state’s preschool sector,particularly in Los Angeles County. A recent study revealed a decline in preschool enrollment, leading to financial strain and, ultimately, closures for some programs. The issue stems from TK effectively becoming a competitor to private and public preschools, rather then a complementary option.
The shift began noticeably before preschools started losing their older students, according to early childhood education advocate, Ilene Torres. “It has really put preschools and school districts as almost competitors, when really I think TK should have been just another option,” Torres stated.
While some preschools are attempting to adapt by expanding services to include infants and toddlers, significant hurdles remain. The state has increased payments to state preschools that care for younger children, but obtaining the necessary special health and safety license for infant and toddler care can take between six and twelve months, according to Nina Buthee, executive director of EveryChild California. New fire regulations for centers serving these age groups also add to the complexity.
Moreover, finding qualified staff is proving arduous. Buthee notes that infant care is a “declining specialty,” with many preschool teachers lacking the training or desire to work with babies. The financial realities also discourage expansion into infant and toddler care. Due to state-mandated teacher-to-child ratios - 12 preschoolers per teacher versus three infants or four toddlers – operating costs are considerably higher for younger children.Preschools often rely on tuition revenue from four-year-olds to “subsidize losses from fewer but costlier and resource-needy toddlers and babies.”
The challenges are impacting preschools directly. Annette Gladstone, owner of the Segray preschool program with locations in Eagle Rock and Thousand Oaks, currently has a waiting list for infants and toddlers but is struggling to enroll preschoolers. She has an empty classroom ready to accommodate younger children, but is hesitant due to the licensing process. “I would love to do it, but we just don’t love dealing with the process of what licensing puts you through, to be honest,” Gladstone said. As a result, she is tightening her budget and carefully monitoring spending on materials.
Experts predict the situation will worsen. Buthee believes more preschools will be forced to close as TK continues to expand. “We haven’t seen the full impact of this. Over the next year or so we will definitely see more programs closing.”
Assemblymember Jim Fuller acknowledged that the potential negative consequences for the child-care sector were likely not fully considered when the TK program was initially approved by the legislature. He described the situation as “a classic public policy case were the policy designers in government have a simple idea about implementation, but in fact, it unfolds in a much messier way.”
This article is part of The Times’ early childhood education initiative,focusing on the learning and progress of California children,from birth to age 5.for more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed.
