Unforeseen competition: Los Angeles preschools shutting down while transitional kindergarten succeeds

Over the initial four years of Californias transitional kindergarten (TK) program, 167 community-based preschools in Los Angeles County were forced to close. The closures occurred as these centers faced declining enrollments and the financial challenges of expanding care to infants and toddlers, according to a new study from U.C. Berkeley.

Researchers described the shutdowns as unintended consequences of the states ambitious TK rollout, a flagship initiative of Governor Gavin Newsom offering universal public preschool to 4-year-olds. Families with younger children have been particularly affected, often scrambling to secure alternative daycare in an already strained system.

In some areas, TK has not strengthened the local child-care sector but instead appears to compete with community preschools. Neighborhoods with the fastest-growing TK enrollment also saw the most preschool closures. Bruce Fuller, UC Berkeley professor emeritus of education and public policy, co-authored the study and noted, TK seemed like a sparkling idea with very few negatives, but the downsides werent fully considered.

Before the pandemic in 2019, roughly 26,500 children were enrolled in TK across Los Angeles County public schools. By the 202425 school year, that number rose to about 39,500, a growth of approximately 13,000 students. However, this increase barely compensates for the 12,000 child-care spots lost due to preschool closures since 2020.

The study found that preschool closures from 2020 to 2024 totaled 167, compared to 92 closures between 2014 and 2019. While pandemic pressures and population shifts contributed, statistical analysis indicated TK expansion played a significant role. Some regions experienced a net loss of child-care slots despite TK growth. For instance, in Rolling Hills-Palos Verdes, TK added 152 students, but four preschools serving 316 children closed. In Northridge, TK enrollment grew by 96, yet three preschool closures eliminated 184 spaces.

The states TK plan encouraged preschools to compensate for the loss of 4-year-olds by taking on younger children, but licensed centers and family child-care homes in the county can only accommodate 13% of working parents with infants and toddlers. Many preschools faced obstacles, such as recruiting qualified teachers, upgrading aging facilities, navigating permit requirements, and handling tasks like diapering, which staff may resist.

Fuller explained, The good news is we are serving more 4-year-olds. The not-so-good news is it erodes community preschools capacity to serve younger children. State officials declined to comment on the study or TKs impact on local preschools.

The TK program now costs roughly $3.7 billion annually and is fully implemented, offering free enrollment for all 4-year-olds in California public schools.

The study also revealed disparities in enrollment growth. TK expansion was highest in affluent ZIP Codes like Palos Verdes and Brentwood-Westwood. Enrollment increased by 135% in wealthiest areas compared to 50% in the poorest. Fuller noted that lower-income families often already accessed free programs such as Head Start or state preschool, whereas upper-middle-class families saw the largest financial benefit from TK.

Local preschools report the impact firsthand. At Angelina Preschool in Los Angeles, 4-year-old enrollment dropped from 58 in 2023 to 49 in 2024 as families opted for TK. Jacqueline Torres, administrative director at Little Tokyo Service Center, said that community preschools were caught off guard by the TK rollout, leaving little time to adjust or expand care for younger children.

While some preschools successfully shifted to serve infants and toddlers with state support, many face licensing hurdles, new fire regulations, staff shortages, and financial challenges. Ratio requirements make infant and toddler care more costly, as a single teacher can handle far fewer young children than preschoolers.

Annette Gladstone, owner of Segray Preschool, described difficulties in enrolling preschoolers while managing waiting lists for infants and toddlers. The cumbersome licensing process has limited her ability to expand, prompting careful budgeting and resource management instead.

Experts warn that as TK continues to grow, more preschools may close. Fuller noted that the programs ripple effects on Californias child-care system were likely underestimated during legislative approval. Its a classic public policy case where a simple idea unfolds in a much messier way than expected, he said.

This article is part of the Los Angeles Times initiative on early childhood education, focusing on learning and development from birth to age five. For further information and updates, visit latimes.com/earlyed.

Author: Grace Ellison