Skip to main content
institutional access

You are connecting from
Lake Geneva Public Library,
please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.

Published loading...Updated

Gov. Newsom expanded free preschool. Now private daycares say they can’t afford to stay open

  • This school year, California expanded transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds, with nearly 180,000 enrolled last year, reflecting rapid uptake.
  • Governor Gavin Newsom launched the TK expansion four years ago and committed billions to permanently expand universal preschool and early-childhood programs.
  • Private providers have been destabilized, with researchers documenting widespread preschool closures in Los Angeles County from 2020 to 2024.
  • Parents reported TK saved them a year of child care costs and better prepared children for school, but some families still face limited after-school care programs or distant seats, while working parents need alternative hours.
  • Analysts note UC Berkeley researchers show wealthier areas grew faster, while tens of thousands remain on child-care waitlists and subsidized slots, including over 20,000 families in Los Angeles County.
Insights by Ground AI

19 Articles

Daily BreezeDaily Breeze
+5 Reposted by 5 other sources
Center

California’s expanded, free pre-K means some private day cares will close

Parents who enrolled their children in TK say it’s saved them a year of child care costs — from $9,000 to $24,000 for that age.

Read Full Article
KPBSKPBS
+7 Reposted by 7 other sources

Newsom expanded free preschool. Now private daycares can’t afford to stay open

The governor tripled early childhood funding and expanded TK to all 4-year-olds. But preschools are closing, making infant care harder to find.

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

KPBS broke the news in on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal