Early Childhood Education

Transitional kindergarten comes of age in California

Even as TK is set to become a real grade, just like any other K-12 grade, there are myriad challenges looming on the horizon, from finding qualified teachers amid a dire staffing shortage to how to ensure quality instruction and suitable facilities.

Two children, one with light skin tone and one with medium skin tone, are sitting on a mat listening to a person out of frame. There are other children out of focus in the background.

LAUSD preschool enrollment is up after changes to toilet training requirements

For the first time, some early education centers have waitlists. But the district still has many empty seats

A 3-year-old boy puts blue and green blocks into a plastic bag. There are also purple, yellow, orange, green, red and blue dinosaurs on the table.

Ruth Beaglehole, early childhood pioneer in LAUSD, dies

The advocate for nonviolent parenting and educator to decades of Angelenos was 81.

An older woman with light skin tone sits in front of a full bookcase. She holds up a piece of paper to the camera. The paper has a handwritten note that says "Mama/Papa understands, it's hard to not see friends."

San Francisco gave child care workers a massive raise. Is it a model for LA?

The city recently gave early childhood educators a huge salary boost. It's part of a strategy to attract and retain people in the job.

A small child with light skin and short brown hair partially pulled into a short pony tail on top of her head stands looking away from the camera. She wears a purple sweatshirt and black pants, and rests her arms on a small wooden table. To her right, a man with light skin and dark brown hair sits with his legs crossed, looking at the child. He wears a gray sweatshirt and black pants. He sits on a gray-blue rug. Behind him, there are a few small wooden chairs for children and windows that look out onto a brick wall. Colorful children's toys are under the table.

California is leading the country in public pre-K expansion, report finds

Enrollment in public preschool and transitional kindergarten increased by more than 35,000 children in the 2023-2024 school year. But potential elimination of Head Start threatens those gains

Preschoolers stand in a line at Field Elementary.

LA says it will no longer have money to run most of its free childcare centers

Los Angeles expanded childcare during the pandemic, but federal funding is running out. Parents are worried about what happens next.

A woman with a medium skin tone wearing a black shirt and blue pants stands in front of a glass door with ornate metal lining on either side. She rests her right arm on a gray stroller. A baby's feet and torso can be seen under the stroller. The woman wears black sunglasses on her head and has long dark brown hair.

California passed a law allowing new parents to apply early for paid leave. When will it take effect?

The state said the change from a 2024 law will be part of a larger overhaul of California's benefits system.

While parents participate in a movement class, postpartum doulas care for their newborn babies.

California needs transitional kindergarten teachers. Preschool teachers want in

California needs a lot more teachers and aides to fill transitional kindergarten classrooms, but advocates say early childhood educators who have the experience and desire to step into those jobs are deterred by the state’s credentialing system.

A woman with light brown skin stands between a series of bookshelves and holds up a children's book titled "How Rocket Learned to Read."

Child care costs more than college tuition, report says. Why is it so expensive?

California ranks fourth for most expensive child care in the country, according to a new report.

In this image, a teacher is shown feeding a child in the classroom.

Some childcare providers lost everything in the Eaton Fire. Why can't they get any relief money?

Almost two months after the L.A. fires, some childcare providers who lost their homes and businesses say they're not able to access the aid they've been told to apply for.

A woman with dark skin tone with hair in a tight bun wearing a purple shirt and glasses leans on the railing outside of a motel room as she looks out towards the parking lot below.

‘Medi-Cal is the worst thing I've ever done’: Doulas say state Medicaid program owes them thousands of dollars

Two years after Medi-Cal expanded to cover doulas, some say it's a fight to get reimbursed for their services.

A woman with a medium-dark skin tone and long, red braids stands in front of a one-story home. She wears a mustard yellow, patterned dress. There are green plants surrounding the home.

Newsom declines to extend childcare provider benefits, but does order state to offer phone support

With fire relief money now lapsed, Gov. Newsom has ordered the state to reach out to providers to take them through what other benefits might be available to them.

Three children with medium dark skin tone stand in front of a play kitchen in a sunny backyard with a blue and green mural in the background.

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