Early Childhood Education

Midwest promises new life to LA family living in car: 'We're willing to give California up'

As family housing resources shrink in L.A., one family has left what they know in California behind to start a life in the Midwest, where housing costs are vastly lower.

Listen 0:45

A young child with a dark blue and red striped shirt plays with wooden activity toy atop a blue steel dolly.

California needs thousands of teachers for its preschool program. Here's what it's like to be one

Some teachers are making the switch from private preschools to transitional kindergarten. Others come from upper grades. Many are needed.

Listen 3:50

A woman in a black shirt and medium-tone skin pinky shakes a boy wearing a large gray backpack. A door shows different cartoon images of greetings like a hug, wave and fist pump.

California's childcare sector is already fragile. Can it survive the next natural disaster?

Nearly a year after the fires, childcare providers say they need more help from the state to rebuild.

Listen 27:21

A blue and white swing set with green swings. Half the ground on the left side is covered in sand. The right side is covered in green fake grass. There are three swings on the swing set, but only the middle and right hand one are in tact. The swing on the left has just chains and no swing seat. The chains look charred. Behind the swing set, a children's red plastic truck is semi-melted. A tangle of other plastic colorful toys are behind it. Branches and ash is strewn across the ground.

California has free preschool for 4-year-olds. Higher-income families are driving enrollment

A new report finds enrollment in transitional kindergarten is rising in L.A. County, but community preschools are closing.

Listen 0:43

A student with light skin tone and black track pants and t-shirt picks up a wooden track. In the background, students with a variety of skin tones look at other parts of the track.

How an overloaded homelessness system left this LA family living in their car

L.A. County is proposing cuts to homeless services next year, at a time when families have already been struggling to find shelter. One family shares their story.

Listen 4:15

A pair of arms with light skin tone wrap around a small boy with light skin tone, who holds in his hands two toy cars. They sit on a bench next to a woman with light skin tone.

California schools now offer free preschool for 4-year-olds. Here's what kids really learn in it

California has made a new grade, transitional kindergarten, available for four-year-olds. LAist reporters spent a day in three schools to find out what students do in class.

Five small children laugh as they chase each other around a jungle gym, painted in primary colors.

Child-care providers struggle to start over in areas burned by LA fires

For family childcare providers who ran their daycares out their homes, it’s been hard to open back up months after the fire since they remain displaced.

Listen 3:36

A woman with medium dark skin tone and blue shirt looks to the distance in front of an empty dirt lot.

On Halloween, how can families keep LA’s little trick-or-treaters safe?

Most parents know the basics, but pediatricians have some quick and easy tips to keep your young children safe during Halloween.

several children are dressed in Halloween costumes including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, scarecrow, minion, Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman

Despite shutdown, WIC benefits for moms and kids continue — and you can still sign up

The California Department of Public Health, which administers WIC, says it has gotten additional funds from the USDA and expects “to remain fully operational through Nov. 30."