Transitional kindergarten enrollment in California doubled from about 75,465 in 2021–22 to 151,491 in 2023–24 as eligibility expanded toward all 4-year-olds¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2024 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? TK enrollment doubled in the 2 years since 2021–22, rising from 75,465 children (64% of the eligible population) to 151,491 (59%), driven by expanding eligibility. → Melnick 2024

Evidence¶

Melnick 2024¶

Melnick, H., & García, E. (2024). Progressing toward universal prekindergarten in California [Brief]. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/progressing-toward-universal-prekindergarten-california

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Analysis of California Department of Education TK enrollment data and Census population estimates for 2019–20 to 2023–24. The brief reports enrollment "rose to 151,491 (59% of the eligible population)" in 2023–24, up from 75,465 in 2021–22, with eligibility expansion as a stated influence.

"Enrollment in TK has doubled in the 2 years since 2021–22, influenced by the fact that more children are becoming eligible. In 2022–23, 116,898 children enrolled in TK (62% of the eligible population). By 2023–24, enrollment rose to 151,491 (59% of the eligible population)."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Including subsidized child care, California enrolled about 37% of all 4-year-olds in publicly funded early childhood programs in 2019–20 and 55% in 2023–24 — related
• Combined enrollment in TK, CSPP, and Head Start raised California's coverage of all 4-year-olds from about 34% in 2019–20 to 50% in 2023–24 — related
• TK enrollment grew from 88,883 children in 2019–20 to 151,491 in 2023–24, while the share of eligible 4-year-olds enrolled declined to 59% — related
• The proportion of eligible 4-year-olds enrolled in TK declined from 64% in 2021–22 to 59% in 2023–24 because eligibility grew faster than enrollment — related
• TK enrollment in California grew substantially during expansion while the share of eligible 4-year-olds enrolled declined from 65% to 55% — related