About this episode

The episode discusses the struggles of childcare providers as parents opt for public transitional kindergarten for their four-year-olds.

For 27 years, Yolanda Thomas has run a childcare business called Best Beginnings in her home in Contra Costa County. She usually has children start with her as babies and stay until they’re in kindergarten. But in recent years, many parents are choosing to unenroll when their children are four and can attend public transitional kindergarten. Across California, childcare and preschool providers say the state’s expansion of transitional kindergarten for all four-year-olds is drawing students out of existing programs while offering little support to help providers adapt. Many providers like Yolanda Thomas say they feel left behind. Guests: Yolanda Thomas, childcare provider, Best Beginnings Betty Márquez Rosales, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California’s childcare and preschool providers struggle amid transitional kindergarten expansion Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

People in this episode

Hosts: Zaidee Stavely, Coby McDonald

Guests: Yolanda Thomas, Betty Márquez Rosales

Topics covered

• childcare
• transitional kindergarten
• education policy
• provider challenges
• California education

Keywords

• childcare
• transitional kindergarten
• California
• education
• providers
• enrollment
• Yolanda Thomas

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Best Beginnings, EdSource

Places: California, Contra Costa County

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