Kindergarten

February 10, 2023

The pandemic fueled a public school exodus, study says

Disruptions wrought by the pandemic may be leading the education world toward a watershed moment, some say, a time to rebuild the critical connection between families and schools.

Karen D'Souza

September 26, 2022

Governor vetoes full-day and mandatory kindergarten bills

California won’t be making kindergarten mandatory or extending the kindergarten school day any time soon.

Zaidee Stavely

May 20, 2022

Should kindergarten change in California?

Children from low-income families often start school with fewer academic skills than their more affluent peers, experts say, an issue exacerbated by the pandemic.

Karen D'Souza

May 25, 2021

How parents can prepare kids for 1st grade post-pandemic

With distance learning struggles, it’s likely children might need to play catch-up this summer before heading into 1st grade in the fall.

Karen D'Souza

April 23, 2021

Where are California's 60,000 missing kindergartners? Also, surprise change in leadership at L.A. Unified

Surprise change in leadership at L.A. Unified, we discuss what's behind it. Missing kindergartners account for the biggest state enrollment drop in 20 years; we ask what's next.

EdSource staff

April 22, 2021

Missing kindergartners drive largest drop in 20 years in California's K-12 enrollment

Causes for the slide in enrollment are myriad, complicated by existing trends including declining birthrates and people's continued exodus from the state, as well as the sudden economic chaos wrought by the pandemic.

Karen D'Souza, John Fensterwald, And Daniel J. Willis

April 13, 2021

Los Angeles Unified reopens for in-person learning

Los Angeles Unified, the state's largest district, reopened for in-person learning amid ongoing lawsuits from parents pushing for a full reopening.

Betty Márquez Rosales

March 24, 2021

What are California teachers seeing as the early grades go back to school?

After being apart from each other for so long, children may need to be retrained on how to socialize before they can be ready to learn. 

Karen D'Souza

March 3, 2021

Should kindergarten be mandatory in California? 

Without kindergarten to help build critical skills in reading and math, some students may fall behind.

Karen D'Souza

February 18, 2021

How will expanded transitional kindergarten roll out?

Early childhood advocates applaud any increase in access to early education, which many see as critical to closing achievement gaps.

Karen D'Souza

January 28, 2021

What happens to children who missed kindergarten during Covid-19 crisis?

While many students have likely suffered learning loss during the global health crisis, it may have a greater impact on incoming first-graders.

Karen D'Souza

September 15, 2020

Fearing distance learning, many parents opt for preschool instead of kindergarten

Some parents are also opting for preschool because a more familiar environment offers comfort during the pandemic.

Zaidee Stavely

October 15, 2019

Full-day kindergarten, STEM seal, Laotian history are among Gov. Newsom’s final vetoes

Here are a half-dozen K-12 and early education bills that the governor vetoed or signed on the last day crunch — and why.

John Fensterwald

September 16, 2019

Full-day kindergarten could soon be required in every California school

If the bill is approved, California will join 14 other states and the District of Columbia in requiring districts to offer full-day kindergarten.

Zaidee Stavely

April 25, 2019

More funding for full-day kindergarten questioned as many low-income California schools already offer it

Researchers say the greatest need in low-income communities is for programs serving children under 5 years old, such as preschool and transitional kindergarten.

Zaidee Stavely