The expansion of California’s free transitional kindergarten program, a signature achievement of Governor Gavin Newsom, has led to significant increases in public preschool access. While parents report substantial savings and improved early childhood education for their 4-year-olds, the program’s growth has inadvertently destabilized the private child care sector, leading to closures and reduced availability of care for younger children. This unintended consequence raises questions about the sustainability of the private sector and the long-term availability of child care options for all families.
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New Mexico’s groundbreaking initiative to provide free childcare to most families, funded by a combination of pandemic relief, the Early Childhood Trust Fund, and a portion of the Land Grant Permanent Fund, has dramatically impacted families and early childhood educators. This program, expanding eligibility to families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, has significantly reduced poverty rates and improved child wellbeing, even amidst historically low median household incomes. Simultaneously increasing wages for childcare workers has lifted many out of poverty, creating a positive ripple effect across the state’s economy. While long-term impacts are still unfolding, early results indicate a substantial return on investment in human capital.
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John Q. Hosedrinker