The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is opening enrollment for its subsidized preschool programs to higher-income families, seeking to fill thousands of vacant spots in its early education centers. The district, which operates over 80 preschools for children ages 2 to 4, has been struggling with low enrollment since the pandemic and the expansion of transitional kindergarten for 4-year-olds.
Dean Tagawa, head of LAUSD’s Early Childhood Education Division, explained that the district has been operating at about 70% capacity, leaving around 3,000 preschool slots unfilled. In response, the district is now inviting families, regardless of income, to enroll their children.
“This shift to include more families who may not have qualified in the past is a great opportunity,” said Tagawa. “It allows us to offer more services to more children.”
The move is a significant expansion of the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), which has traditionally prioritized low-income families. This change is expected to benefit families just above the income cutoff, potentially saving them thousands of dollars compared to private preschool costs.
Under the new policy, a family of four with an annual income of over $500,000 could pay less than $400 a month for preschool, while a family earning $144,000 annually might pay about $93 a month. For many families, the cost of LAUSD preschool is a fraction of the $2,000 or more charged by private institutions.
Nick Melvoin, a member of the LAUSD school board, pointed out that many local families previously ineligible for subsidized preschool have found private options too expensive. “It’s $400 a month versus $2,000 to $3,000 a month,” he said, encouraging families to take advantage of the new opportunity.
State Guidelines and Enrollment Priorities
The California State Preschool Program, established in 1965, serves low-income families and is managed by the California Department of Education, which works with over 600 districts and nonprofit organizations statewide. The program prioritizes families based on income, aid eligibility, and other factors such as children at risk of neglect or those with special needs.
In situations where districts are under-enrolled, like in LAUSD, state guidelines allow schools to extend enrollment to families beyond the usual income limits. Tagawa explained that this change would only be possible once priority groups are fully served. He emphasized that the district will still reserve 5% of spots for families who meet the traditional eligibility criteria.
Nina Buthee, executive director of EveryChild CA, noted that LAUSD’s decision to expand enrollment to higher-income families is unprecedented. While other districts have faced enrollment declines since the pandemic, Buthee pointed out that LAUSD is the only district to actively utilize this policy.
“We’re seeing a significant gap in enrollment,” Buthee said. “In 2022, only about 17% of eligible children were enrolled in state preschool programs.”
Other Districts’ Response
Despite LAUSD’s move, other local districts have not followed suit. The Huntington Beach City School District and Long Beach Unified School District both report that they have not had to consider opening enrollment to higher-income families, as they have waiting lists for income-eligible families.
Luis Bautista, executive director of the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Head Start and Early Learning Division, also noted that his department has not seen any districts expand eligibility. Bautista oversees programs that serve lower-income families, with income requirements even stricter than those of the state preschool program.
With preschool programs still operating under capacity in LAUSD, Tagawa sees this as an opportunity to better serve the community. “The new guidelines give us a clear starting point,” he said, highlighting that the district is excited to reach more children and provide quality early education.
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