View in EDS

Universal PreK Expansion: How Many 3- and 4-Year-Olds Does California Enroll? Brief

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Universal PreK Expansion: How Many 3- and 4-Year-Olds Does California Enroll? Brief
Language: English
Authors: Hanna Melnick, Emma García, Learning Policy Institute
Source: Learning Policy Institute. 2026.
Availability: Learning Policy Institute. 1530 Page Mill Road Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Tel: 650-332-9797; e-mail: info@learningpolicyinstitute.org; Web site: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Ballmer Group
Heising-Simons Foundation
Kelson Foundation
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: Preschool Education, Access to Education, Child Care, Public Schools, Social Services, Low Income Students, Federal Programs, Enrollment Trends, Transitional Programs
Geographic Terms: California
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Head Start
Abstract: In 2021, California committed to making prekindergarten (PreK) universal for all 4-year-olds and income-eligible 3-year-olds. The largest expansion was making transitional kindergarten (TK) universal for all 4-year-olds. Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, TK enrollment increased by more than 100,000 children. Looking across all publicly funded early childhood education (ECE) programs, including the California State Preschool Program, Head Start, and subsidized child care, California made great strides in serving 4-year-olds, with approximately 62% enrolled in 2024-25. The state also made progress, albeit slowly, among 3-year-olds. In 2019-20, California enrolled 21% of all 3-year-olds in publicly funded ECE. In 2024-25, it enrolled 25% of all 3-year-olds, comprising 44% of 3-year-olds from families with low incomes. California is on a positive trajectory but still has substantial work ahead to guarantee that all families who want to enroll their child in preschool have access.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED681206
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED681206
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED681206
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Universal PreK Expansion: How Many 3- and 4-Year-Olds Does California Enroll? Brief
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hanna+Melnick%22">Hanna Melnick</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emma+García%22">Emma García</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Learning+Policy+Institute%22">Learning Policy Institute</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Learning+Policy+Institute%22"><i>Learning Policy Institute</i></searchLink>. 2026.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Learning Policy Institute. 1530 Page Mill Road Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Tel: 650-332-9797; e-mail: info@learningpolicyinstitute.org; Web site: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 10
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Ballmer Group<br />Heising-Simons Foundation<br />Kelson Foundation
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Care%22">Child Care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Schools%22">Public Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Services%22">Social Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Income+Students%22">Low Income Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Programs%22">Federal Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Enrollment+Trends%22">Enrollment Trends</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transitional+Programs%22">Transitional Programs</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectThesaurus
  Label: Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Head+Start%22">Head Start</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In 2021, California committed to making prekindergarten (PreK) universal for all 4-year-olds and income-eligible 3-year-olds. The largest expansion was making transitional kindergarten (TK) universal for all 4-year-olds. Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, TK enrollment increased by more than 100,000 children. Looking across all publicly funded early childhood education (ECE) programs, including the California State Preschool Program, Head Start, and subsidized child care, California made great strides in serving 4-year-olds, with approximately 62% enrolled in 2024-25. The state also made progress, albeit slowly, among 3-year-olds. In 2019-20, California enrolled 21% of all 3-year-olds in publicly funded ECE. In 2024-25, it enrolled 25% of all 3-year-olds, comprising 44% of 3-year-olds from families with low incomes. California is on a positive trajectory but still has substantial work ahead to guarantee that all families who want to enroll their child in preschool have access.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED681206
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED681206
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Low Income Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Enrollment Trends
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transitional Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: California
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Head Start
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Universal PreK Expansion: How Many 3- and 4-Year-Olds Does California Enroll? Brief
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Learning Policy Institute
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hanna Melnick
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Emma García
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 19
              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Learning Policy Institute
              Type: main
ResultId 1