CONCORD, Calif. (AP) — A year before I-Ting Quinn's son was old enough for kindergarten, she and her husband had the option to enroll him in “transitional kindergarten,” a program offered for free by California elementary schools for some 4-year-olds.
Instead, they kept their son, Ethan, in a private day care center in Concord, California, at a cost of $400 a week.
kAm%C2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6?VD 24256>:4 6>A92D:D H2D 2AA62=:?8[ 3FE tE92? H@F=5 92G6 366? :? 2 92=7\52J AC@8C2>[ 2?5 @AE:@?D 7@C 27E6CD49@@= 49:=5 42C6 H6C6 =:>:E65] p?5 7@C EH@ A2C6?ED H:E9 964E:4 H@C< D4965F=6D :? E96 9@DA:E2=:EJ :?5FDECJ[ E96C6 H2D E96 4@?G6?:6?46 @7 92G:?8 tE92? 2?5 9:D J@F?86C 3C@E96C 2E E96 D2>6 52J 42C6[ H:E9 2 D:?8=6 DE@A 7@C >@C?:?8 5C@A\@77 2?5 6G6?:?8 A:4<FA]k^Am
kAm“tE92? :D ?2G:82E:?8 492?86D 2E 9@>6 H:E9 2 ?6H J@F?86C 3C@E96C 2?5 E96? A@DD:3=J 2 ?6H D49@@= H96C6 96 :D E96 J@F?86DE[” "F:?? D2:5] Q%92E 5@6D?’E 6G6? :?4=F56 E96 4@?46C?D 2C@F?5 5C@A\@77 2?5 A:4<FAD[ :?4=F5:?8 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? E@ 2?5 7C@> 9:D 4=2DD E@ 27E6CD49@@= 42C6 2E 2 5:776C6?E =@42E:@?] xE :D ;FDE 2 =@E E@ 4@?D:56C]”k^Am
kAmx?G6DE>6?ED E92E r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 @E96C DE2E6D 92G6 >256 :? AF3=:4 AC6D49@@= 92G6 96=A65 >2?J A2C6?ED E9C@F89 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^52J42C6\49:=5\42C6\56>@4C2ED\4@?8C6DD\ah`h47eghcab7ea5h_6ag7f7c_56a7bhQm49:=5 42C6 4C:D:Dk^2m[ :? H9:49 BF2=:EJ @AE:@?D 7@C 62C=J =62C?6CD 2C6 @7E6? D42C46 2?5 F?277@C523=6] qFE >2?J A2C6?ED D2J E96 AC@8C2>D 5@?VE H@C< 7@C E96:C 72>:=:6D] tG6? H96? !C6\z =2DED E96 H9@=6 D49@@= 52J[ H@C<:?8 A2C6?ED DECF88=6 E@ 7:?5 49:=5 42C6 367@C6 h 2]>] 2?5 27E6C b A]>]k^Am
kAm}@ DE2E6 92D 2 >@C6 2>3:E:@FD A=2? 7@C F?:G6CD2= AC6D49@@= E92? r2=:7@C?:2[ H9:49 A=2?D E@ 6IE6?5 6=:8:3:=:EJ 7@C EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6? E@ 2== c\J62C\@=5D 3J 72== a_ad 2D A2CE @7 2 Sa]f 3:==:@?[ 7@FC\J62C 6IA2?D:@?] %96 :562 :D E@ AC@G:56 2 EH@\J62C <:?56C82CE6? AC@8C2> E@ AC6A2C6 49:=5C6? 62C=:6C 7@C E96 C:8@CD @7 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=]k^Am
kAmt?C@==>6?E :? E96 @AE:@?2= AC@8C2> 92D 8C@H? >@C6 D=@H=J E92? AC@;64E65] v@G] v2G:? }6HD@>[ 2 s6>@4C2E[ 925 6DE:>2E65 23@FE `a_[___ DEF56?ED H@F=5 6?C@== =2DE J62Cj 9@H6G6C[ E96 2G6C286 52:=J 2EE6?52?46 H2D 2C@F?5 h`[___ DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 s646>36C @7 E9:D D49@@= J62C[ E96 2G6C286 52:=J 2EE6?52?46 H2D 23@FE `ad[___ DEF56?ED[ D2:5 $2C2 r@CE6K[ 2 A@=:4J 2?2=JDE 7@C E96 r2=:7@C?:2 {68:D=2E:G6 p?2=JDE’D ~77:46]k^Am
kAmr@>:?8 @FE @7 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ D@>6 72>:=:6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^<:?56C82CE6?\D49@@=\C68:DEC2E:@?\9@>6D49@@=\7e2_4b2g7hf7g5e47e`e7a_`7eg4_c76Qm?@ =@?86C D66 E96 D2>6 G2=F6k^2m :? EC25:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6?] $@>6 2C6 ;FDE 2D 92AAJ H:E9 AC@8C2>D E92E 5@?VE 92G6 2? 24256>:4 4@>A@?6?E] $49@@= 52JD C6BF:C:?8 >:552J A:4<FAD 2=D@ 42? DH2J 72>:=:6D E@H2C5 AC:G2E6 52J 42C6D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^9625\DE2CE\AC6D49@@=\49:=5\42C6\E62496C\A2J\ade2ee44c57g2bb`2a5_325432f7fa6gQmw625 $E2CE AC@8C2>Dk^2m 2?5 @E96C 2=E6C?2E:G6D @776C:?8 7F==\52J 42C6]k^Am
kAm$@>6 D49@@=D 9@DE:?8 EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6? @776C 49:=5 42C6 367@C6 @C 27E6C :?DECF4E:@?[ 3FE ?@E 2==]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@FC D49@@= 5@6D?’E @776C E9@D6 HC2A2C@F?5 49:=5 42C6 D6CG:46D 2E E96 368:??:?8 @C 6?5 @7 D49@@= 52JD[ E96? DE2J:?8 :? 49:=5 42C6 >2J 36 E96 @?=J @AE:@? A2C6?ED 92G6[” D2:5 s63@C29 $E:A6<[ 2 7@C>6C 562? @7 E96 vC25F2E6 $49@@= @7 t5F42E:@? 2E $E2?7@C5 &?:G6CD:EJ[ H9@ 92D 25G@42E65 7@C 6BF:E23=6 2446DD E@ 62C=J 49:=59@@5 65F42E:@? :? r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am
kAm$E2E6D :?4=F5:?8 x@H2[ |:49:82?[ }6H y6CD6J 2?5 (2D9:?8E@? 92G6 AC@G:565 62C=J =62C?:?8 @AE:@?D D:>:=2C E@ EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6?[ 2?5 E96C6 :D 6G:56?46 @7 E96 AC@8C2>VD 36?67:ED]k^Am
kAmx? r2=:7@C?:2[ H96C6 E96 AC@8C2>D 2C6 E2F89E 3J 65F42E@CD H:E9 E96 D2>6 4C656?E:2= C6BF:C6>6?ED 2D <:?56C82CE6? E62496CD[ 2 7:G6\J62C DEF5J 7@F?5 E96:C DEF56?ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2:C]@C8^AC@;64E^DEF5J\42=:7@C?:2D\EC2?D:E:@?2=\<:?56C82CE6?\AC@8C2>Qm6?E6C65 <:?56C82CE6?k^2m H:E9 DEC@?86C >2E96>2E:4D 2?5 =:E6C24J D<:==D] x? |:49:82?[ H96C6 E96 EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6? AC@8C2> :D ?@E @776C65 DE2E6H:56[ E96 AC@8C2>D 92G6 366? =:?<65 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^65H@C<:?8A2A6CD]4@>^2:ac\ha_Qm:?4C62D6D :? E9:C5\8C256 E6DE D4@C6Dk^2m :? >2E9 2?5 t?8=:D9] p r2=:7@C?:2 DEF5J[ 9@H6G6C[ 7@F?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AA:4]@C8^AF3=:42E:@?^2DD6DD:?8\EC2?D:E:@?2=\<:?56C82CE6?D\:>A24E\@?\6=6>6?E2CJ\D49@@=\EC2;64E@C:6D^Qm?@ DF49 E6DE D4@C6 :?4C62D6k^2m 3J E9:C5 @C 7@FCE9 8C256]k^Am
kAm“z:5D 2C6 86EE:?8 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 364@>6 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 D49@@= 6?G:C@?>6?E 367@C6 E96J DE2CE <:?56C82CE6?[” D2:5 p??2 $92A:C@[ 2 A@=:4J C6D62C496C 2E #p}s H9@ 92D DEF5:65 62C=J 49:=59@@5 AC@8C2> 67764E:G6?6DD 7@C 23@FE 2 564256 2?5 2?2=JK65 E96 %z AC@8C2> :? |:49:82?]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C 36?67:E E@ EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6? :D E92E :EVD 7C66]k^Am
kAm|2Cí2 |2=5@?25@[ H9@ 92D D6G6? 49:=5C6? 2?5 H@C<D 2E 2 56=: :? {@D p?86=6D[ D6?5D 96C c\J62C\@=5 52F89E6C[ pF5C6J[ E@ EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6? 2E !2C2 {@D }:ñ@D r92CE6C t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@=] w6C 52F89E6C =:<6D :E D@ >F49[ |2=5@?25@ D2:5 D96 H@F=5 92AA:=J A2J 6G6? :7 :E H2D?VE 7C66]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@8C2> :?4=F56D 27E6CD49@@= 42C6[ D@ pF5C6J C6>2:?D 2E E96 D49@@= 7C@> f 2]>] F?E:= e A]>] pF5C6J :D =62C?:?8 E@ C625 2?5 42? 4@F?E E@ bd[ 2?5 2D<D E@ DE2J 2E E96 D49@@= =@?86C H96? 96C A2C6?ED 2CC:G6 H6== 367@C6 A:4<FA E:>6[ 96C >@E96C D2:5]k^Am
kAm|2=5@?25@ @?=J H:D96D D96 925 962C5 23@FE E96 AC@8C2> D@@?6C 7@C 96C @E96C 49:=5C6?] $96 D2:5 D96 H2D D@=5 @? E96 D49@@= 27E6C G:D:E:?8 2?5 DA62<:?8 E@ E96 E62496CD]k^Am
kAm“p4256>:42==J[ E96J 92G6 E@ =62C? 6G6CJE9:?8 E96J’C6 E2F89E] qFE :7 E96 2E>@DA96C6 :D 8@@5[ E92E’D 2 4@>3:?2E:@? E92E H:== <66A <:5D 92AAJ] pD 2 C6DF=E[ E9:D 8:C= =@G6D 8@:?8 E@ D49@@=[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD @7 E9:D D49@@= J62C[ r2=:7@C?:2VD EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6? H2D @A6? @?=J E@ c\J62C\@=5 49:=5C6? H9@ EFC? d 3J 62C=J pAC:=] %96 4FE@77 H:== H:56? E@ :?4=F56 >@C6 <:5D E9:D 72== :? 2 8C25F2E65 6IA2?D:@?]k^Am
kAmu@C tE92?VD A2C6?ED[ E96 6>A92D:D @? A=2J\32D65 =62C?:?8 2E 9:D 52J 42C6 46?E6C[ CF? 3J z:?56Cr2C6[ H2D 2? :>A@CE2?E 724E@C :? E96:C 564:D:@? E@ <66A 9:> E96C6[ :? 255:E:@? E@ E96 2==\52J 42C6]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 72>:=:6D H9@ 49@@D6 E@ DE2J H:E9 FD 3642FD6 H6 92G6 7F==\E:>6[ 7F==\J62C 42C6[” D2:5 |2C8@E v@F=5[ D6?:@C >2?286C @7 8@G6C?>6?E C6=2E:@?D 7@C z:?56Cr2C6[ H9:49 @A6C2E6D :? c_ DE2E6D]k^Am
kAmtE92?VD 72E96C[ $4@EE "F:??[ C642==D E9:?<:?8[ “w@H 325 42? :E 36n” H96? E96J @AE65 @FE @7 EC2?D:E:@?2= <:?56C82CE6?] qFE 96 92D 366? 5:D4@FC2865 E@ D66 tE92? — @?6 @7 E96 @=56DE <:5D :? 9:D 52J 42C6 4=2DD — A:4< FA E96 3692G:@C @7 <:5D H9@ 2C6 D6G6C2= J62CD J@F?86C E92? 9:>]k^Am
kAm“x? C6EC@DA64E[ :E H@F=5 92G6 366? 36EE6C E@ D6?5 9:> E@ D49@@= E@ 36 2C@F?5 <:5D 9:D 286 2?5 @=56C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx\%:?8 "F:?? D2:5 D96 2=D@ 92D 766=:?8D @7 C68C6E 2D D96 D66D tE92? @FE8C@H D@>6 @7 9:D AC6G:@FD ?665D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 >:552J ?2A] %96 4@FA=6 4@?D:56C65 6?C@==:?8 9:> :? %z >:5H2J E9C@F89 E96 D49@@= J62C[ 3FE F=E:>2E6=J 564:565 :E H@F=5 42FD6 E@@ >F49 DEC6DD :? >2?28:?8 E96 =@8:DE:4D @7 E96:C H@C< D4965F=6D]k^Am
kAm#2:D:?8 tE92? H2D 96C 7:CDE 6IA@DFC6 E@ E96 7C28>6?E65 =2?5D42A6 @7 62C=J 65F42E:@?[ 2?5 D96 D2:5 D96 H:D96D D96 DE2CE65 4@?D:56C:?8 E96 @AE:@?D 6G6? 367@C6 D96 H2D AC68?2?E]k^Am
kAm“%92E’D 62D:6C D2:5 E92? 5@?6[” D96 D2:5] %96 "F:??D 2C6 A=2??:?8 E@ >@G6 E@ r@??64E:4FE E9:D J62C E@ 36 4=@D6C E@ 72>:=J 2?5 2C6 =@@<:?8 :?E@ <:?56C82CE6? @AE:@?D 7@C tE92?] “(6 2C6 7@C DFC6 6?C@==:?8 9:> :? 2 AF3=:4 <:?56C82CE6?] }@E @?=J :D 96 C625J[ 3FE H6 2C6]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmp! 52E2 C6A@CE6C $92C@? {FCJ6 C6A@CE65 7C@> }6H ~C=62?D]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm%96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD’ 65F42E:@? 4@G6C286 C646:G6D 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7C@> >F=E:A=6 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@?D] p! :D D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E] u:?5 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^23@FE^DE2?52C5D\7@C\H@C<:?8\H:E9\@FED:56\8C@FAD^QmDE2?52C5Dk^2m 7@C H@C<:?8 H:E9 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D[ 2 =:DE @7 DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 7F?565 4@G6C286 2C62D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^5:D4@G6C^$FAA@CE:?8\p!Qmp!]@C8k^2m]k^Am
