Day Care, Preschool, TK, Kindergarten… The variety of early childhood education in the United States differs greatly from that of mainland China. Many new immigrants, due to a lack of understanding, end up spending thousands of dollars a month sending their children to private preschools, while missing out on the free public early childhood education programs.
Living in Diamond Bar, Mr. Li and his family came to the United States a few years ago. His wife had to stay at home to care for their toddler, while Mr. Li worked to support the family, feeling significant financial pressure. Despite having a public preschool nearby, the large number of children enrolled in the free program led to parents being required to pick up their children as early as 2 p.m., which made it inconvenient for working parents like Mr. Li.
One of his immigrant friends in the area sent their child to a preschool in nearby Pomona, where children also needed to be picked up before 3 p.m. Mr. Li expressed that he was no longer considering the public preschool program. He was planning to spend over $1,000 a month to send his child to a private preschool closer to home, providing more flexibility in pickup time until 6 p.m., allowing his wife to also work and reduce financial stress.
Mr. Li noted that while the conditions for early childhood education in the United States are good, there is limited publicity about them, causing many of his friends to be unaware of the options available. He hoped to see more information circulating about these programs.
Although in the same Los Angeles County, the enrollment requirements for early childhood education programs can vary among different school districts.
Cindy Wu, a school board member in the Mountain View School District, explained that Los Angeles County has had a long-standing program called “Head Start” for children aged 0-4, available in every school district. This early education program provides childcare and early education for children and offers convenient daily schedules for parents.
In the El Monte School District, the program provides breakfast and lunch daily, with snacks in the afternoon. The schools do not inquire about the parents’ status. Considering work schedules, parents can drop off their children as early as 6 a.m. and pick them up at 6 p.m., making it a completely free program that significantly reduces financial burdens for families.
However, the services offered by this program can vary across districts. Wu mentioned that in some districts, parents may be required to pick up their children as early as 2 or 3 p.m., while in others, due to limited resources or a small district size, there may be waitlists due to the high number of children enrolled.
Although not an open enrollment district, children in the Mountain View School District can register immediately without a waitlist and start classes promptly. The district’s preschools are also capable of providing bilingual education, currently in English and Spanish, with the flexibility to introduce Chinese-English bilingual education if the number of Chinese students increases.
“I know many Chinese families spend $1,200 to $1,500 a month to send their children to preschool. They can actually send them to free public preschools,” Wu said.
Regarding transferring students between districts, Wu explained that districts usually facilitate student transfers, and residency within the district is not always required. This situation is related to decreased enrollment rates in some districts, leading to reduced funding as student numbers decline.
“Nearly every district warmly welcomes children for enrollment when parents bring them,” she said. “Because every district has limited student numbers, they are happier with more students.”
Moreover, all districts must not and will not consider the student or their parents’ status, treating all students equally. They also maintain strict confidentiality regarding student information.
While there are various approaches to early childhood education, the traditional method of attending school remains essential for children’s growth. Wu mentioned that statistics show children who receive education before age 5 at a preschool can benefit academically in the future. She advised parents not to overlook this crucial stage.
She added that while homeschooling is an option, it can be demanding for parents. Having children attend school for half a day allows parents or grandparents to rest. Additionally, children can learn social skills and interact with peers at preschool, which is beneficial for their mental well-being.
When discussing how many Chinese immigrant parents prefer to reside in Chinese communities, Wu pointed out that this might not benefit early English language learning for children. In such environments where Mandarin is predominantly spoken, creating a Chinese-like language atmosphere may hinder English language development. Therefore, enrolling children in schools with fewer Chinese speakers would be more advantageous for enhancing English proficiency.