LA Public Preschool Tuition to Double, Draws Criticism Over Costs

The City of Los Angeles will continue to operate several of its public child care centers directly, despite moving to privatize eight other locations due to budget constraints. However, the city’s plan to charge $1,200 per month at the remaining centers has sparked criticism for undermining the original purpose of providing affordable care to low-income families.

City Tuition Exceeds LAUSD by Over Twice the Amount

On May 28, the online outlet LAist reported that the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (LADRP) plans to manage facilities such as the Jim Gilliam Child Care Center in Baldwin Village and the Ralph M. Parsons Preschool in Exposition Park. Tuition at these locations is expected to be $1,200 per month, more than twice the $500 maximum charged by Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) early education centers.

This high tuition is tied to the city’s earlier decision to offer child care services for free, which left the centers without a self-sustaining funding model. While official hours are listed as 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., LAist reported that actual hours varied and the city was unable to maintain enough staff to provide consistent 11-hour daily care.

Some parents indicated they would accept paying tuition to keep the programs running. However, the city failed to establish a viable revenue model and is now facing a budget shortfall.

Privatization Plan Underway, Closures Possible

The city is also transferring the remaining eight child care centers to private operators. According to LADRP, some facilities could face temporary closures due to licensing and administrative processes. A complete list of affected centers and a final schedule have not been released. The department expects all transitions to be completed by January 2026.

BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]