Two children play with their childcare provider at a preschool in Ukiah, Calif. on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. (Jendi Coursey/Mendocino County Office of Education via Bay City News)

This was written by staff at the nonprofit newsroom EdSource. It was republished by The Mendocino Voice in partnership with EdSource to bring relevant education news to Mendocino County readers. Learn more about EdSource here.

SACRAMENTO, CA., 6/23/26 — When one of Yolanda Thomas’ 4-year-old students left her family daycare for California’s transitional kindergarten program, she lost more than a child in her classroom. She also now had an open space that she would need to figure out how to fill.

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Before joining EdSource, Betty worked on reporting projects for Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley. Betty’s stories have appeared...