# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001873529
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-224357
**Filing Date:** 2026-5
**Character Count:** 31156
**Document Hash:** b9a2ff06fb7351d0544673d8475f967f
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-224357.hdr.sgml**: 20260514

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-224357

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: S-8

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 14

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260514

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260514

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20260514

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001873529
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** SERVICES-CHILD DAY CARE SERVICES [8351]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 07 Trade & Services
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0102

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** S-8
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 333-295911
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26980582

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 5005 MEADOWS ROAD
- **CITY:** LAKE OSWEGO
- **STATE:** OR
- **ZIP:** 97035
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** (503) 872-1300

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 5005 MEADOWS ROAD
- **CITY:** LAKE OSWEGO
- **STATE:** OR
- **ZIP:** 97035

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** KC Holdco, LLC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20210719

**Registration No. 333-______** 

**UNITED STATES** 

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION** 

**Washington, D.C. 20549** 

**FORM S-8** 

**Registration Statement** 

***Under***

***the Securities Act of 1933***

## KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.
**(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Delaware**<br> **(State or other jurisdiction of**<br> **incorporation or organization)** | **87-1653366**<br> **(I.R.S. Employer**<br> **Identification No.)** |
| **5005 Meadows Road**<br> **Lake Oswego, OR**<br> **(Address of principal executive offices)** | **97035**<br> **(Zip Code)** |

---

**KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.** 

**Amended and Restated 2022 Incentive Award Plan** 

**(Full title of the plan)** 

**Anthony ("Tony") Amandi** 

**Chief Financial Officer** 

**KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.** 

**5005 Meadows Road** 

**Lake Oswego, OR 97035** 

**(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)** 

***With Copies To:***

**April Hamlin, Esq.** 

**Katie Gallagher, Esq.** 

**Ballard Spahr LLP** 

**601 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 2100** 

**Portland , OR 97204** 

**Tel 503.778.2100** 

**Fax 503.778.2200** 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Large Accelerated Filer | ☐ | Accelerated Filer | ☒ |
| Non-Accelerated Filer | ☐ | Smaller Reporting Company | ☐ |
|  |  | Emerging Growth Company |  |

---

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

------

**EXPLANATORY NOTE** 

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") is filed by KinderCare Learning Company, Inc. ("KinderCare" or the "Registrant") for the purpose of registering an additional 4,733,601 shares of the Registrant's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") that may be issued pursuant to awards under the Registrant's Amended and Restated 2022 Incentive Award Plan (the "Plan"). The 4,733,601 shares of Common Stock became reserved for issuance under the Plan as a result of the operation of the "evergreen" provision of the Plan which provides that the total number of shares subject to the Plan may be increased on the first day of each calendar year pursuant to a specified formula.

In accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8, the Registrant incorporates herein by reference the Form S-8 filed by the Registrant on October 9, 2024, registering 15,666,912 shares of Common Stock reserved under the Plan (SEC File No. 333-282557), together with all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference.

**PART I** 

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS** 

The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being filed with or included in this Registration Statement (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

**PART II** 

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT** 

**Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.** 

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

(a) The Registrant's Annual Report on [Form 10-K](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001873529/000119312526106342/klc-20260103.htm) for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2026, filed on March 13, 2026;

(b) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on [Form 10-Q](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1873529/000119312526224168/klc-20260404.htm) for the quarter ended April 4, 2026, filed on May 14, 2026;

(c) The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed (but not
furnished) on [March 2, 2026](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001873529/000119312526083629/klc-20260226.htm) ;

(d) the portions of the Registrant's [definitive proxy statement](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/../../../ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001873529/000119312526164197/klc-20260417.htm) filed with the Commission on April 
20, 2026 for the Registrant's 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders that are deemed "filed" with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); and

(e) The description of the Registrant's common stock, $0.01 par value per share, contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on [Form 8-A](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1873529/000119312524234526/d858675d8a12b.htm) , filed with the Commission pursuant to
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), on October 9, 2024 and any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description (File No. 001-42367).

All documents subsequently filed (but not furnished) by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion or termination of this offering of securities will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of these documents.

Any statement contained in this Registration Statement, in an amendment hereto or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed amendment to this Registration Statement or in any document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as to such specific section of such statements as set forth therein.

------

Under no circumstances shall any information furnished under Item 2.02 and/or Item 7.01 of Current Report on Form 8-K and any corresponding exhibits thereto be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Current Report on Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.

**Item 4. Description of Securities.** 

Not applicable.

**Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.** 

Not applicable.

**Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.** 

Section 145(a) of the DGCL grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders of monetary damages for violations of the director's fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions), or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Our certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL.

------

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. Such agreements generally provide for indemnification by reason of being our director or officer, as the case may be. These agreements are in addition to the indemnification provided by our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

Our amended and restated bylaws indemnify the directors and officers to the full extent of the DGCL and also allow the board of directors to indemnify all other employees. Such right of indemnification is not exclusive of any right to which such officer or director may be entitled as a matter of law and shall extend and apply to the estates of deceased officers and directors. Section 145(f) of the DGCL further provides that a right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the bylaws shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission which is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit, or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

We also maintain a directors' and officers' insurance policy. The policy insures directors and officers against unindemnified losses arising from certain wrongful acts in their capacities as directors and officers and reimburses us for those losses for which we have lawfully indemnified the directors and officers. The policy contains various exclusions that are normal and customary for policies of this type. Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under that section**.**

**Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.** 

Not applicable.

**Item 8. Exhibits.** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Exhibit No. | Description |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1 | [Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 15, 2024).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1873529/000119312524237635/d851702dex31.htm) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.2 | [Amended and Restated Bylaws of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 15, 2024).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1873529/000119312524237635/d851702dex32.htm) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.3\* | [KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Incentive Award Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-282557) filed on October 9, 2024).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1873529/000119312524234779/d865896dex44.htm) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1\* | [Opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP.](d121221dex51.htm) |
| 23.1\* | [Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.](d121221dex231.htm) |
| 23.2\* | [Consent of Ballard Spahr LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).](d121221dex51.htm) |
| 24.1 | [Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).](#sig) |
| 107.1\* | [Filing Fee Table.](d121221dexfilingfees.htm) |

---

\* Filed herewith.

+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

**Item 9. Undertakings.** 

(a) The Registrant hereby undertakes:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
registration statement:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
the effective registration statement; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

------

**SIGNATURES** 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Portland, Oregon, on this 14th day of May, 2026.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| KINDERCARE LEARNING COMPANIES, INC. | KINDERCARE LEARNING COMPANIES, INC. |
| By: | /s/ John T. Wyatt |
| Name: | John T. Wyatt |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |

---

**POWER OF ATTORNEY** 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John T. Wyatt and Anthony Amandi, and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them singly, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc., and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to the attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in or about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of each of them or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Signature** | **Title** | **Date** |
| /s/ John T. Wyatt | Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) | May 14, 2026 |
| John T. Wyatt | and Director |  |
| /s/ Anthony Amandi | Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and | May 14, 2026 |
| Anthony ("Tony") Amandi | accounting officer) |  |
| /s/ Jean Desravines | Director | May 14, 2026 |
| Jean Desravines |  |  |
| /s/ Christine Deputy | Director | May 14, 2026 |
| Christine Deputy |  |  |
| /s/ Michael Nuzzo | Director | May 14, 2026 |
| Michael Nuzzo |  |  |
| /s/ Joel Schwartz | Director | May 14, 2026 |
| Joel Schwartz |  |  |
| /s/ Alyssa Waxenberg | Director | May 14, 2026 |
| Alyssa Waxenberg |  |  |

---

## Exhibit 5.1

**Exhibit 5.1**![LOGO](g121221g0509012700003.jpg)

2000 IDS Center

80 South 8th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402-2119

Tel: 612.371.3211

Fax: 612.271.3207

www.ballardspahr.com

May 14, 2026

KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.

5005 Meadows Road

Lake Oswego, OR 97035

RE: <u>KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Incentive Award Plan</u> 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") of 4,733,601 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on the date hereof (such registration statement, as amended to the date hereof, is herein referred to as the "Registration Statement"). The Shares may be offered and sold under the KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Incentive Award Plan (the "Plan").

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement and all exhibits thereto, (ii) the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as currently in effect, (iii) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as currently in effect, (iv) the Plan, and (v) such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such inquiries of such officers and representatives and have considered such matters of law as we have deemed appropriate as the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to facts material to this opinion letter, we have relied upon certificates, statements or representations of public officials, of officers and representatives of the Company and of others, without any independent verification thereof.

In rendering this opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic or conformed copies, the authenticity of originals of all such latter documents, and the accuracy and completeness of all records, information and statements submitted to us by officers and representatives of the Company.

The opinion expressed below is based on the assumption that the Registration Statement has been filed by the Company with the Commission and will have become effective before any of the Shares are issued, and that persons acquiring the Shares will do so strictly in accordance with the terms of the Plan and will receive a prospectus containing all the information required by Part I of the Registration Statement before acquiring such Shares. The opinion is also based on the assumption that the Shares will continue to be

------

KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.

May 14, 2026

duly and validly authorized on the dates that the Shares are issued to participants pursuant to the terms of the Plan and, upon the issuance of any of the Shares, the total number of shares of common stock of the Company issued and outstanding, after giving effect to such issuance of such Shares, will not exceed the total number of shares of common stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under its certificate of incorporation as then in effect. We have also assumed that the Company's board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, will have approved the issuance of each award under the Plan prior to the issuance thereof and that the Shares will be issued for legal consideration in excess of par value.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that (a) the Shares to be issued under the Plan are duly authorized and (b) the Shares, when issued pursuant to the Plan and any applicable award agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof (including, where applicable, the payment of any exercise price, the satisfaction of any vesting or forfeiture restrictions, and the achievement of applicable performance goals), will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Our opinion is limited to the laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Sincerely,

/s/ Ballard Spahr LLP

## Exhibit 23.1

**Exhibit 23.1** 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. of our report dated March 13, 2026 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2026.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Francisco, California

May 14, 2026

## Ex-Filing

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? EX-FILING FEES

---

| |
|:---|
| **Calculation of Filing Fee Tables**  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**S-8**  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc.**  |

---

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| | | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| | **Security Type**  | **Security Class Title**  | **Fee Calculation Rule**  | **Amount Registered**  | **Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit**  | **Maximum Aggregate Offering Price**  | **Fee Rate**  | **Amount of Registration Fee**  |
| 1 | Equity | Common Stock | Other | 4733601 | $3.80 | $17987683.80 | 0.0001381 | $2484.10 |
| Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: | Total Offering Amounts: |  | $17987683.80  |  | $2484.10  |
| Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  | Total Fee Offsets:  |  |  |  | $0.00  |
| Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  | Net Fee Due:  |  |  |  | $2484.10  |

---

 **Offering Note** <br>

<sup>1</sup> Represents 4,733,601 additional shares of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (the "Registrant") common stock that were automatically added to the shares authorized for issuance under the Registrant's Amended and Restated 2022 Incentive Award Plan (the "2022 Plan"), pursuant to an annual "evergreen" increase provision effective January 1, 2026 contained in the 2022 Plan, and pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), also covers any additional shares of common stock of the Registrant that become issuable under the 2022 Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar transaction effected that results in an increase to the number of outstanding shares of Registrant's common stock. The proposed maximum offering price per unit has been estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and computed in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act using the average of the high and low sale prices of the Registrant's common stock on May 11, 2026, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

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| |
|:---|
| |
| **Rule 457(p)** |
| Fee Offset Claims |
| Fee Offset Sources |

---