Management Change/Compensation (Form 8-K)

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On February 26, 2026, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (the "Company") approved and adopted the KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. Short Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") effective January 4, 2026 (the "Effective Date"), the beginning of the Company's fiscal year 2026. The Compensation Committee intends to use the Plan for the administration of the Company's annual performance-based cash bonus awards granted on or after the Effective Date. The Plan provides for incentive awards to be granted to officers and other employees of the Company selected for participation in the Plan and cash payments on those incentive awards based upon the achievement of financial, operational and/or strategic performance metrics, goals or objectives established by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has the authority to designate the participants in the Plan; determine the applicable performance period; determine the amount of each incentive award; select applicable performance criteria, including to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee, the minimum, target and maximum level of performance of such performance criteria; identify the weights of applicable performance criteria; determine the relationship between the degree to which performance criteria have been achieved and cash incentive payments; and adjust bonus payments based on unusual or non-recurring events.

The foregoing summary of the Plan does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits