Universal PreKindergarten (UPK)

Universal PreKindergarten (UPK)

Research shows that when young children have a foundation of high-quality learning opportunities before kindergarten, they not only gain an advantage in school and in life but also in brain development. Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) in California is intended to provide this foundation for all four-year-old children.

Background 

The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 made Transitional Kindergarten (TK) available for 4-year-olds turning 5 between September 2 and December 2. This legislation gave new support for these students, but it did not include younger children who didn’t qualify for public preschool because of their age, and who weren’t old enough yet to enroll in Kindergarten or a TK classroom.

The vision of UPK is to resolve this issue, providing equitable access to programs for all 4-year-olds, without regard to income.  The state of California is devoting the funds to train staff and prepare school facilities in order to give our children equitable access to quality teachers and programs. 

Timeline for UPK Implementation

Planning Resources and Tools 

The following list of resources may be helpful for LEAs with Universal Pre-Kindergarten planning while they envision, plan, and implement expanded PreK programs and movement towards a P-3 continuum. These resources and tools were curated by the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA). The five tabs below are aligned with the five focus areas of the UPK Planning Template.