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.
Vision
- CA Early Childhood Educator Competencies
- Center for District Innovation & Leadership
- Family Engagement Network
- Family Engagement Toolkit
- KidsDATA
- Leading Pre K-3 Learning Communities – Executive Summary via NAESP.org
- P-3 Alignment Projects via CEELO
- Parent Toolkit for Multilingual Education
- Preschool through Third Grade (P-3) Alignment – Grade Spans via CA Department of Education
- Resource & Referral Program Services Data
- Taking it to the Next Level: Strengthening and Sustaining Family Engagement through Integrated, Systemic Practice
- Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Guide – Child Development via CA Department of Education
- Universal Prekindergarten Frequently Asked Questions via CA Department of Education
- Transitional Kindergarten Professional Resource Guide for Administrators via CCSESA, 2015
- Transitioning to Kindergarten: Toolkit for Early Childhood Educators via American Federation of Teachers
Community
- All About Young Children .org (Information for Families on Children’s Early Development)
- Resources for Families via Center for Early Literacy Learning
- List of Local Child Care and Development Planning Councils via CDE
- List of Local Planning Council Representatives for each California County via CDE
- Milestones Matter – Learn the Signs via CDC
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for Families
- Resource and Referral Program Services Data
- Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Guide via CDE
- Quality Counts California
Workforce
- California Preschool Instructional Network
- CTC Early Childhood Education Credentials and Permits
- CTC Teacher Residency Grant Program
- Early Edge CA TK Workforce Recruitment and State Budget Information
- Early Education Teacher Development Grant
- Early Educators Equipped to Teach TK–2 (UC Berkeley Center for the Study of Child Care Employment)
- LPI Promising Models: Workforce Brief
- Quality Counts California
- Transitional Kindergarten Professional Learning Modules
- Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Guide (Videos to support professional learning)
- Video Introduction
- Video Chapter 1: Program Structure & Design
- Video Chapter 2: The Transitional Kindergarten Student
- Video Chapter 3: Curriculum
- Video Chapter 4: Effective Instruction
- Video Chapter 5: Learning Environment
- Video Chapter 6: Assessment & Differentiated Instruction
- Video Chapter 7: Families and Community Partners
- Video Chapter 8: Supporting TK Implementation
- UPK Teacher Pipeline Resource Compendium – Child Development via CDE
Curriculum
- CA Arts Education Framework TK–12 (SBE, 2019)
- California Digital Learning Integration and Standards Guidance
- CA English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework, Chapter 3, TK–1 (SBE,2014)
- CA ELA/ELD Framework Implementation Support for TK–1
- CA Health Education Framework Chapter 3, TK–3 (SBE, 2019)
- California Map to Inclusion and Belonging
- California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volumes 1, 2, and 3
- California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks, Volumes 1, 2, and 3
- California Preschool Program Guidelines
- CA Science Framework: NGSS Transitional Kindergarten (SBE, 2016)
- CDE Preschool through 3rd Grade Alignment Resources
- Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
- Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Resources
- Desired Results Developmental Profile: Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten Assessment Tool for California
- Early Childhood Environmental Education Rating Scale
- English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework (SBE, 2014)
- English Learner Roadmap
- Head Start Center for Inclusion
- Inclusion Works! Second Edition – Child Development (CA Dept of Education)
- MTSS Framework
- Multilingual Learning Toolkit
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): Developmentally Appropriate Practice
- NAEYC: Every Child Belongs
- NAEYC: What is Anti-Bias Education?
- NAEYC: Understanding Anti-Bias Education
- Preschool English Learners 2nd Edition – Child Development (CA Dept of Education)
- Seeds of Partnership: Preschool Planning Tool
- Supporting Inclusive Early Learning: Working Together for Inclusion and Belonging
- The Powerful Role of Play
- The UDL Guidelines: UDL
- TK/K English Language Development Videos
- Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Guide
- What is Independent Study in California? | Quick Guide
Contact
- San Luis Obispo County Office of Education
- Office of James J. Brescia, Ed.D.
- 3350 Education Drive
- San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
- Tel: 805-543-7732
- Contact SLOCOE
- Contact Webmaster