by Karen D’Souza, EdSource.com, July 12, 2021
In the wake of the pandemic, which shined a spotlight on the essential nature of early childhood education and care, universal transitional kindergarten is poised to become a reality in California.
Championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and several lawmakers, the $2.7 billion universal transitional kindergarten program will be gradually phased in over the next five years, until it includes all the state’s 4-year-olds by the 2025-26 school year.
Currently, transitional kindergarten, or TK, serves about 100,000 children, primarily those who turn 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2. How the expanded TK program will be rolled out is detailed in SB 130, the TK-12 education trailer bill Newsom signed Friday, clarifying policies related to the state budget for 2021-22.
Although some of the state’s largest districts already offer expanded transitional kindergarten, experts say making a year of pre-kindergarten available to all is a watershed achievement in early education.
“After lagging behind other states, California suddenly leads the nation in expanding quality preschool,” said Bruce Fuller, professor of education and public policy at UC Berkeley.
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TRiGroup’s Advice:
For the future, this is a great thing for California students and schools. Younger children will be more successful in Kindergarten and primary grades because they will have developed key social and academic skills.
For now, this represents a need for strategic planning ASAP, especially in the HR, Facilities, AND Educational Services departments.
HR: Remember that the fully-credentialed, Multiple-Subject teacher in the classroom will also be required to have five courses of early childhood education. More teacher may be needed, especially if your own local Kindergarten enrollment is holding steady. And certainly, more para-educators will be needed as the staffing ratios will ultimately hold at 1 adult:10 students.
FACILITIES: TK and K require larger classrooms with bathrooms, as well as access to appropriate outdoor play areas.
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: There will be a need for high-quality curriculum and professional development. The Common Core Standards and the CA Dept. of Education do not articulate a separate set of standards for the TK grade level, so Districts must build the bridges between Early Childhood Education standards and Kindergarten standards.