Welcome to the SDCOE P3-UTK Publication
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This new e-newsletter is designed to support the efforts, alignment, and implementation of universal prekindergarten (UPK) to 3rd grade (P-3) in San Diego County. We'll provide local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with the most up-to-date information pertaining to the implementation of universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) as it relates to California Department of Education (CDE) requirements.
Our goal is to gather and share the most current and relevant content for the implementation of UTK and establish a network across San Diego County to support education leaders as they work to establish and create a new grade level.
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A Brief History and Rationale for UTK |
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With the approval of the Kindergarten Readiness Act in 2010, transitional kindergarten became available for 4-year-olds who turned 5 between the dates of Sept. 2 to Dec. 2. While this shift in legislation provided support for this identified group of students, it did not include public learning opportunities for younger learners who no longer qualified for public preschool due to their age and who were not yet old enough to enroll in a transitional kindergarten or kindergarten classroom.
California Assembly Bill (AB) 130 (2021-22) established an early learning initiative to expand access to classroom-based prekindergarten programs offered by school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools. With the passage of AB130 in Section 22, the TK-12 education trailer bill, legislation outlined funding for a universal preschool program that would be available to every 4-year-old regardless of income. UTK is scheduled to roll out in fall 2022 for some LEAs. UTK envisions equitable access and programs for 4-year-olds regardless of income. Research shows that children are more successful in school and beyond if they are given a strong foundation in the earliest years of their lives. In addition, high-quality teaching and learning programs can support brain development. California is on the forefront of this change, dedicating billions of dollars to plan and equip our schools with quality teachers and updated facilities to support our youngest learners in equitable ways. The effort aims to provide students with learning opportunities that will support and guide them as they enter into the K-12 arena.
What is P-3?
Preschool through 3rd grade (P-3) is a continuum of learning that can be supported by intentional practices at the classroom, school, and leadership levels that align curricula, assessment, and professional learning opportunities to ensure instruction builds on the knowledge and skills that children acquire as they transition across grades and settings.
Why is P-3 Important?
According to First Things First (2021), “90% of brain growth happens before kindergarten. At birth, the average baby’s brain is about a quarter of the size of the average adult brain. Incredibly, it doubles in size in the first year. It keeps growing to about 80% of adult size by age 3 and 90% — nearly full grown — by age 5.”
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PreKindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant
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By ensuring that each child in California has access to a year of high-quality Pre-K, AB 130 sets students up for success in kindergarten and beyond.
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Educator Effectiveness Grant Update from the California Department of Education
Recipients of the Educator Effectiveness Funds (EEF) must develop and adopt a plan detailing the planned expenditure of funds in alignment with the ten approved uses of the funds. This plan must be presented in a public meeting before its adoption in a subsequent public meeting before December 30, 2021. The plan is subject to audit and if the EEF plan is not adopted in two separate meetings before December 30, 2021, the local educational agency will receive an audit finding that will result in the forfeiture of funds.
There is nothing in statute that prohibits receiving entities from amending a plan at a later date. Therefore, we encourage all receiving entities to get an initial plan approved according to the requirements in California Education Code 41480 and amend the plan, as needed. Make sure to retain all plan presentations for audit purposes. |
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Transitional Kindergarten (TK): The first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum which is developmentally- and age-appropriate.
Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK): Transitional kindergarten program available to all 4-year-old children statewide at no cost to families. A year of high-quality Pre-K sets students up for success in kindergarten and beyond. Education Code (EC) 8281.5
Universal PreKindergarten (UPK): The continuum of high-quality programs, including TK, state preschool, Head Start, general childcare, and community-based early learning and care providers, that can be layered and wrapped to create rich early learning opportunities for all children during the year before kindergarten, regardless of income.
Expanded Learning / Extended Care: Child care services provided in addition to the normal school day or school year operations. It provides full-day or full-year child care to meet the needs of working families whose children are enrolled in TK or kindergarten. A full day is defined as nine or more hours. A full year includes a minimum 30 days of programming in the summer.
Preschool through 3rd Grade (P-3): A continuum of learning that can be supported by intentional practices at the classroom, school, and leadership levels that align curricula, assessment, and professional learning opportunities to ensure instruction builds on the knowledge and skills that children acquire as they transition across grades and settings.
P-3 Alignment: Both horizontal and vertical alignment and coherence across grades and systems to improve coordination of policies and practices in preschool, across transitions to TK and kindergarten, and through 3rd grade and beyond. The CDE’s P-3 alignment efforts stem from a belief that gaps in children’s opportunities and learning outcomes demand system-level reform at the state, county, district, school, and community levels to disrupt inequities, address bias, and promote equitable opportunity. Successful P-3 alignment requires cross-sector work, joint administrator and teacher professional learning opportunities, aligned instructional tools and learning environments, data-driven decision-making, engaged families, and continuity of pathways (CDE, 2021).
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AB 130 (which modifies EC Section 48000) outlines the required average ratio of adults to children in the transitional kindergarten classroom. Each classroom must be taught by a teacher who holds a credential issued by the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing (see Ed Code 44065 and 44256 for additional information). Starting in the 2022-23 school year, the average ratio in the classroom is one adult per every 12 students. In 2023-24, the average ratio is one adult per every 10 students contingent upon an appropriation of funds for this purpose. Additionally, school districts and charter schools must maintain an average transitional kindergarten class enrollment of not more than 24 pupils per classroom for each school site.
Timeline for Implementation
2021-22
Funding and Grants
- Facilities Grant Program (EC 17375-17375)
- Pre-Kindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant (EC 8281.5)
2022-23
Student Phase-In (EC 48000)
- 5th birthday between Sept. 2 and Feb. 2
Teacher to Student Ratios (EC 48000)
Credentialing Requirements (EC 48000)
- Additional TK credentialing requirements in place by August 2023
2023-24
Student Phase-In
- 5th birthday between Sept. 2 and April 2
Teacher to Student Ratios
- 1:10 (contingent on funding)
2024-25
Student Phase-In
- 5th birthday between Sept. 2 and June 2
Teacher to Student Ratios
- 1:10 (contingent on funding)
2025-26
Student Phase-In
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SDCOE P3-UTK Information Session Dec. 9
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Putting It All Together Series Coming January 2022
Look for information soon regarding a new learning opportunity starting in 2022 that helps you connect all the pieces of this new effort. The Putting It All Together series will support the implementation of universal transitional kindergarten.
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Invite your colleagues to receive this new publication by sharing this email or the link below. We'll be publishing no more than monthly as new information is available. |
We're hard at work updating SDCOE's UTK/TK webpage. Check the site often for updates and new details related to the P-3 alignment effort and UTK news.
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If you would prefer to not receive this newsletter, please reply to this email (or email erin.dare@sdcoe.net) and ask to be unsubscribed. SDCOE sends important and critical information throughout the year, and we don’t want you to miss out by clicking the unsubscribe link in this email.
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If you have any questions or comments about P3 -UTK newsletter, email SDCOE Executive Leadership Coach Erin Dare or call 858-295-8913.
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county. |
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