Educational systems are continuously thinking about how to best connect with families. Establishing effective communication early on can foster a positive and safe learning environment where students can thrive social-emotionally, academically, and experience a joyful learning. It also provides parents with up-to-date information and builds a community of trust between home and school.

With the rollout of universal prekindergarten (UPK), families have options to select a program that best fits their young learners' needs. With the mixed delivery options available, providing program options and up-to-date information supports parents in their decision-making. As you think through your system, how is your community informed of their options? What type of outreach efforts have been made to welcome families to your school? How are you reaching out to your community to understand what needs they have so that you may be responsive to those needs when children enroll in your school?

What outreach platforms do you utilize?

The importance of establishing good communication at a young age is critical in a child's development and future learning. Knowing your community and their needs will help to build a more effective system to connect school to home. Communication is a two-way street, and as you think through the support you provide to your communities, establishing clear communication plans will support these efforts. A positive step to creating that connection would be to design a communication plan that takes the needs of families into consideration so they can make informed decisions on what program is best for their child. Below you will find resources and tips on how to develop a communication plan. If your district has a communications representative, we also recommend reaching out to them for guidance and support. Happy planning!

Your partners in education,

SDCOE is offering a professional learning session to support leaders with TK classes on their sites. This accelerated session will provide a high-level overview on what to expect in TK classrooms. The intended audience is district and site leaders who are leading a TK program. This session will be held on Jan. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. Register today.

Participants will learn about:

Join us for the 20th Annual Early Years Conference where we will celebrate your personal learning journey and commitment to continuous improvement in early childhood education. By attending this conference, you will learn how your role as an early educator is the key to bridging early learning programs and kindergarten through 3rd grade. Attendees will also increase their knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices to support a strong birth through 3rd grade continuum.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) provides funding for after school and summer school enrichment programs for transitional kindergarten through 6th grade. ELO-P requires the development of a program plan by each local educational agency (LEA) that receives an ELO-P apportionment. The program plan needs to be approved by the LEA’s Governing Board in a public meeting and posted on the LEA’s website. The California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) has posted on their website resources to assist LEAs with the development of their program plan, including a ​Program Plan Guide.

The CDE ELO-P webpage has been recently updated. The updates include information on the 2023-24 audit guide, FAQs. and an ELO Program presentation. This presentation includes updated guidance through AB 185.

The System for Support for Expanded Learning (SSEL) at SDCOE is available to support LEAs with any ELO-P related questions. Please contact Brittany Mabe, director, or Liza Flowers, coordinator, for additional information. To join the monthly San Diego ELO-P Network, click here for more details and registration information.

As a condition of receipt of UPK funds, LEAs must provide program data to the California Department of Education (CDE). The CDE shall initiate collection proceedings for grant funds used by LEAs in a manner inconsistent with the requirements in EC 8281.5, including, but not limited to, failing to submit expenditure reports.

The first expenditure reports for the reporting period of May 1 to Oct. 31, 2022 are due to the CDE on Dec. 31, 2022. Information and directions for reporting UPK expenditures can be accessed by downloading the Universal PreKindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Expenditure Report.

Please access professional development calendar that highlights offerings from SDCOE that may be a good fit for your staff.

Subscribe to the SDCOE Universal PreKindergarten to Third Grade (P-3) publication.

Access archived issues.

This e-newsletter is designed to support the efforts, alignment, and implementation of universal prekindergarten (UPK) to 3rd grade (P-3) in San Diego County. It provides local educational agencies (LEAs) 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 at the San Diego County Office of Education is to gather and share the most current and relevant content for the implementation of UPK and establish a network across San Diego County to support education leaders as they work to establish and create a new grade level.