Universal prekindergarten (UPK) refers to universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) as well as the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, and early childhood special education programs and providers that families can choose from to create rich early learning opportunities for many three- and all four-year-old children during the year or two years before kindergarten.
Governance and Policy highlights the rules and regulations for UTK including the program models, certification, ratio, and Education Code that govern delivery model implantation in all settings.
The California Education Code (EC) Section8281.5 requires local educational agencies (LEAs). Full Day UTK is more than 4 hours per day as part of a larger early learning program that should be prioritized to support family needs. Part Day is defined as less than 4 hours but a minimum of 3. All TK at an LEA must be taught by a credentialed teacher that meets CTC requirements for teaching in UTK.
California State Preschool Program is a State Preschool Program in California that operates under a CDE contract for children 3-5 years old. These programs have both full and part day contract options that support age and income eligible families. These CDE contract programs known as CSPP operate play-based programming that has specific requirements under Title 5 and Title 22 regulations. LEAs can operate CDE CSPP contracts that do not fall under Title 22 if they are provided a license exempt status by CDE.
Early Enrollment for UTK known as ETK is allowable by EdCode for all children turning 5 in the current school outside of the UTK age eligible window provided that all other UTK EdCode requirements are met including staffing, class size cap, and ratio are adhered to. This excludes UTK students outside the UTK window enrolled in an SDC class.
Typical school hours don’t meet the needs of all families, so a blending of services will enable consistent care children. Through strong partnerships across systems, blended programs will support a child’s early learning.
Expanded Learning Opportunity includes all programming with-in the 9 hour school day but outside of the 6 hour school -day, including non school-day and intersession programming. UTK children enrolled in ELO programming must remain in a 1:10 ratio.
Funding sources dedicated to public education must be expanded to include alternative education options so that equity is achieved across systems.
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