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What is the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program is a high-quality early learning option for children who
will have their fifth birthday between September 2 and September 1. This program presents the valuable
opportunity to provide children with foundational language, literacy and math skills taught by a
credentialed teacher, to prepare children for success in school, offer additional early learning choices to
families, and narrow the readiness gap. The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program is a 180 school
day program following the same time schedule as kindergarten and elementary school classrooms. The
class size is limited to 24 children per classroom and taught by one credentialed teacher with the support
of one instructional aide.
What are the benefits?
A compelling body of evidence, compiled by respected experts over decades, confirms that high-quality
early learning can substantially improve children’s cognitive and social skills, and foster a lifelong love of
learning, for greater success in Kindergarten-12 that will set them on a path to college and careers. The
Universal Transitional Kindergarten program aims to achieve the following goals for our youngest
learners:
• Provide quality early learning for all children who turn 5 between September 2 and September 1.
• Provide structured and unstructured opportunities for children to build socialization and
communication skills with children and adults.
• Lower the dropout rate and increase high school graduation rates by cultivating, at a very
young age, personal qualities that improve children’s resilience, confidence and persistence.
• Improve student success in A-G (college preparatory) requirements by setting a strong language and
literacy foundation for the youngest students.
What will the program look like?
Credentialed teachers will help children develop kindergarten readiness and social-emotional skills
through activities that build confidence and communication. They will also expose children to reading and
math in exciting, interactive ways using educational games to teach children early literacy skills and
mathematical foundations. The classroom environment will have:
• Learning centers that provide opportunities for play and discovery as an integral part of the
instructional day.
• Hands-on play that encourages children to explore and discover, and provides experiences that
foster curiosity, the ability to raise questions, and practice problem-solving.
• Outdoor learning activities that promote school readiness and social/emotional development.
• A credentialed teacher supported by an instructional aide to provide instruction informed by the
California Preschool Curriculum Framework and the Preschool Learning Foundations.
Los Angeles Unified School District
Early Childhood Education Division
Universal Transitional Kindergarten Program
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Frequently Asked Questions:
• What is the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
• What are the benefits and goals of the program?
• Will UTK participate in banked time?
• Will there be minimum days for UTK?
• What will happen to the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) if L.A. Unified is serving 4
year olds in the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
• Do parents have the option to enroll their 4 year old in CSPP instead of the Universal Transitional
Kindergarten program?
• What will the program structure entail?
• What will instruction entail?
• What curriculum will be used?
• What assessments will be used?
• How will Universal Transitional Kindergarten build on this model to ensure continued support to
English Learners?
• How will special education services be provided in the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
• Will Universal Transitional Kindergarten have report cards and Parent Conferences?
• What grade level will the students be promoted to once they complete their Universal Transitional
Kindergarten year?
• Will there be any combination classes with Universal Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten?
• What is the teacher-student ratio for the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
• What professional development will be offered for principals?
• What professional development will be available for teachers and instructional aides in the Universal
Transitional Kindergarten classroom?
• How are teachers and instructional aides selected to teach in a Universal Transitional Kindergarten
classroom?
• What are the roles and responsibilities for principals in schools with an Universal Transitional
Kindergarten program?
• What are the roles and responsibilities for local district instructional directors with regard to the
Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
• What are the enrollment requirements for children enrolled in Universal Transitional Kindergarten?
• Can children be enrolled who live outside school boundaries?
• What role will families play in choosing a Universal Transitional Kindergarten class for their child?
• Will transportation be provided for students enrolled in a Universal Transitional Kindergarten
program that is outside of their home school community?
• What resources are available to support instruction and implementation?
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Frequently Asked Questions for
Teachers & Administrators
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What is the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program is a high-quality early learning option for children who
will have their fifth birthday between September 2 and September 1. This program presents the valuable
opportunity to provide children with foundational language, literacy and math skills taught by a
credentialed teacher, to prepare children for success in school, offer additional early learning choices to
families, and narrow the readiness gap. The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program is a 180 school
day program following the same time schedule as kindergarten and elementary school classrooms. The
class size is limited to 24 children per classroom and taught by one credentialed teacher with the support
of one instructional aide.
What are the benefits and goals of the program?
A compelling body of evidence, compiled by respected experts over decades, confirms that high-quality
early learning can substantially improve children’s cognitive and social skills, and foster a lifelong love of
learning, for greater success in Kindergarten-12 that will set them on a path to college and careers. The
Universal Transitional Kindergarten program aims to achieve the following goals for our youngest
learners:
• Provide quality early learning for all children who turn 5 between September 2 and September 1.
• Provide structured and unstructured opportunities for children to build socialization and
communication skills with children and adults.
• Lower the dropout rate and increase high school graduation rates by cultivating, at a very young
age, personal qualities that improve children’s resilience, confidence and persistence.
• Improve student success in A-G (college preparatory) requirements by setting a strong language and
literacy foundation for the youngest students.
Will UTK participate in banked time?
UTK classroom schedules and teacher’s schedule will be included in banked time
Will there be minimum days for UTK?
Yes, UTK minimum days are to be used in conjunction with the other grades at the school site. These days
are to be used for parent conferences.
What will happen to the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) if L.A. Unified is serving 4
year olds in the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
L.A. Unified will ensure that the CSPP remains viable at the sites identified for the Universal
Transitional Kindergarten program. The CSPP is part of the L.A. Unified contract with the California
Department of Education and capacity enrollment is required. The Early Childhood Education Division
will work specifically with the schools that have CSPP to enroll 3-4 year olds in the three-hour CSPP
program. In addition, CSPP programs offer an alternative for families that are seeking part time
programs that are developmentally appropriate for their child.
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Do parents have the option to enroll their 4 year old in CSPP instead of the Universal Transitional
Kindergarten program?
This is a voluntary program for parents. Parents will have the choice of whether or not they want their
child to participate in the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program. They can choose what works best
for their family.
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What will the program structure entail?
The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program is a 180 school day program following the same time
schedule as other elementary classrooms. The class size will be 24 children. The program will
be taught by a credentialed teacher with support from one instructional aide. Students will participate in
Breakfast in the Classroom and will have lunch with peers in a location selected by the principal.
Credentialed teachers will help children develop social-emotional skills through activities that build
confidence and communication. They will also expose children to reading and math in an exciting,
interactive way by using educational games to teach children about words and sentences and help them
understand mathematical concepts like counting, sorting, and patterns.
What will instruction entail?
• The program will be grounded in the California Preschool Curriculum Framework and will follow
the expectations for early learning included in the Preschool Learning Foundations.
• The structure of the school day will revolve around many and varied opportunities for students to
gain foundational language and literacy skills appropriate to a preschool program. Learning
centers that provide opportunities for play and discovery are an integral part of the instructional day.
Productive classrooms consist of clearly defined interest areas where age-appropriate materials are
accessible for children’s choice. Classrooms must reflect cultural diverse populations and inclusive
programs. Hands-on play that encourages children to explore and discover provides experiences
that foster curiosity, the ability to raise questions, and practice in solving problems.
• An extremely important component of a quality preschool program involves the outdoor
learning environment. The Universal Transitional Kindergarten classroom schedule will include
outdoor learning time. Scheduled outdoor time is at the discretion of the School Site Administrator
based on playground availability.
What curriculum will be used?
The UTK program will use District adopted core curricula and developmentally appropriate materials as
guided by the CA Preschool Curriculum Framework and the CA Preschool Learning Foundations (PLF).
This is important for UTK students because the PLFs address the instructional practices for students
preparing for kindergarten.
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What will progress reporting look like?
UTK teachers are to use the same procedures and forms as Transitional Kindergarten teachers to report
student progress and conferences with parents. UTK (formerly ETK) will no longer do the Desired Results
Developmental Profile (DRDP) and will no longer input DRDP scores into DRDP Online. Beginning in
22-23 school year, UTK progress reports are to be done in MISIS. UTK will utilize the TK Progress
Report, which is aligned to the California Preschool Learning Foundations (PLFs). Only students
identified with an IEP enrolled in the UTK/CC program will continue to be assessed utilizing DRDP.
What assessments will be used in UTK?
While the Diagnostic Inventory of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) is optional for TK, the Oral
Language screener in the Amplify mCLASS platform is strongly encouraged. The Initial English
Language Proficiency Assessments for California (Initial ELPAC) will be used for students who are
potential ELs.
How will Universal Transitional Kindergarten build on this model to ensure continued support to
English Learners?
The development of language and literacy for young children through structured, developmentally
appropriate programs and services is core and will continue in the Universal Transitional Kindergarten
program. With the collective experience of teachers and other school staff, L.A. Unified will continue to
build on best practices to meet the needs of our student populations, including English Learners.
How will special education services be provided in the Universal Transitional Kindergarten
program? Special education supports and services will be provided by applicable related service
providers that serve students on site and/or Early Childhood Education itinerant staff in accordance with
each
student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This includes collaboration with the general education staff
to maximize the effectiveness of all supports and services to increase the child’s ability to access the
general education environment and remain in the least restrictive environment.
Will Universal Transitional Kindergarten have report cards and Parent Conferences?
Parent conferences will be conducted following the elementary school schedule. UTK progress reports
are to be done in MISIS. UTK will utilize the TK Progress Report, which is aligned to the California
Preschool Learning Foundations (PLFs).
What grade level will the students be promoted to once they complete their Universal Transitional
Kindergarten year?
All children completing a Universal Transitional Kindergarten program will promote to Kindergarten the
subsequent school year.
Will there be any combination classes with Universal Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten?
The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program will not have children in combination classrooms with
kindergarten.
What is the teacher-student ratio for the Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
Universal Transitional Kindergarten program shall have a class size of no more than 24 children and shall
be taught by one credentialed teacher and one instructional aide.
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What professional development will be offered for principals?
A one-day mandatory professional development session on the programmatic and operational issues
related to Universal Transitional Kindergarten will be conducted for all principals instituting the new
program. The respective instructional directors will also be required to attend in order to build their
understanding of developmentally appropriate early learning activities. This one-day session will occur in
July, when principals return on E-Basis.
What professional development will be available for teachers and teacher assistants of the Universal
Transitional Kindergarten classroom?
Professional development for teachers and instructional aide working in the Universal Transitional
Kindergarten program will be provided through four six-hour professional development sessions held
throughout the school year. The first session will be held in August prior to the beginning of the school
year and will provide an introduction to the components of the program including: Program Introduction,
Introduction to Preschool Learning Foundations, Classroom Organization, Outdoor Learning Activities,
Parent Orientations. The remaining three sessions will expand on the topics introduced in the August
session and address topics such as: Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), English Learners,
Special Needs, self-regulation, resiliency, family engagement, and community resources for students and
families.
How are teachers and instructional aides selected to teach in a Universal Transitional Kindergarten
classroom?
Teachers will be assigned to the Universal Transitional Kindergarten classroom as outlined in the
L.A. Unified/UTLA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Educators of this program should be interested in
teaching preschool children, able to develop curriculum based on the California Preschool Learning
Foundations, and have the energy and stamina to interact with very young children. The teachers
should understand the importance of language and literacy skills appropriate to preschool that
prepare children for kindergarten.
The Early Childhood Education Division will work with Human Resources to implement a teacher hiring/
selection process that occurs as enrollment warrants. Instructional aides will be selected by each school.
What are the roles and responsibilities for principals in schools with a Universal Transitional
Kindergarten program?
The elementary school principal is ultimately responsible for the appropriate recruitment, identification,
and enrollment of Universal Transitional Kindergarten students. The principal is also responsible for
ongoing supervision, monitoring and support of all aspects of the Universal Transitional Kindergarten as
aligned to the California Preschool Learning Foundations. It is crucial that the Universal Transitional
Kindergarten program be considered an integral component in the elementary school and the teachers held
to the same rigorous professional standards as their K-5/6 colleagues. Principals will ensure that one
instructional aide remains in the UTK classroom to support instruction.
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What are the roles and responsibilities for local district instructional directors with regard to the
Universal Transitional Kindergarten program?
During the school year, the expectation is that instructional directors assigned to each of these schools
will closely monitor the instructional program and provide assistance as necessary to the principal, teacher
and parents.
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What are the enrollment requirements for children enrolled in Universal Transitional Kindergarten?
Children who will have their fifth birthday between September 2 and September 1 are eligible for
enrollment in the Universal Transitional Kindergarten Program.
Can children be enrolled who live outside school boundaries?
Family residency within the school boundary is a priority. After all neighborhood children have been
offered enrollment, schools may enroll students outside of their residential but within L.A. Unified
boundary. A one-year, no extension permit is available to facilitate this process.
What do I do with applications of students that do not meet the priority enrollment requirements?
Accept the application and place these students on a waiting list until space becomes available.
What role will families play in choosing an Universal Transitional Kindergarten class for their child?
Participation in Universal Transitional Kindergarten is optional. Parents will have the choice of whether or
not they want their child to participate in the program. They can choose what works best for their family.
L.A. Unified’s goal is to provide another option to families to support the early learning experiences that
will help them thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
Will transportation be provided for students enrolled in a Universal Transitional Kindergarten
program that is outside of their home school community?
Transportation will not be provided for this program.
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Resources
What resources are available to support instruction and implementation?
• Transitional Kindergarten FAQs developed by California Department of Education
o http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderfaq.asp#contactinfo
• California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks
o http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psframework.asp
• California Preschool Learning Foundations
o http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp
• The Alignment of the California Preschool Learning Foundation with Key Early Education
Resources
o http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/documents/psalignment.pdf
• Transitional Kindergarten Teaching Tools on classroom & instructional planning, Social
Emotional Development, English Language Arts, Mathematics, English Language Development
o http://www.tkcalifornia.org/teaching-tools/
• Other resources for Transition Kindergarten can be found at
o www.tkcalifornia.org
• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
o http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/strategies.html
• California Department of Education, Management Bulletin 14-02
o http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb1402.asp
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