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California Preschool Learning Foundations

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OutcomesIncrease your understanding of the California Preschool

Learning Foundations, including:

• why they are important

• what they are, what they say, what they mean and how they are organized

• how they fit in California’s Preschool Learning System

• next steps

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It’s Here!

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“Research shows that all children can benefit from participating in

high-quality preschool programs.”

Jack O’ConnellA Message from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Children who attend high-quality preschool programs:

• are more comfortable in their surroundings

• have been exposed to books

• have learned to play cooperatively

• are accustomed to learning with others

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Key Findings of the Rand Study

• Children who attend pre-k score higher on school readiness measures at kindergarten entry.

• Effective pre-k improves children’s K-12 academic performance.

• Effective pre-k has long-term benefits.

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With a goal of ensuring that all preschools offer high-quality programs, the California Department of Education developed these preschool learning foundations.

On January 22, 2008, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell formally released the foundations during the California State of Education address.

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A Personal Reflection

Take a moment to respond to this question:

What do I already know about the preschool

learning foundations?

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The Foundations…

Describe the knowledge and skills that all young children typically exhibit:

• at around 48 and 60 months of age;

• as they complete their first or second year of preschool;

• with appropriate support; and

• when attending a high-quality preschool program.

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High-Quality Programs Include

• environments and experiences that encourage active, playful exploration and experimentation

• purposeful teaching to help children gain knowledge and skills

• specific support for children learning English

• specific accommodations and adaptations for children with special needs

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http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp

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Social-Emotional Development

English- Language Development

Language and Literacy

Mathematics

Preschool Learning Foundations ~Domains~

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Let’s Take a Book Walk

• A Message from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction

• The Acknowledgements

• The Introduction

• The Four Domains: Social-Emotional Development, Language and Literacy, English-Language Development, and Mathematics

• The Appendix

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Introduction to Foundations

Read the Preschool Learning Foundations Introduction on pages xi-xvi.

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Introduction Highlights

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Introduction Highlights

• Foundations describe knowledge and skills that most children can be expected to exhibit in a high-quality program at the end of their first or second year of preschool.

• They focus on behaviors reflecting age-appropriate competencies for children at around 48 months and at around 60 months.

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• Children are different and may not demonstrate the behaviors in the examples exactly as they are stated.

• When taking an in-depth look at a domain, one needs to keep in mind that, for young children, learning is a very integrated experience.

Introduction Highlights

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The purpose of the foundations is to promote understanding of preschool children’s learning and to guide instructional practice.

Introduction Highlights

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Universal Design for Learning

• supports preschool programs in their efforts to foster learning and development for all children

• provides opportunities for children to follow different pathways to learning

• provides for the use of multiple approaches to learning

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Universal Design for Learning cont.

• provides information in a variety of ways so that the learning needs of all of the children are met

• allows for use of alternative methods to demonstrate what they know or feel

• provides choices for activities that facilitate learning by building on children’s interests

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Structure of the Foundations

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A Walk Through the Domain Organization

• Introduction

• Foundations

• Bibliographic Notes

• Glossary

• References

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StrandStrand

AgeAge

DomainDomain

Map of the FoundationsSocial-Emotional Development

AgeAgeSubstrandSubstrand

ExamplesExamples

FoundationFoundation

Self

Foundation Description

Foundation Description

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DomainDomain

Foundations Organization

Age Age

StrandStrand

Substrand Substrand

FoundationFoundation

English-language development foundations

have Levels not Ages

English-language development foundations

have Levels not Ages

Social-emotional development

foundations include descriptions for

Foundations

Social-emotional development

foundations include descriptions for

Foundations

ExamplesExamples

English-language development has a Focus level below

Substrands

English-language development has a Focus level below

Substrands

Language and literacy includes descriptions of

Substrands

Language and literacy includes descriptions of

Substrands

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General sources onculture, early

learning, and early childhood education

General sources onculture, early

learning, and early childhood education

Documents from the California

Department of Education

Documents from the California

Department of Education

Well-validated assessment tools

Well-validated assessment tools

Early childhood education

standards fromother states

Early childhood education

standards fromother states

Relevant studiesRelevant studies

FOUNDATIONS FOUNDATIONS

Foundations are based on…

…and enhanced with expert practioners’ suggestions and examples.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For Example:

What is the relationship between the English-language development and the language and literacy foundations?

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CDE Web site• The foundations are posted on the CDE Web

site at www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp

• At the Web address, the underlined Preschool Learning Foundations link takes you to the publication. There you will have easy access to the chapters and sections within the 192 page publication.

• The Appendix, on pages 173-192, provides a summary list of the foundations.

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To Purchase

• The Preschool Learning Foundations publication are available for purchase from the CDE Press after March 28, 2008 for $19.95.

• Ordering information can be found at the CDE Web site www.cde.ca.gov or by calling 800-995-4099.

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What’s next?

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Curriculum Framework

• The framework will be developed to provide guidance on the implementation of the foundations.

• There will be opportunities for input from the field.

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The DRDP-R is the Assessment Tool

• Fall 2009 – The DRDP-R will be aligned to the foundations.

• Fall 2010 – The aligned DRDP-R will be implemented by state-funded preschool programs before monitoring visits will require its use.

• Fall 2011 – The aligned DRDP-R will be required.

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Visual and Performing Arts

Physical Development

History/ Social Sciences

Science

Preschool Foundations

Future Domains

Health

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Timeline for Next Set of Preschool Learning Foundations

TIMELINETIMELINE

2007-08 Work Begins

2008 Input Sessions

2009 Foundations

Released

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Professional DevelopmentOpportunities

• The California Preschool Instructional Network will provide training opportunities. Check the CPIN Web site at www.cpin.us for upcoming training dates.

• The Faculty Training Initiative will hold seminars for college faculty. Visit www.wested.org/facultyinitiative/ for more information.