Cambrian School District

October 27, 2011

Transitional Kindergarten OverviewPlanning for Long-Term Student Success

Adapted from Lisa Kaufman, Ph.D.Director, Early Learning Services DepartmentSanta Clara County Office of Education

Overview

Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 (SB 1381) Overview

TK Design and Implementation

Planning for TK: Key Components

Next Steps

Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010

Senate Bill (SB) 1381Amends CA Ed code to change the required birthday for admission to kindergarten and first grade and established a transitional kindergarten program beginning in the 2012-13 school year.

SB 1381 Overview

First year of a two-year kindergarten program

Student enrollment voluntary

Districts must provide, yet flexibility in how to implement

Curriculum is modified to be age and developmentally appropriate

Focus on readiness for school success

SB 1381 Overview

Changes in age for entrance into kindergarten; 5 years of age by:

For 2011-12 school year: December 2For 2012-13 school year: November 1For 2013-14: October 1For 2014-15 and beyond: September 1

SB 1381 Overview

Source: Preschool California

SB 1381 Overview

Benefits Students better prepared to succeed in

traditional kindergarten and beyond

Improves social-emotional and cognitive development

Increases test scores

Reduces grade retention and special education placement

Tremendous opportunity to integrate early learning and elementary systems

Preschool Kindergarten

TK

TK a Bridge for SuccessThe bridge gives students the essential skills they need to be successful in kinder and beyond.

TK Design and Implementation

Two Levels of Implementation

District office: Infrastructure, systems planning and development

Sites: Classroom design and instruction, implementation of of districts systems

Key Considerations for Implementation

TK implementation committee

Board policies

Site identification

Development of criteria (if TK not at every site)

Key ComponentsDistrict Office Implementation

Curriculum Selection

Procurement

Curriculum

Indoor/outdoor materials and equipment

Key ComponentsDistrict Office Implementation

Professional Development for Teachers

Early learning environments

Social-emotional development

Developmentally appropriate instructional practice

Preschool Learning Foundations

Oral language and literacy development

Key ComponentsDistrict Office Implementation

Teacher Selection and Support

Ideally has early learning experience

Important to provide professional development and support

Key ComponentsSite Implementation

Classroom and Program Design

Environment is nurturing and engaging

Outdoor areas are extensions of the classroom

Developmentally appropriate materials easily accessible to students

Classroom materials reflect all cultures, families and communities of students

Key ComponentsSite Implementation

Outreach to Families

Important to message TK as opportunity for long-term student success

Open, transparent, and frequent communication with families is vital

Key ComponentsSite Implementation

Next Steps

SCCOE TK Steering Committee

Discussion and decisions about vision for TK in Cambrian

Logistic decisions and timeline

Timeline implementation

Implementation Strategies to Consider

Class Configuration TK only

TK and K in one class

Implementation Timeline Phase in

Full implementation

Implementation Strategies to Consider

2 Ways to Implement:

Phase-In• 2012-13: must be 5 years old by November 1• 2013-14: must be 5 years old by October 1• 2014-15: must be 5 years old by September 1

Full Implementation• 2012-13: must be 5 years old by September 1

Advantages of FullImplementation in 2012-2013

Enrollment and Logistics

• Projected Enrollment phase-in - 18 students full implementation – 66 students

Class Requirements phase-in – 1 class district-wide full implementation - 3-4 classes

Full implementation provides a greater likelihood that students will have a TK class in their neighborhood school.

Advantages of FullImplementation in 2012-2013

Staffing and Professional Development • A larger cohort of TK teachers (3-4) will transfer

or be re-assigned and collaborate on development of the new program guidelines

• Professional development on transitional kindergarten frameworks can be conducted in the first year.

• Professional development on elements of a transitional kindergarten in the first year for teachers and principals.

Advantages of FullImplementation in 2012-2013

Communication• One year communication campaign about the

change versus 3 years of campaigns about the change

• Kindergarten/TK registration materials created once versus changing forms to reflect the different cut off dates; eliminates need for detailed tracking of birthdays

Advantages of FullImplementation in 2012-2013

Communication

TK orientation for parents. Parents of children born in the latter quarter of the year may feel less isolated as part of a larger cohort than the parents who have children in the one month that is being excluded from regular kindergarten during each phase in year

Summary

If we believe the 2-year kindergarten option is good for “young 5’s,” why

would we not give the maximum number of students that opportunity,

as soon as possible?