Parent Resources - Monterey County Office of Education

Parents & Educational Partners

The Common Core State Standards were developed to establish clear, consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in Math and English language arts from kindergarten through 12th grade. We want to ensure that after high school, all students are prepared for college and/or the business world. The standards were drafted by experts and teachers from across the country and are designed to ensure students are prepared for today’s entry-level careers, freshman-level college courses, and workforce training programs. The Common Core focuses on developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills students will need to be successful. The new standards also provide a way for teachers to measure student progress throughout the school year and ensure that students are on the pathway to success in their academic careers. MCOE Curriculum & Instruction is committed to providing training and resources for students and parents to better understand the Common Core State Standards.

CDE Parent/Family Resources

Common Core Parent Resources

English

Parents Backpack Guide to Common Core

What are the Common Core Standards?

Parent Roadmap CCSS: ELA

Parent Roadmap CCSS: Math

CDE Resources for CCSS

Español

Guia Para Padres Centrales Comunes

Cuáles son los Estándares Básicos Comunes?

Parents Guide to Student Success - CCSS

Guía Para Los Padres: ELA

Guía Para Los Padres: Math

Recursos de CDE

Videos

Video Explaining the Common Core State Standards

Vídeo Explicando las Common Core State Standards

Fentanyl & Substance Misuse

Coping with Violence and Trauma

Early Childhood Education

Health

Help Your Child Learn

Pay for College

PTA

Safety

SBAC Parent Guides

Special Education

Supporting LGBTQIA+

Universal Prekindergarten (UPK)

Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) is the expansion of the state’s mixed delivery system to meet the early education needs of 3- and 4-year-old children and their families, including Transitional Kindergarten which will be available for free to all 4-year olds by 2025-2026.

UPK is an essential part of transforming California’s schools and giving every student in California a great start.

Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) will bring together programs across early learning and K-12, relying heavily on Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) and California State Preschool Program (CSPP), as well as Head Start, community-based organizations (CBOs), and private preschool to ensure every four-year old child – regardless of background, race, zip code, immigration status, or income level – has access to a quality learning experience the year before kindergarten.

A transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. Pursuant to law, Ed. Code 48000[c] and Senate Bill 1381.

What UPK Offers Families

All families in California–regardless of immigration & income status–are eligible to participate depending on your child’s age and the program you select
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) will be available to all 4-year-old children for free
More flexible, high-quality early education choices for their 3- and 4-year-olds that address families' childcare needs*
The opportunity to give input to make sure local UPK programs reflect your family’s and community’s needs and culture
Schools that are ready to support your child's learning
Assurance that your child is entering school equipped with the tools that will help them succeed

California's Universal Prekindergarten Implementation Timeline

UPK stands for Universal Prekindergarten, which, by 2025–26 will exist for all four-year-old children in California.

Universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) is part of UPK, but not the only part. UPK is a mixed delivery system that also includes the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) which the California Department of Education (CDE) operates, along with other prekindergarten programs serving three- and four-year-old children, including the federal Head Start Program, subsidized programs that operate a preschool learning experience and are operated by community-based organizations (CBOs)--including family childcare, and private preschool. Part of UPK is also the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) that helps TK-6th grade, a full-day program aligned with the needs to parents.

Goals for UPK Implementation

Preschool through Third Grade (P-3) Alignment: Connecting the early grades for future success.

California Department of Education (CDE) seeks to elevate the role of high-quality, inclusive and multilingual preschool, strong early intervention services, and P-3 alignment in ensuring the future of California's children.

How Do TK, UPK and P-3 Alignment Work Together?

P-3 Connects UPK with Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade
Aligning developmentally informed best practices, UPK– 3rd grade.
UPK is a mixed-delivery system of UTK, CSPP, Head Start, private providers, and more
Provides every four-year old access to high quality learning the year before kindergarten
TK is an integral program in the mixed delivery system for achieving UPK
The only program that must serve any four-year old child that wants to enroll by 2025-26.

2022-23

Student Phase-In
5th birthday between Sept. 2 and Feb. 2
(EC 48000)

2023-24

Student Phase-In
5th birthday between Sept. 2 and Apr. 2
1:12 Teacher to Student Ratios

2024-25

Student Phase-In
5th birthday between Sept. 2 and Jun. 2
1:10 Teacher to Student Ratios
(contingent on funding)

2025-26

Student Phase-In
4th birthday by Sept. 1

MCOE's 2023-2024 Universal Prekindergarten Implementation Plan

First page of the PDF file: MCOE_UPK_Report_2023_C11

More information and resources on Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) for school districts and educators

Information and resources on Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) for families

Governor Newsom's Video Message About Transitional Kindergarten

Watch Governor Newsom’s special video message about Transitional Kindergarten!

"California is making a big commitment and that’s making Transitional Kindergarten accessible and free to all 4 year old kids. That means every child can learn in a nurturing environment with small class sizes to give our young learners the attention they deserve. And when we’re finished with this expansion, California will have the single largest free preschool program in the country, serving nearly 400,000 children.”

– Governor Gavin Newsom

Quicklinks

Monterey County UPK branding logo- For all Monterey County UPK Stakeholders

California's UPK Communication materials

Key information for families

TK California

Multilingual Learning Toolkit

MCOE's UPK Planning Padlet

Branded blank UPK slide deck

UPK Key information overview Slide Deck

Two-pager Key information for UPK implementers

P-3 Teacher Preparation Resources

California Department of Education's UPK FAQs

California Educator Together's UPK & P-3 Group

MCOE's UPK Workforce & Curriculum Supports Padlet

California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) Resources