Early Care and Education

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 is a Mixed Delivery System? 

Universal prekindergarten (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.

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.

Local educational agency (LEAs) are required to plan for UPK and present this plan to their governing board or body for their consideration by June 30, 2022.

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.

Quality Matters is Monterey County's Quality Rating and Improvement System. Quality Matters is working to provide all children and families access to high quality early learning experiences.

Quality Matters Monterey County is supporting to raise the quality of early learning programs by assessing and supporting early learning programs in the following areas:

• Health and child development
• Teacher-to-child ratios and group sizes
• Teacher-child interactions
• Age and developmentally appropriate learning activities
• Teacher and administrator education and training

By participating in Quality Matters, Early Childhood Educators embark on a path of continuous quality improvement. Benefits of Quality Matters for Educators and Programs:

• Quality improvement plan and resources
• Professional development, coaching, and training opportunities
• Peer support network
• Quality rating
• Recognition of commitment to continuous quality improvement

For additional information visit: The Quality Matters Monterey County Website

Who We Are

Established by an act of the State Legislature in 1991, the Local Child Care Planning Council (LPC) is a collaborative association of representatives from the early care and education field, including parents, child care providers, non-profit, and government agencies.

The primary mission of the Local Child Care Council (LPC) is to plan for child care and development services based on the needs of families in the local community. Under the direction of the California State Department of Social Services, each county in California has a designated LPC.
The purpose of the Monterey County Child Care Planning Council is to support a comprehensive, integrated child care delivery system that offers safe, high quality, culturally sensitive, affordable child care to Monterey County families who need it; that allows parental choice; and is supported by a partnership of public and private resources.

LPC Meetings

2022 - 2023 Local Child Care Planning Council Meetings

These meetings, as well as all standing committee meetings conducted by the Local Child Care Planning Council,
are governed by The Brown Act and are open to the public.

Meetings are run using Robert's Rule of Order.
Additional meetings may be scheduled as ‘Special Meetings’ needed.
All meetings will be properly noticed and are open to the public.

*Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, and in keeping with Assembly Bill 361 which was signed into law on September 16, 2021, Brown Act meetings may currently be held virtually, but may change as determined by AB 361 and local health recommendations.

An agenda will be sent out and posted three days before each meeting.

If you would like to add an agenda item, please email or call the Monterey County LPC coordinator.

LPC Bylaws

Monterey County LPC Bylaws

Workforce Pathways

Funded by the California Department of Education (CDE) and administered by the Monterey County LPC, the QCC Workforce Pathways grant serves to build a more effective statewide early childhood workforce. As the state invests more in quality improvements, including workforce development, it will continue to align and build a stronger system.

• Supports for Dual Language Learners (DLL)
  • TBA
• Higher Education Stipends 
  • 2023 Pathways Stipend Instructions/Information

For more information, please contact Laurie M. Ramirez at laramirez@montereycoe.org