Back in 2022, the Californian Government accelerated its plans to introduce universal transitional kindergarten (TK).
Our lovely parents supported Kids Konnect during the TK transition. We had lots of people come up to us to discuss how TK will impact our preschools and infant centers, and how it could impact our children’s education.
We pledged to always keep you regularly updated on the state of California’s pledge to introduce TK in the Bay Area and how people are responding to proposed changes. Please read on if you would like to know more about TK and how it is impacting child care across the Bay Area.
This blog gives you an overview of the TK plans and why Kids Konnect was and still is cautiously optimistic about the introduction and believe CA families deserve more options in care and education.
What is Transitional Kindergarten in California?
TK brings early-learning education into the public school system. The state government aimed to include all Californian four-year-old children by the 2025-26 school year. The TK program makes early-learning child care free for families by introducing a school year before Kindergarten. Each year the state is getting closer to achieving this goal and California now ranks 13th in the nation for preschool enrolment for four-year olds.
California’s bill was supported by Governor Gavin Newsom following the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, and former President Joe Biden’s plans for universal preschool.
However, Kids Konnect was against the proposed plans as they stood back in 2022.
Why is Kids Konnect Against TK?
Kids Konnect supports universal preschool. We’ve been advocating for a fairer early learning system in the Bay Area district for years. Every family deserves access to child care and we work with a series of charities and organizations to make sure this happens.
While we did support the Californian government’s efforts, we did not see suitable preparations being made for a successful roll out. We believed the government was rushing through these proposals and was developing a blanket plan that doesn’t meet the reality of the current situation.
Our three main issues:
TK in California will further burden the families it wants to help
The plans offered no flexibility for parents. They must drop off and pick up their children at certain times. If there is no after-school support, many parents will have to take time off work to pick their children up or arrange alternative care. The TK plans are designed to help low-income families. However, the pandemic has taught us that low-income families often have less flexible jobs. Not everyone can work from home. This means TK will not be as helpful as people believe.
TK in California will negatively impact a child’s early learning education
California TK plans included having ratios of 1:12 in the 2022-23 school year, and 1:10 from the 2023-24 school year. These ratios are quite high compared to other preschools. Staffing would be incredibly difficult and training the teachers to an adequate standard will take more time than outlined. At the moment, to teach TK in a public school, all you need is a high school diploma. In The State of Preschool Yearbook, TK did not get good grades. It failed nine out of ten of the quality benchmarks. Class size and specalized teacher training were the biggest concerns. Without decent investment, Kids Konnect couldn’t envision the quality of TK improving as they scale up the program.
TK in California was unreliable
The TK plan put more stress on our struggling public school system. Entire school districts closed as there weren't enough teachers. Families all over the district were left stranded. These closures arguably hit people with young children hardest.
In February 2022, the Oakland School Board opted to close seven schools over the next two years. Teachers were also being laid off. In January, 900 San Francisco teachers were not in their classrooms. This was roughly 20% of all teachers in the district. Many teachers hosted a “sick out” in protest to their lack of protection from the pandemic, and some were genuinely ill. However, the state government was scrambling to find qualified replacements.
With school closures and teachers either being shown pink slips, protesting or not qualified to teach, it was impossible to envision the system being successful. The TK plan was to increase the number of TK students from 100,000 to 3,000,000. Run the math and they would need to hire an extra 300,000 teachers by September 2023 to meet the target 1:10 ratio. This didn't seem feasible.
Kids Konnect believed, unless the plan is redrafted, it will damage the education of our young children. Unfortunately, three years later issues remain with teacher shortages, limited space, low budgets and hours that do not suit working families. Read more here.
What Kids Konnect Proposed For TK in California?
Kids Konnect always advocates for universal, affordable child care.
We thought that the state government should give the federal money they got per child for their extended program straight to the families. This way, families could choose the type of child care they thought was best for their children. They could choose the quality of child care that was best for their children.
How Is Kids Konnect Advocating For Their TK in California Amendment?
Kids Konnect, along with Bananas, invited Assembly Member Mia Bonta to view our San Leandro preschool and infant center. She asked questions about our program, play-based curriculum and how we interact with our families.
Assembly Member Bonta is a previous early learning educator so understands what is needed to provide a high quality TK education. She is hoping to support Kids Konnect in the future.
Kids Konnect Promises For TK
Whatever happens with TK in California, Kids Konnect promises to provide quality child care to 0-6-year-olds in the Bay Area.
Our schools will:
- Long opening hours (San Leandro 7AM-5:30PM and Redwood City 7.30AM-5PM)
- Ratios of no more than 1:8
- Subsidized tuition to support low income families
SUBSCRIBE TO KIDS KONNECT CHANNELS TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST TK DEVELOPMENTS
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BOOK A TOUR OF ONE OF YOUR LOCAL BAY AREA SCHOOLS TO START YOUR APPLICATION