California State Legislature Passes Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Bill
08.23.2012 | Preschool California
For Immediate Release – August 23, 2012
For more information:
Jennifer Kern (415) 277-6975, jkern@prandcompany.com
Diana Chun (510) 271-0075 x 303, dchun@preschoolcalifornia.org
California State Legislature Passes Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Bill
Bill Supports High-Quality Implementation of First New Grade Since 1891
Sacramento, CA – August 23, 2012– California’s transitional kindergarten (TK) students are poised to receive a high-quality education after the state Legislature yesterday passed Assembly Bill 1853 (Bonilla, Simitian), which would begin the process of creating optional formal educational and professional development opportunities for TK teachers.
With the historic implementation of the new transitional kindergarten grade this fall, the TK implementation bill’s passage reflects the Legislature’s commitment to supporting teachers in providing a high-quality TK experience for students. AB 1853, which passed the legislature with bipartisan support, now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.
“With school districts across the state gearing up to offer transitional kindergarten this fall, it’s vital that we provide teachers with the learning opportunities they need to teach transitional kindergarten effectively,” said Assemblymember Susan Bonilla (D-Concord), who authored AB 1853, after hearing from teachers about the need for it at a Select Committee on High Quality Early Childhood Education hearing she convened. “This bill responds directly to teachers’ requests for support, and initiates the process of identifying program standards and best practices to provide the best possible transitional kindergarten experience for each child.”
AB 1853 supporters include the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California State University, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, Association of California School Administrators, California School Boards Association, California State PTA, Bay Area Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, among other education, business and parent organizations.
“I’m glad to see this bill getting the support it deserves. It provides transitional kindergarten teachers with the training and the tools they need to get California’s youngest learners off to the very best start,” said Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who is principal coauthor of AB 1853, and who authored the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, which created transitional kindergarten.
SB 1853 would not utilize any General Fund monies and requires private funds be identified to implement the bill.
“From my nearly 40 years of experience as a kindergarten teacher, and my more recent experience as a transitional kindergarten teacher, I know this bill will provide for the training and support teachers need to successfully lead transitional kindergarten classrooms,” said Barbara Blakley, a retired TK teacher from Los Angeles Unified School District. “With transitional kindergarten being implemented statewide this fall, teachers need this support as soon as possible.”
The Kindergarten Readiness Act is the California law that changed the kindergarten entry date so that children enter school at age 5 and established transitional kindergarten, a new grade to serve those younger students with birthdays between September and December. Because schools will serve the same number of students in transitional kindergarten that they previously served in kindergarten, the law requires no additional funding allocation.
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About Preschool California
Preschool California is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to increase access to high-quality early learning for all of California’s children, starting with those who need it most. Learn more at: www.earlyedgecalifornia.org and at www.tkcalifornia.org.
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