Senator Wright Honored With Early Learning Champion Award
10.08.2012 | Preschool California
For Immediate Release – October 8, 2012
For more information:
Jennifer Kern, (415) 277-6974, or (415) 244-7676, jkern@prandcompany.com
Deborah Kong, (415) 385-4288, dkong@preschoolcalifornia.org
Senator Wright Honored With Early Learning Champion Award
Wright Honored for Leadership in TK Classroom He Championed
Hawthorne, CA – October 8 – Preschool California today honored State Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) with the 2012 Early Learning Champion Award for his leadership on transitional kindergarten and early child care and education at a community celebration at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School with Wiseburn School District Superintendent Dr. Tom Johnston, educators, parents, grandparents, business and community leaders.
“Preschool California is pleased to present Senator Wright with the 2012 Early Learning Champion Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership championing transitional kindergarten and early child care and education,” said Catherine Atkin, President of Preschool California. “Senator Wright recognizes the importance of setting up our youngest students for academic success and stood up for our youngest learners at a vital time.”
With the new school year in full swing, more than 2,000 transitional kindergarten (TK) classrooms are up and running across the state; historically launching California’s first new grade since 1891.
“I’m honored to receive this recognition,” said Senator Wright. “Transitional kindergarten is a bright light for education and a pivotal first step towards college and career-readiness.”
Senator Wright visited two transitional kindergarten classrooms, observing students rotating through learning stations that emphasize creative play-based learning and shorter lessons appropriate for a younger child’s attention.
“I’m proud of the Wiseburn School District’s success in pioneering transitional kindergarten in my district, which has resulted in greater academic achievement, higher graduation rates and fewer students being held back or placed in special education,” added Senator Wright.
For the past ten years, Wiseburn School District has pioneered successful transitional kindergarten classrooms and expanded enrollment this year.
“We thank Senator Wright for recognizing the importance of starting off school right,” said Dr. Tom Johnston, Superintendent of Wiseburn School District. “Over the past ten years we’ve seen our transitional kindergarten students enter kindergarten with confidence and a love of learning.”
Transitional kindergarten is a new grade serving younger students with birthdays between September and December, established by the California state law that changed the kindergarten entry date so that children enter kindergarten at age five. All school districts are required to offer transitional kindergarten this year, but children’s attendance is voluntary, as is kindergarten attendance.
Transitional kindergarten is offered at no immediate additional cost to the state, because funding that would have been used to support young five year olds in kindergarten will be redirected to support those same children now in TK. Transitional kindergarten does not add more children to a school because the total number of children served remains the same and existing teachers and classroom facilities will be used.
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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: http://www.earlyedgecalifornia.org and http://www.tkcalifornia.org/
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