Central California
Fresno
Fresno County, with funding and support from the Packard Foundation, First 5 Fresno and leaders in the local business community, has taken steps to create an accessible and effective network of important early childhood education services in Fresno. In the past three years, Fresno County has facilitated a Professional Learning Community (PLC) on transitional kindergarten. The PLC engaged small and large school districts from both rural and urban areas in the development of best instructional practices gearing up for implementation. With a model program in Kingsburg, Fresno County has emerged as a leader in and participation in a state level PLC. In November of 2008, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Larry Powell presented Fresno County’s Voluntary Preschool Master Plan. More than 100 community leaders were involved in planning this countywide effort to improve the quality of preschool programs and increase voluntary access for all 4 year olds in Fresno County.
The Fresno Unified School District Early Learning Taskforce also drives early learning efforts in Fresno. The taskforce, which is composed of early learning partners and community members, was created to develop recommendations for an integrated, structured, standards-based approach to early learning instruction. The group will develop recommendations in a variety of issues, including recruitment and registration of young learners, integration and unification of early learning programs, curriculum, professional development, assessments, supervision and evaluation, and parent engagement.
For information on transitional kindergarten in Fresno, please visit the Transitional Kindergarten Implementation web section.
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