Universal Prekindergarten
Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) is the expansion of the state’s mixed delivery system to meet the early education needs of 3 and 4-year-old children and their families, including transitional kindergarten which will be available for free to all 4-year olds by 2025-26. UPK is an essential part of transforming California’s schools and giving every student in California a great start.
UPK brings together Universal Transitional Kindergarten and all existing state preschools and federal early education (including California State Preschools and Head Start) private child care, and expanded learning opportunities including before and after school programs into the same system. UPK can serve as a bridge between early childhood and TK-12 systems to increase students’ readiness for school and schools’ readiness for students so that all children thrive in school and in life.
San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools fully supports the vision for UPK described on page 4 of the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care which states “that all California children thrive physically, emotionally and educationally in their early years, through access to high-quality early learning and care resources; equitable opportunities for the workforce that advance equitable outcomes for children; and greater efficiencies to the state today and every day through structures for continuous improvement.” In an effort to transform lives through education, SBCSS is committed to identifying and prioritizing the individual needs of young children and their families through collective impact partnerships that champion a mixed-delivery system for UPK.
Heather Smith
Director, Early Education and Development
For additional information, please call 909.386.2658.
601 North E Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0020