Universal Transitional Kinder

UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN (UTK)

What is the Universal Transitional Kindergarten classroom program?

The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program is a high-quality early learning option for children who will have their fourth birthday on/by September 1 of the school year. This program presents the valuable opportunity to provide children with foundational language, literacy and math skills taught by a credentialed teacher, to prepare children for success in school, offer additional early learning choices to families, and narrow the readiness gap. The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program is a 180 school day program following the same time schedule as kindergarten and elementary school classrooms. The class size is limited to 24 children per classroom and taught by one credentialed teacher with the support of one instructional aide.

What are the benefits and goals of the program?

A compelling body of evidence, compiled by respected experts over decades, confirms that high-quality early learning can substantially improve children’s cognitive and social skills, and foster a lifelong love of learning, for greater success in Kindergarten-12 that will set them on a path to college and careers. The Universal Transitional Kindergarten program aims to achieve the following goals for our youngest learners:

     • Provide quality early learning for all children who will have their fourth birthday on/by September 1 of the school year.
     • Provide structured and unstructured opportunities for children to build socialization and communication skills with children and adults.
     • Lower the dropout rate and increase high school graduation rates by cultivating, at a very young age, personal qualities that improve children’s resilience, confidence and persistence.
     • Improve student success in A-G (college preparatory) requirements by setting a strong language and literacy foundation for the youngest students.

What role do families play in opting to enroll their child in Universal Transitional Kindergarten?

Participation in Universal Transitional Kindergarten is optional. Parents will have the choice of whether or not they want their child to participate in the program. They can choose what works best for their family. L.A. Unified’s goal is to provide another option to families to support the early learning experiences that will help them thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Please contact the school to inquire about the possibility of touring the school.