Download this episode’s companion brief: Launching Major New Initiatives: Universal Transitional Kindergarten: State And Local Perspectives
What does it take to implement major new initiatives in our school systems? This episode, the second of a two-part series, dives further into questions about implementing initiatives such as Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) and Universal Prekindergarten (UPK).
The first of this two-part episode offers a statewide perspective about this historic moment for early education in California from Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent at the California Department of Education.
In this second part of the episode, Maria Ceballos, Executive Director of the Early Learning Department at Fresno Unified School District (FSUD), offers hands-on, practical advice by sharing how her district has been working to expand access to early learning for all children and families. She shares FUSD’s planning and approaches, including
- being concrete about the work and having the right people at the table;
- ensuring that the district’s leadership and all departments were clear on the value of early learning and shared a sense of urgency and opportunity to serve more children in their community through high-quality programs;
- building strong relationships that enabled the district to pivot quickly when some things did not go as planned or projected;
- involving partners from facilities, purchasing, finance, human resources, teacher development, special education, local and county partners, the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, and more; and
- developing a unique focus on dual language learner professional development for teachers.
About FUSD
FUSD is the third largest district in the state, with nearly 73,000 students in preK–12. Approximately 17.5 percent are English Learners, and 85 percent are socioeconomically disadvantaged. The district includes 66 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, 10 high schools, alternative schools, and early education programs. Currently, FUSD has six year-round, full-day child development centers serving infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children; they also have 72 part-day preschool programs and 127 transitional kindergarten programs, including special education, all serving about 5,000 children.