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California’s UPK Resource Hub - General UPK Guidance

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The California Preschool Learning Foundations outline key knowledge and skills that most children can achieve when provided with the kinds of interactions, instruction, and environments that research has shown to promote early learning and development. The foundations can provide early childhood educators, parents, and the public with a clear understanding of the wide range of knowledge and skills that preschool children typically attain when given the benefits of a high-quality preschool program.

The foundations were developed using an inclusive and deliberative input process, including statewide stakeholder meetings, public input sessions held throughout the state, public hearings, and public comment. Input from the various review opportunities was considered and incorporated as appropriate.

California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

On January 22, 2008, the California Department of Education (CDE) released the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume (PDF; 5MB) . Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell stated that these foundations offer our early childhood educators a clear understanding of what our youngest learners should know before entering kindergarten.

Volume 1 of the California Preschool Learning Foundations focuses on the domains of social-emotional development, language and literacy, English-language development, and mathematics. They provide a comprehensive understanding of what children learn in these four domains.

In an effort to partner with parents in the education of their preschool children, key sections of the publication are available and have been translated to support parents' understanding of the preschool learning foundations, their purpose, and what they describe as the knowledge and skills that children typically attain at 48 and 60 months of age. The translations include traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Hmong, Korean, Pilipino (Tagalog), Spanish, and Vietnamese, and are based on the prevalent non-English languages spoken by parents of preschool children in California.

Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell
Available Translations of the Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell

Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1
Available Translations of the Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

Appendix to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1 (DOC)
Available Translations of the Appendix to the Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1, can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099, or by ordering through the CDE Press Catalog Listings of Publications (Item Number 001681) . The price of the publication is $21.95.

Fundamentos del Aprendizaje Preescolar de California, Volumen 1 (PDF)
Spanish translation of the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1

California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2 covers the skills and knowledge that children attain at around 36 months and 48 months in the domain areas of visual and performing arts, physical development, and health.

Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell
Available Translations of the Foreword by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell

Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2
Available Translations of the Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

Appendixes to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2, can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099, or by ordering through the CDE Press Catalog Listings of Publications (Item Number 001708) . The price of the publication is $21.95.

Fundamentos del Aprendizaje Preescolar de California, Volumen 2 (PDF)
Spanish translation of the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2

California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3 covers the skills and knowledge that children attain at around 36 months and 48 months in the domain areas of history-social science and science.

Foreword by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
Available Translations of the Foreword by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson

Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3
Available Translations of the Introduction to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

Appendix A to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3
Available Translations of Appendix A to the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

The California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3, can be purchased from CDE Press by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-995-4099, or by ordering through the CDE Press Catalog Listings of Publications (Item Number 001727) . The price of the publication is $21.95.

Fundamentos del Aprendizaje Preescolar de California, Volumen 3 (PDF)
Spanish translation of the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 3

Additional Resources

Further information about the Preschool Learning Foundations is provided in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document clarifying key issues for early childhood educators, administrators, and stakeholders. For information about some professional development opportunities, please refer to the California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) .
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Last Reviewed: Thursday, February 23, 2023

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The foundations outline key knowledge and skills that most children can achieve when provided with the kinds of interactions, instruction, and environments that research has shown to promote early learning and development.

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The Multilingual Learning Toolkit is an online hub for research-based key principles, instructional strategies, and associated, free, practical, and easy-to-use resources that are geared towards educators who teach PreK-3rd Multilingual Learners. As the resource library continues to grow, make sure you stay connected for the latest updates by filling out the short sign-up form at the bottom of the page.
Learn about the project >

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To enhance your experience, we recommend you start with learning how to use the Multilingual Learning Toolkit.
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Learn about the best way to use this site

To enhance your experience, we recommend you start with learning how to use the Multilingual Learning Toolkit.
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The User Guides are designed to support teachers, administrators and professional development (PD) providers, and teacher education faculty to find a helpful place to start using the Multilingual Learning Toolkit! The guides offer a reflection tool to support educators to identify priorities for their own learning, plus activities and protocols forexploring the resources in the site.

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A collaborative effort among organizations and individual experts

A collaborative effort among organizations and individual experts

The Multilingual Learning Toolkit is the result of the partnership between a diverse group of stakeholders, maximizing the expertise of local and national practitioners, researchers, and advocates who are champions for Multilingual Learners (MLs). The guide serves as an introduction to supporting young MLs in PreK-3rd Grade, sharing the foundational principles and evidence-based strategies for instruction that are critical for educators to know.
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Key foundational principles for educators working with Multilingual Learners
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Multilingual Learning Toolkit * Dual Language * Multilingualism

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Promoting the benefits of multilingualism and providing resources supporting Pre-K through 3rd grade multilingual children and teachers.

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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network - IECMHC

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Offering no cost infant and early childhood mental health consultation services, supports and resources for all early learning and care providers in California The California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network delivers consultation services, resources, and training activities for early learning and care center-based program staff, family child care providers, and family, ... Read more

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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A guide to what children should know and do in five central developmental domains

Select any item to see the associated subdomains, goals, developmental progressions, and indicators. Find related resources for frontline staff, professional development, and for families.

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Interactive Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five | ECLKC

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Explore the Interactive Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five.

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Information for Families on Children's Early Development

As a parent, you are your child's first teacher. You have experienced how fascinating and how puzzling your young child can sometimes be. We invite you to explore with us information that can help you understand your child's learning and discover new ways to support your growing child.
Acknowledgements

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English - All About Young Children: Information for Families on Children's Early Development

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As a parent, you are your child's first teacher. You have experienced how fascinating and how puzzling your young child can sometimes be. We invite you to explore with us information that can help you understand your child's learning and discover new ways to support your growing child. Acknowledgements

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Desired Results For Children And Families

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The Desired Results for Children and Families Parent Survey asks for the family's feedback about the child care and development program their child attends. The California Department of Education is very interested in how the program helps families support their child's learning and development and meet the families' needs.

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The Desired Results for Children and Families Parent Survey asks for the family's feedback about the child care and development program their child attends. The California Department of Education is very interested in how the program helps families support their child's learning and development and meet the families' needs.

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Are you an education leader responsible for training infant and toddler caregivers?
Are you seeking a high-quality, responsive, relationship-based approach to care?
Our on-site and virtual professional learning options are tailored to the needs of each participating individual, program or group, delivering a comprehensive, actionable study of the PITC philosophy and recommended practices that quickly get you started providing high-quality infant and toddler care.

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Are you an education leader responsible for training infant and toddler caregivers? Are you seeking a high-quality, responsive, relationship-based approach to care? Our on-site and virtual professional learning options are tailored to the needs of each participating individual, program or group, delivering a comprehensive, actionable study of the PITC philosophy and recommended practices that quickly get you started providing high-quality infant and toddler care.

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There are four Environment Rating Scales (ERS), each designed for a different segment of the early childhood field.

Each one of the scales has items to evaluate: Physical Environment; Basic Care; Curriculum; Interaction; Schedule and Program Structure; and Provisions for Parent and Staff.

The scales are suitable for use in evaluating inclusive and culturally diverse programs.

The scales have proven reliability and validity.

Our scales are designed to assess process quality in an early childhood or school age care group. Process quality is what children directly experience in their programs that has a direct effect on their development, including the various interactions that go on in a classroom between staff and children and among the children themselves, and the interactions children have with the many materials and activities in the environment, as well as those features, such as space, schedule and materials that support these interactions. Process quality is assessed primarily through observation and has been found to be more predictive of child outcomes than structural indicators such as staff to child ratio, group size, cost of care, and even type of care, for example child care center or family child care home (Whitebook, Howes & Phillips, 1995). The scales also examine other less directly experienced quality which are more structural, such as staff provisions, parent participation and information, and interactions among adults,

The scales view child development from a comprehensive, or global, point of view, examining a wide variety of areas that all contribute to positive children development. In order to provide care and education that will permit children to experience a high quality of life while helping them develop their abilities, a quality program must provide for the three basic needs of all children:

Protection of their health and safety

Supporting and guiding social/emotional development

Opportunities for intellectual and language stimulation and appropriate learning activities

No one component is more or less important than the others, nor can one substitute for another. It takes all three to create quality and education. Each of the three basic components or quality manifests itself in tangible forms in the program's environment, curriculum, schedule, supervision and interaction, and can be observed. These are the key aspects of process quality that are included in our environment rating scales.

Our scales define environment in a broad sense and guide the observer to assess the arrangement of space both indoors and outdoors, the materials and activities offered to the children, the supervision and interactions (including language) that occur in the classroom, and the schedule of the day, including routines and activities. The support offered to parents and staff is also included.

All of our scales have been developed in close collaboration with realistic field-based sites. They have good inter-rater reliability and validity, thus making them suitable for research and program evaluation, as well as program improvement efforts. Each scale has a training program. The ECERS-R, ITERS-R and FCCERS training programs include both print and video (DVD) materials. Online introductory courses are also available.

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There are four Environment Rating Scales (ERS), each designed for a different segment of the early childhood field. Each one of the scales has items to evaluate: Physical Environment; Basic Care; Curriculum; Interaction; Schedule and Program Structure; and Provisions for Parent and Staff.