UPK Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup

Vision

"One System, All Children: Better Together"

Our Call to Action

California’s mixed-delivery system intends to offer a variety of early learning and care settings to allow parents and guardians an authentic choice to meet the needs of their families. However, access to high-quality preschool programs for families utilizing subsidized early learning and care options has been undersupplied. Additionally, the current standards of quality for preschool pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 8203 and found in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations must be reviewed and, more importantly, must be updated through the lens of equity - for children, families, and the workforce and to incorporate more recent research and understanding of what practices best support children’s development and learning. Our call to action has been initiated by the Legislature’s addition of a state-level workgroup intended to review these standards listed in EC Section 8203, as well as to review practices to expand access to high-quality preschool programs in the mixed-delivery system.

Pursuant to EC Section 8202.6, the Superintendent, in consultation with the Director of Social Services and the Executive Director of the State Board of Education (SBE), is required to convene a universal preschool (UPK) mixed-delivery statewide interest holder workgroup (Workgroup). As part of a statewide collaborative effort, the California Department of Education (CDE) has welcomed the partnership of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Per EC Section 8202.6, the Workgroup is required to include representatives from:

• County offices of education
• Contracted state preschool programs, including those operated by school districts and by community-based organizations
• Transitional kindergarten programs
• Tribal preschool programs
• Educators
• The Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• First 5
• Resource and referral programs
• Alternative payment programs
• Contracted general childcare programs serving preschool-age children
• Head Start
• Private center-based preschool providers
• Licensed family childcare providers
• Researchers
• Child development experts

The Superintendent is required to, in consultation with the Director of Social Services and Executive Director of SBE, provide a report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature and the Department of Finance with the recommendations of the Workgroup.

Statutory Charge of the Workgroup

1. Provide recommendations on best practices for increasing access to high-quality universal preschool programs for three- and four-year-old children offered through a mixed-delivery model that provides equitable learning experiences across a variety of settings.
2. Provide recommendations to update preschool standards pursuant to EC Section 8203 to support equitable access to high-quality preschool and transitional kindergarten programs through the mixed-delivery model and across all appropriate settings and funding sources.
3. Ensure that recommendations are in alignment with the work of the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, without recommending new system changes that create increased state or local costs to offer preschool across the mixed-delivery system.

Workgroup Selection Process

The UPK Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup includes interest holders with experience and expertise related to preschool quality and access. The Workgroup consists of state appointees and individuals identified through an open application process creating a diverse and representative group of individuals.

To establish the Workgroup, the California Department of Education (CDE) identified Workgroup members through a combination of individual referrals and an open application process.

The CDE identified Workgroup members to invite through individual referrals based on their experience working on quality and access issues in preschool programs and their roles in key organizations working on quality and access issues in California. Identification of representatives from the specific groups/agencies is outlined in AB 185 through a referral process.

To solicit applications through an open process, the CDE developed and widely disseminated a survey application form.

Workgroup members were chosen based on several factors, which included both work and lived experiences. The CDE received nearly 300 applications, and each was read by three reviewers. Members were selected and notified in mid-November 2022 and the Workgroup was established on December 1, 2022.

This Workgroup is convening under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act of 1967 denoting that all Workgroup meetings will be open to the public to attend, as well as each meeting will contain a forum to capture public comment. To avoid limitations under this Act and to ensure diverse opinions and experiences are uplifted from around the state, the CDE selected individuals for this Workgroup who are not currently participating in other public workgroups.

Workgroup Members

Workgroup Meetings

Date and Time	Location	Agenda	Notes
January 26, 2023, 12:30–4:30 p.m.	Teleconference	January 26, 2023 Agenda	January 26, 2023 Notes
February 23, 2023, 12:30–4:30 p.m.	Teleconference	February 23, 2023 Agenda	February 23, 2023 Notes
March 23, 2023, 12:30–4:30 p.m.	Teleconference	March 23, 2023 Agenda	March 23, 2023 Notes
April 27, 2023, 12:30–4:30 p.m.	Teleconference	April 27, 2023 Agenda	April 27, 2023 Notes
May 25, 2023, 12:30–4:30 p.m.	Teleconference	May 25, 2023 Agenda	May 25, 2023 Notes
June 22, 2023, 12:30–4:30 p.m.	Teleconference	June 22, 2023 Agenda	June 22, 2023 Notes
July 27, 2023, 12:30–4:30 p.m.	Teleconference: Meeting cancelled	Meeting cancelled	Not applicable
August 24, 2023, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.	The August 2023 meeting will be held at the California Department of Education. The CDE building will be open to the public; however, capacity may be limited due to public health considerations. LOCATION: 1430 N Street, Room 1101 Sacramento, CA 95814 Teleconference	August 24, 2023 Agenda (in-person)	August 24, 2023 Notes
September 28, 2023, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.	Due to recent Legislative changes, Workgroup meetings for the remainder of the calendar year will take place virtually. Teleconference	September 28, 2023 Agenda	September 28, 2023 Notes
October 16, 2023, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.	Due to recent Legislative changes, Workgroup meetings for the remainder of the calendar year will take place virtually. Teleconference	October 16, 2023 Agenda	October 16, 2023 Notes
December 14, 2023, 1:00–2:30 p.m.	Teleconference	December 14, 2023 Agenda	No Notes
January 11, 2024, 1:00–4:00 p.m.	Teleconference	January 11, 2024 Agenda	No Notes
February 2, 2024, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	Teleconference	February 2, 2024 Agenda	No Notes
April 22, 2024, 1:30–3:30 p.m.	Teleconference	April 22, 2024 Agenda	No Notes

The final meeting of the Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) Quality and Access Workgroup (Workgroup) took place on Monday, April 22, 2024.

UPK Workgroup Resources

Additional Resources Developed for the UPK Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup(DOCX)

Additional meeting documents and materials can be found on California Educators Together

Legislative Report

The California Department of Education (CDE) was required, in consultation with the California Department of Social Services, and the State Board of Education, to report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature and the Department of Finance with recommendations for preschool quality standards, recommendations for preschool access, and recommendations at the intersection of both quality and access, as well as other considerations. The CDE has submitted the report to the appropriate committees.

An Executive Summary of the UPK Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup Report or the full UPK Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup Legislative Report(DOCX) are available to view.

UPK Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Report Brief

UPK Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Graphically Designed Report

English UPK Workgroup Report to the Legislature and Department of Finance

Spanish UPK Workgroup Report to the Legislature and Department of Finance

Simplified Chinese UPK Workgroup Report to the Legislature and Department of Finance