District outlines expansion of Universal Pre‑K and P‑3 work; enrollment climbs and classroom upgrades under way

The Alisal Union School District presented an update on its Universal Pre‑K (UPK) and P‑3 alignment work, reporting higher enrollment in transitional kindergarten (TK) and preschool and a set of classroom upgrades and staff training intended to strengthen early literacy and social-emotional development.

Director of Early Learning Elia Garcia told the board the district had 93 preschool students enrolled at the Buckhorn Early Learning Center (with 19 on a wait list) and 437 TK students districtwide, up about 100 TK students from the previous year. "We currently have 437 TK students in our district," Garcia said, explaining the district runs 25 TK classrooms composed of structured-English-immersion, dual-immersion, bilingual and English-only sections.

Garcia described two priorities: UPK, which the district defines as wraparound services and access for four-year-olds across preschool, TK, migrant education, special education and expanded learning; and P‑3 work, which aligns developmentally appropriate strategies through third grade. She said the district transformed 15 TK classrooms this summer into developmentally appropriate learning environments and will complete five more next summer.

The presentation emphasized use of the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) as an ongoing, strengths-based assessment and training on the California Teaching Pyramid (a tiered, evidence-based framework to support social-emotional development). Garcia said staff training and pilot work will continue this year across preschool, TK and kindergarten, and noted the district added paraeducator support for toileting and routines where needed.

Trustees asked questions about staffing, student age groups and restroom proximity. Garcia said staff must hold 24 ECE units (or comparable experience) and that the district intends to keep TK classroom ratios at roughly 1 adult to 10 students, with two adults present for a class of 20 and a third adult required above that cap. She also noted principals have discretion to prioritize classrooms that include restrooms or have restrooms nearby for TK classes.

Why it matters: District leaders said upgrading early-learning environments and consistent training across preschool through third grade are key to improving foundational literacy and social-emotional skills before students enter the primary grades.

The director said training and classroom upgrades are ongoing and that the district will continue to report progress to the board.