California Preschool Learning Foundations

California Department of Education

Child Development Division

On January 22, 2008, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell formally released the foundations during the California State of Education address.

With a goal of ensuring that all preschools offer high-quality programs, the California Department of Education developed these preschool learning foundations.

Preschool Learning Foundations

Social-Emotional Development

English- Language Development

Language and Literacy

Mathematics

Preschool Learning Foundations ~Domains~

Readiness Gap

Key Findings of the Rand Study

• Children who attend pre-k score higher on school readiness measures at kindergarten entry.

• Effective pre-k improves children’s K-12 academic performance.

• Effective pre-k has long-term benefits.

The purpose of the foundations is to promote understanding of preschool children’s learning and to guide instructional practice.

Purpose

The Foundations…are for all children, including children learning English and children with disabilities. They describe the knowledge and skills that young children typically exhibit:

• at around 48 and 60 months of age;

• as they complete their first or second year of preschool;

• with appropriate support; and

• when attending a high-quality preschool program.

High-Quality Programs Include

• environments and experiences that encourage active, playful exploration and experimentation

• purposeful teaching to help children gain knowledge and skills

• specific support for children learning English

• specific accommodations and adaptations for children with special needs

General sources onculture, early

learning, and early childhood education

General sources onculture, early

learning, and early childhood education

Documents from the California

Department of Education

Documents from the California

Department of Education

Well-validated assessment tools

Well-validated assessment tools

Early childhood education

standards fromother states

Early childhood education

standards fromother states

Relevant studiesRelevant studies

FOUNDATIONS FOUNDATIONS

Foundations are based on…

…and enhanced with expert practitioners’ suggestions and examples.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp

CDE Web site

• At the Web address, the underlined Preschool Learning Foundations link takes you to the publication. There you will have easy access to the chapters and sections within the 192 page publication.

• The Appendix, on pages 173-192, provides a summary list of the foundations.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are posted on the website. Questions can be sent to psfoundations@cde.ca.gov

To Purchase

• The Preschool Learning Foundations publication is available for purchase from the CDE Press for $19.95.

• Ordering information can be found at the CDE Web site www.cde.ca.gov or by calling 800-995-4099.

What is next?

• Curriculum framework

• DRDP-R

• Other foundation domains

Professional DevelopmentOpportunities

• The California Preschool Instructional Network will provide training opportunities. Check the CPIN Web site at www.cpin.us for upcoming training dates.

• The Faculty Initiative Project will hold seminars for college faculty. Visit www.wested.org/facultyinitiative/ for more information.

Thank you for coming!