Management Bulletin 24-07
Guidance on the requirements to use the Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations in California State Preschool Programs.Early Education Division
Subject: Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations
Number: 24-07
Date: August 2024
Expires: Until rescinded or superseded by regulations
Authority: California Education Code Section 8203.3
Attention: Executive Directors and Program Directors of all California State Preschool Programs
Purpose
This Management Bulletin (MB) notifies and provides guidance to California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractors of the requirements to use the Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) for children ages three through five in their program.
Policy
Effective July 1, 2025, CSPP contractors are required to use the PTKLF instead of the Preschool Learning Foundations formerly used to meet the requirements of California Education Code (EC) 8203.3(c). Specifically, this MB clarifies that the PTKLF are the “developmental milestones” in the “prekindergarten learning development guidelines” as defined in that section.
Directives for Implementation
Beginning July 1, 2025, CSPP contractors are required to implement the PTKLF to guide curriculum and lesson planning to support children ages three through five years old. This timeline will provide the opportunity for CSPP contractors to plan for implementation of the PTKLF.
Training will be offered through the California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) funded by the federal Child Care and Development Fund Quality Project dollars administered by the California Department of Social Services. Training may also be available through local CSPP Quality Rating and Improvement System Block grantees.
The California Department of Education (CDE) will also publish high-level pre-recorded presentations on each domain of the PTKLF beginning summer of 2024 and will be available at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp. This web page also includes a description of high-level changes to the PTKLF, such as the addition of a new domain, Approaches to Learning, and other changes.
Background and Authority
EC Section 8203.3(c) states that all programs funded by the CDE pursuant to the Early Education Act (EC 8200 et. seq.) are required to use the prekindergarten learning development guidelines.
Following the requirement to use the prekindergarten learning development guidelines developed by the CDE, the California Preschool Learning Foundations were released in 2008 (Volume 1), 2010 (Volume 2), and 2012 (Volume 3).
Then, Senate Bill 129 (Chapter 69, Statutes of 2021) Section 206 Item 6100-190-0001 appropriated funds to the CDE to update the California Preschool Learning Foundations. Specifically, this language required the CDE to update the Preschool Learning Foundations “to reflect the prekindergarten year prior to kindergarten enrollment, including but not limited to, transitional kindergarten in a school setting…[and] incorporate recent research in the field, such as around dual language learners and supporting inclusion and children with disabilities…”
The updated Preschool Learning Foundations were then re-named the PTKLF, and describe the knowledge, skills, and developmental milestones that most children ages three through five can achieve in a high-quality early education program. It covers the following domains: Approaches to Learning, Mathematics, Language & Literacy, including Foundational Language Development and English Language Development, Social & Emotional Development, Science, History-Social Science, Health, Physical Development, and Visual & Performing Arts.
Resources
For access to the PTKLF, including a pre-recorded webinar and more information on what has changed from the original version of the Preschool Learning Foundations, visit https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp.
If you have programmatic questions related to this MB, please contact your assigned Early Education Division (EED), Program Quality Implementation (PQI) office regional consultant. The EED, PQI regional consultant directory web page can be accessed at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp.
If you have questions related to printing for distribution, please contact CDE Press at cdepress@cde.ca.gov.
This MB is mandatory only to the extent that it cites a specific statutory or regulatory requirement, and is not prescriptive, pursuant to California EC 33308.5.