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California PTKLF

The California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) describe the learning and development of most children ages three to five and a half years old in high-quality early education programs.

The California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) outline key knowledge and skills that most children ages three to five and a half years old 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 preschool and transitional kindergarten (TK) educators, parents, and the public with a clear understanding of the wide range of knowledge and skills that children typically attain when given the benefits of a high-quality preschool program, whether it be in center-based, home-based, or TK settings.

The Preschool Learning Foundations (PLF) were originally released by the California Department of Education (CDE) in January 2008 (Volume 1), 2010 (Volume 2), and 2012 (Volume 3). In the 2021 Budget Bill, the CDE was given the authority to revise the PLF to reflect recent research in child development in all domains: Math, Language and Literacy, Science, Social-Emotional Development, History Social-Science, Health, Visual Performing Arts, and Physical Development.

California PTKLF Domains

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 revised using an inclusive and deliberative input process, including statewide educator focus groups, interest holder input sessions, and review by subject matter experts.

Item Links Notes
PTKLF Publications

Key Changes to the Publications include:

  • A greater emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion with more examples of children from different cultural backgrounds, children communicating in different languages, and children with disabilities.
  • The "Later Foundation" is now more inclusive of TK and provides a developmentally appropriate stepping stone towards the Kindergarten Common Core State Standards.
  • A new Approaches to Learning Domain which captures aspects of motivation, executive functioning, and goal-directed learning.
  • A Language and Literacy Domain with two sub-domains: Foundational Language Development (FLD) and English Language Development (ELD).
    • FLD describes the knowledge and skills in language and literacy for children in their home language (whether it be English or another language) - with examples of child speech in over 15 languages. ELD describes the trajectory of English language and literacy development for children who are English language learners.
  • Alignment between more examples in the "Early" and "Later" foundation skills to demonstrate the development progression.

Translated PTKLF Publications

Translated versions of PTKLF publications.

PTKLF Presentations

 The pre-recorded presentations that provide an overview of each domain are found on the CDE YouTube Channel.

Reference to the original Preschool Learning Foundations (PLF)

The Infant–Toddler Learning and Development Foundations, Second Edition

The California Infant–Toddler Learning and Development Foundations (ITLDF) are one part of the California Department of Social Services’ efforts to strengthen the quality of learning and development for young children. This edition of the ITLDF includes five domains that contribute to their overall school readiness: Social and Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning, Language Development, Cognitive Development, and Perceptual and Motor Development.

The most recent version of the ITLDF can be found here: California Infant-Toddler Learning and Development Foundations External link opens in new window or tab.

Questions:   Early Education Division | UPK@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-6233
Last Reviewed: Monday, February 23, 2026
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