Why might principals and administrators want to enroll in
University of La Verne Transitional Kindergarten Early Childhood Coursework?
TK and Expanded TK are the first year of a 2 year Developmentally Appropriate Practices Kindergarten program.
Districts have flexibility in determining curriculum …
• Education Code Section 48000(f) states TK curriculum and Expanded TK curriculum is to be aligned to the
California Preschool Learning Foundations.
• Senate Bill 1381 provides flexibility for districts in implementing TK that best meet the needs of students.
• Districts also have flexibility in the assessment tools used in TK.
University of La Verne TK Early Childhood Coursework is useful to administrators and principals to…
 deepen their understanding of California’s Early Learning System with an emphasis on: California Learning
Foundations and Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Guide; child development continuum;
knowledge, skills and strategies used in developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum in the TK
classroom; Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) student assessment tool
•
better understand elements of a quality TK program structure, instruction, assessment, curriculum, and
environment, the Preschool Learning Foundations
•
support staff in TK and expanded TK classroom
University of La Verne offers six TK Early Childhood courses: all courses are 4 upper division units; completely online; scheduled in 10 week terms. Participants can enroll in as few as one course (there is no commitment to
complete all 6 courses). Several school districts have expressed an interest in classes open only to principals and
administrators. This grouping allows and encourages networking between participants to address issues specific
to their scope of work in administration and support of TK programs. A course can be scheduled for a
principal/administrator cohort with a minimum of 10 enrollees. It is anticipated that the following course will be
most in demand as the first course for Winter term (January 4 – March 13)….
TK EDUC 481 Childhood Observation and Assessment (4 unit course - $630)
This course includes documentation strategies, DRDP-K (Desired Results Developmental Profile) assessment,
connection of California Preschool Learning Foundations and Framework to Content Standards (The Alignment of
the California Preschool Learning Foundations with Key Early Education Resources, including California Content
Standards), use of the TK implementation Guide, and ECERS (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale).
Professional and academic development for Transitional Kindergarten is an emerging need for teachers and
administrators. Currently, 60 TK teachers from throughout California are enrolled in University of La Verne
Transitional Kindergarten Early Childhood Coursework. One of the comments often repeated is, “I wish my principal
and administrators had this information too!” University of La Verne continues the proud distinction, as we have
for 125 years, to meet the changing needs of the education community at the teacher and administrator level.
For further information contact:
Dr. Susan Walsh, TK Early Childhood Coursework, swalsh@laverne.edu (805) 746-2565
or visit our Transitional Kindergarten webpage at http://laverne.edu/transitional-kindergarten/