Education Beat

Staffing shortages undermine transitional kindergarten rollout


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California lawmakers set the average class size for transitional kindergarten, a new grade for four-year-olds, at 24 kids, with 1 adult for every 12 students.

It’s generally agreed upon in early education field that smaller class sizes and more adults make for higher quality preschool, with more one-on-one attention and better supervision. In many preschools licensed by the state, one adult is required for every 8 children.

But some districts are not staffing their TK classrooms to meet the 1:12 ratio, or they’re going over the class size. Some teachers say it's a safety issue.

Guests:

  • David Hunter, Transitional kindergarten teacher, Fresno Unified
  • Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource
  • Read more from EdSource:

    • These districts and charters were fined for violating TK requirements
    • TK staffing ratios are often unmet, teachers say; why some districts escape fines
    • Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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