What is UPK?
Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) is an expansion of the state’s current mixed delivery that meets the diverse early learning and care needs of children and families. It includes all existing state and federal early learning, child care, and extended learning programs that serve children in preschool to 3rd grade, such as: Transitional Kindergarten (TK), State Preschool, general child care (CCTR), Extended Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), Head Start, After School Education and Safety (ASES), Alternative Payment (AP), private pay child care, etc.
What is TK?
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is the first of a two-year kindergarten program. Since TK students are younger in age, these programs are designed using age-appropriate curriculum for younger children. Children who complete TK move on to kindergarten the following year. This means a child who attends TK will have two years of kindergarten experience before entering 1st grade.
Early Learning and Care
Early learning and care has a unique role in providing UPK because they serve children from birth to preschool or school entry, as well as extended care to support school-age children with before- and after-school care, vacation schedules, and evening/weekend care.
Early learning and care programs include:
- Sierra Nevada Children’s Services
- Local Planning Council for Child Care Development
- Child Advocates of Nevada County
- Community-based early learning and care programs (licensed child care centers)
- Family child care providers (licensed)
- Family, friend, and neighbor care
Full implementation of UPK will also include partnerships with extended learning and care programs to create the continuum of programs and services (early learning and care options and expanded learning options) available in addition to the regular school day and school year.
FAQs
No. TK is only offered in Local Education Agencies (LEA’s.)
Legislation passed in 2021 ensures that families will continue to be free to choose the early learning or child care program that best meets their needs. If you are operating a child care program that enrolls children ages 0 to 3rd grade, you are already part of UPK.
For the 2022-23 school year, all children who turn 5 between September 2 and February 2 are eligible to enroll in TK.
- 2022-23: Kids who turn 5 between September 2nd and February 2nd can enroll
- 2023-24: Kids who turn 5 between September 2nd and April 2nd can enroll
- 2024-25: Kids who turn 5 between September 2nd and June 2nd can enroll
- 2025-26: All kids who turn 4 by September 1st
Because TK is part of the public school system, there are no family income requirements for TK. School districts may choose to make TK available to younger 4-year-olds, but will not receive funding for those children until the child turns 5.
No. Parents can continue to choose a child care or preschool program instead of TK, even if their child is age-eligible for TK. TK is a voluntary program. State law was passed in 2021 clarifying that eligibility for TK does not affect a child’s eligibility for other programs, including public-funded preschool, child care, or voucher-based programs.
The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) requires schools to provide after-school learning and care to low-income, foster youth, and English learner (“unduplicated”) pupils in TK to 6th grade. Districts are required to offer ELO-P to all unduplicated pupils and to serve at least 50% of unduplicated pupils.
Enrolled children must receive a total of 9 hours of combined school time and after-school care on school days and 30 days of care during non-school days. ELO-P requirements are aligned with the existing After School Education & Safety (ASES) program and schools can contract with community based providers to provide ELO-P.
If you serve children ages 0 to 3rd grade, you are already part of UPK and do not need to take any additional actions to be involved.
As part of their requirements to roll out UPK, school districts must create an implementation plan by June 30 and are strongly encouraged to include community-based providers in their plan development. You can partner with your school district by participating in your district’s UPK community engagement and planning process.
If you have the capacity and are interested, providers are also encouraged to reach out to districts regarding operation of ELO-P and extended hours for TK-age children.
ELO-P funds flow to school districts from the state. Districts may operate ELO-P themselves or may contract with a community-based provider to operate their ELO-P program. If a district partners with a community-based provider for ELO-P, it would be through a subcontract. State law prohibits school districts from contracting TK to community-based providers.
An Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit authorizes the holder to serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher in any classroom, including preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-12 inclusive, or in classes organized primarily for adults. The holder may serve as a substitute for no more than 30 days (60 days for the 21-22 school year) for any one teacher during the school year, except in a special education classroom, where the holder may serve for no more than 20 days (60 days for the 21-22 school year) for any one teacher during the school year. This permit is valid for one year and is renewable.
You can renew your credential or permit through the CTC’s website (see “Renew Credential or Permit here” button above). The cost will be $102.65 and will be paid online directly to the CTC. Normal processing times are the next business day.
Note: A document may be renewed up to one year before its expiration date if all renewal requirements have been met. The Commission will send an email reminder 90 days before the expiration of a document that is renewable online. Educators who do not have a current email address on file or whose renewal must be submitted by mail will not receive this reminder. The document holder is solely responsible for completing requirements and renewing on time. Individuals who do not receive the reminder email are not exempt from the responsibility of renewing their documents on time. All Emergency 30-Day Substitute Permit holders are able to renewable online. Our office recommends renewing Emergency 30-Day Substitute Permits at least 60 days before the expiration date.
You only need to get fingerprinted again if your credential or permit has been expired more than 18 months. For example, your permit expired 2/1/18. You would have needed to renew it before 8/1/19 to avoid getting fingerprinted through the CTC again. If your document has been expired for more than 18 months, print this form and take to any CA live scan agency (in Nevada County, we recommend the UPS Store on Bank Street, G.V.) and pay the fee. CTC will receive the results electronically. As soon as you get fingerprinted you can click on the link above to renew your permit.
Last Updated on July 10, 2026 by Dave White