Staffing shortages undermine transitional kindergarten rollout
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 adult
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Show Notes
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.