Pacific Oaks College Partners With Local School Districts to Enhance Transitional Kindergarten

Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School in Pasadena said it has embarked on a partnership with the San Gabriel Consortium to improve Transitional Kindergarten education in several local school districts. The collaboration, funded by a $500,000 grant, will provide professional development for teachers in four districts.

The initiative comes as California prepares to mandate Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in all public school districts starting in 2025. This program serves as a bridge between preschool and traditional kindergarten for four-year-olds.

“We are excited to embark on this journey to support teachers working in Transitional Kindergarten education,” Dr. Jerell Hill, Dean of the School of Education at Pacific Oaks College, said in a statement. “For more than 75 years, Pacific Oaks has served as a national leader in teacher preparation and early childhood education.”

The college plans to offer comprehensive training and professional development sessions for 75 to 100 current educators and paraeducators. These programs will focus on practical skills and inclusive practices for TK classrooms, emphasizing Pacific Oaks’ expertise in hands-on, interactive learning.

“The collaboration with Pacific Oaks brings an expertise in innovative and progressive teaching practices that will undoubtedly inspire our educators,” said Dr. Joan Perez, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the San Gabriel Unified School District.

The initiative aligns with recent research highlighting the benefits of TK. Studies from the Public Policy Institute of California have shown its effectiveness in identifying English Learner students and those with special education needs earlier.

Pacific Oaks College, known for its expertise in early childhood education, will incorporate its values of social justice, inclusion, and diversity into the curriculum. The college has a history of partnerships to support local districts and create teacher pipelines.

The San Gabriel Consortium, comprising San Gabriel, Rosemead, South Pasadena, and Temple City school districts, received the grant through the California Department of Education’s Early Education Teacher Development Grant Program. This funding will support the collaborative effort to enhance early childhood education.

Pacific Oaks plans monthly sessions and a summer seminar to provide ongoing support for participating teachers. Additionally, Pacific Oaks will launch a cohort program for 10 to 12 aspiring educators committed to early childhood education within the consortium.

This partnership is part of Pacific Oaks College’s broader efforts to improve education. The institution recently collaborated with Sacramento County Office of Education to develop a tuition-free residency program for aspiring teachers.

Pacific Oaks College is a member of The Community Solution Education System, a nonprofit network of six colleges and universities. Since joining in 2010, the college has expanded its academic offerings to include more than 20 areas of study.

Pacific Oaks Children’s School, part of the institution, provides early childhood education programs and has pioneered achievements in anti-bias education, emergent curriculum, and peaceful conflict resolution.

For more information, email Dr. Thomas Cobos, Executive Director of Outreach, at tcobos@pacificoaks.edu or call (626) 529-8092.