QRIS STAR RATING
All of our Early Childhood Programs classrooms have achieved a 4 or 5-star QRIS rating from the Orange County Department of Education. This rating represents the highest quality assessment for our preschool programs. Learn the specifics on these ratings and how they represent high quality at each of our school sites.
Universal Prekindergarten Plan
Universal Prekindergarten Plan![]()
What is Universal Prekindergarten or UPK?
What is Universal Prekindergarten or UPK?
UPK is an umbrella term that includes the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK), as well as Head Start, district and local community-based preschool programs, early learning services for students with disabilities, private pay preschool, and expanded learning options to support access to services.
California’s goal is to serve more children ages 3-to 4-years-old in high-quality preschool programs. California intends to meet this goal through the implementation of universally available TK, as well through other state-funded programs, such as the CSPP, that offer a preschool learning experience.
UPK Plan
On June 15, 2022, our CUSD UPK Plan was presented and approved by our Board of Trustees. For a summary of the UPK Plan, please review the following presentation:
UPK FAQs
For more information about the Universal Prekindergarten (UPK), you may visit the California Department of Education's Universal Prekindergarten FAQs webpage.
Curriculum, Learning Standards, & Schedules
Curriculum, Learning Standards, & Schedules![]()
Curriculum
The Early Childhood Programs staff believes that all children should be provided with a nurturing, active, and challenging environment that encourages curiosity, hands-on learning, problem solving skills, language development, and a positive self-image.
For the 2022-23 school year, we will be piloting two different curriculums:
- In Preschool: FrogStreet Curriculum
- The FrogStreet Curriculum is a comprehensive, dual-language program designed to meet the needs of diverse learners, while supporting 10 learning domains. The curriculum has a research-based scope and sequence, has a strong Social-Emotional component and foundation, and strategies to support differentiated instruction and various learners. The thematics units focus on integrating literacy, math, science, social science, social-emotional learning, and family engagement.
- In TK: World of Wonders
- The World of Wonders Curriculum introduced children to instruction that builds strong foundational skills and promotes Kindergarten Readiness. The curriculum focuses on letters, oral language, listening comprehension, social-emotional learning, math, science, social studies, and music. The curriculum also includes strategies to support differentiated instruction and various learners.
Learning Standards
Both Prekindergarten (PK) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) implement the following:
- California Preschool Learning Foundations
- The Foundations provide an overview of the key knowledge and skills that most children can achieve when provided with interaction, instruction, and an environment that is based on the research of early experiences shown to promote early learning and development. These foundational skills are considered to be early childhood "standards" for learning.
- California Preschool Curriculum Framework
- The Frameworks provides an overall approach for teachers to support student learning through environments and experiences that are developmentally appropriate, reflective of thoughtful observation and intentional planning, individually and culturally meaningful, and inclusive of children with disabilities and special needs.
Schedules
Both Prekindergarten (PK) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) daily schedules vary by teacher and/or by school site.
While PK daily schedules may vary, all schedules follow the same main components including: Circle Time, Music and Movement, Large Group, Small Group/Centers, Outdoor Play, Snack, Lunch (*in full day classrooms), Bathroom/Opportunities for Self-Care, Rest Time (*in full day classrooms only), and Closing Circle.
Sample PK Daily Schedule:
- 8:00 - 8:30 - Welcome, Free Choice Activities
- 8:35 - 8:50 - Group Time
- 8:55 - 9:40 - Bathroom/Snack /Outside Time
- 9:45 - 10:00 - Group Time
- 10:05 - 10:55 - Centers (Language/Literacy, Math, Science, Art)
- 11:00 - 11:15 - Music/Movement
- 11:15 - 11:30 - Closing Circle and Goodbye Song
In TK, schedules may vary each day, depending on the teacher and/or school site. Our TK schedules follow the Early Bird/Late Bird model, meaning that students arrive at a staggered time 4 days a week, and altogether one day a week.
Sample TK Daily Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
- 7:45-9:15 Early Birds only
- 9:15-10:10 Late Birds arrive, Whole Group
- 10:10-10:40 Snack & Recess (15 minutes to eat, 15 minutes to play)
- 10:40-11:38 Whole Group time, Early Birds leave at 11:38
- 11:38-1:08 Late Birds only
- 1:08 Class dismissed
Wednesday - ACE Day
- 7:45-10:10 Whole Group (Late Birds come at the Early Bird start time)
- 10:10-10:40 Snack & Recess
- 10:40-11:38 Whole Group and Early dismissal