Published September 20, 2024

San Mateo County, CA — The San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council unanimously approved the Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) Mixed Delivery System Planning Report, which provides recommendations for establishing a comprehensive, “mixed delivery” Universal PreKindergarten system in San Mateo County. The report is part of a countywide initiative aimed at ensuring all four-year-olds and a greater number of three-year-olds have access to full-day, high-quality early education and care programs before kindergarten entry. 

The report synthesizes data and community input and includes the following list of key findings, which helped shape the report’s recommendations:

  • A projected significant growth in transitional kindergarten (TK) enrollment, creating staffing and facilities challenges for school districts.
  • A projected deficit of subsidized preschool spaces for children who are income-eligible.
  • Lower demand for market-rate preschool spaces, with private programs needing to respond to changing demographics.
  • Targeted language and literacy interventions produce a positive effect on children’s kindergarten readiness.
  • Program quality, affordability, and full-day or flexible scheduling options are top of mind for families.
  • A communications campaign on family choice and UPK options is needed.
  • A significant increase to the UPK workforce is needed to meet demand.
  • Family child care and center-based providers need more information regarding the evolution of UPK in San Mateo County and clear pathways for provider engagement in the UPK Planning Process.

The report includes a set of initial recommendations to support the implementation of Universal PreKindergarten for all three- and four-year olds in the county. The recommendations, which are detailed in the report, fall into four key focus areas:

  1. Community Engagement and Partnerships
    1. Importance of providing families with diverse program choices.
    2. Emphasis on the need for streamlined eligibility and better information dissemination.
  2. Workforce Recruitment and Professional Learning
    1. Addressing the critical need for increasing the workforce and providing targeted professional development.
  3. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
    1. Promoting research-based curriculum that is inclusive of all children, including dual language learners and children with disabilities.
    2. Aligning assessment tools and instructional practices across different UPK settings.
  4. Facilities, Services, and Operations
    1. Optimizing funding models to support various UPK options.
    2. Ensuring facilities meet the needs of children ages 3 and 4, particularly with the projected increase in TK students in school districts.

The report is the result of a year-long planning effort that involved a committee of 38 community stakeholders who met during the 2023-24 school year to review data and best practices and develop recommendations for how to achieve universal UPK in San Mateo County. 

“Once again, our county has come together to focus on how we can better serve our youngest residents. This plan helps us create high-quality learning opportunities for three- and four-year-olds to meet local needs,” shared San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee.

Next up for the Child Care Partnership Council and 51³Ô¹Ï, who both sponsored the report, is sharing findings and recommendations with the broader community, especially parents of young children, preschool providers, and local and state elected officials and decision-makers, and reconvening the committee to work on making the recommendations actionable.

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The 51³Ô¹Ï is committed to ensuring excellence and equity in education by inspiring students, investing in teachers, invigorating leaders, and involving communities.