Senate Bill 876 added additional requirements for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teachers. Pursuant to EC 48000(g), a school district or charter school shall ensure that credentialed teachers who are first assigned to a TK classroom after July 1, 2015, have, by August 1, 2020, one of the following:

1.             At least 24 semester units (or equivalent units), in early childhood education, or childhood development, or both.

2.             As determined by the LEA employing the teacher, professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children that is comparable to the 24 units (or equivalent units) of education described in bullet 1.

3.             A child development teacher permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Any current credentialed teacher who is or was assigned to teach TK, or a combination class of kindergarten and TK, on or before July 1, 2015, is “grandfathered in” to teach TK without having to meet additional requirements.  Further, any current credentialed teacher who is assigned to teach TK and has completed at least 24 semester units (or equivalent units)  in early childhood education/childhood development, or holds  a Child Development Teacher Permit, has met the additional requirements.

Los Angeles Community Colleges offering early childhood or child development coursework, and university programs providing early childhood coursework, child development coursework or a Child Development Teacher Permit, please click on the links below:

For information on Los Angeles Unified School District’s Transitional Kindergarten, please click on REF-5777.5 “Transitional Kindergarten Implementation”.

Should you have questions about any of the following topics related to your compliance, please reach out to the appropriate contact person for advisement:

• The number of qualifying early childhood education units you currently have - Brenda Neblett at brenda.neblett@lausd.net.
• Whether a particular course would count towards the 24 semester unit requirement – JXR1665@lausd.net
• Qualifying for a child development permit (ex. via a multiple subject credential and 12 qualifying units) - Rosalind Cook at cook@lausd.net.
• Qualifying by being grandfathered in due to the fact that you taught TK/ETK  prior to July 1, 2015 or had professional experience with Pre-K/Pre-School age children comparable to 24 semester units of education– Luz Ortega  at ortega@lausd.net