UTK classroom b-roll available here
Interviews available in English and Spanish
NEWS RELEASE
UTK Pre-Enrollment Window for 2024-25 School Year Opening Soon for 4-year-old students
Hundreds of Additional UTK Seats to be Added
January 16, 2024
San Diego – San Diego Unified’s Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) pre-enrollment window for the 2024-25 school year opens Jan. 22 through Feb. 2, 2024.
Children who turn 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2024, are eligible for UTK, and parents may pre-enroll them at their school of residence.
UTK is now considered the first year of school and is being offered to all age-eligible students in San Diego Unified.
Students in UTK receive a full day of school that helps build a critical foundation for kindergarten, both academically and emotionally. Students engage in creative play time, the arts, and the fundamentals of reading, writing, and early math skills.
For the upcoming school year, about 300 additional seats are being added throughout San Diego Unified, bumping the total number of available spots to approximately 5,200.
“The increase in UTK seats being offered for the upcoming school year represents the district’s commitment to our littlest learners,” Early Childhood Education Director Santos Gonzalez said. “Students who complete UTK before enrolling in kindergarten have better outcomes academically, emotionally, and socially.”
UTK classes are scheduled in alignment with the elementary school bell schedule and calendar. Each UTK class has two teachers, and all students are offered a free and nutritious breakfast and lunch at school.
“High quality early learning is essential for long-term student success,” Board of Education President Shana Hazan said. “Not only does Universal Transitional Kindergarten help every child reach their potential, our free full-day program in every neighborhood provides a wonderful childcare option for working parents without making a dent in their wallets. From purposeful play and nutritious meals to establishing strong pre-literacy and numeracy skills, it’s great to see so many families tapping into the benefits of UTK.”
Beginning Jan. 22, families may contact their neighborhood school directly to complete the UTK enrollment packet. If the school of residence becomes full, families will be offered enrollment at the next closest site with space available. Click here to use the UTK School Finder.
After Feb. 2, UTK enrollment will continue through the end of the current school year and through the summer.
“For many parents, a UTK classroom may be their child’s first structured learning environment, and it’s a true partnership between families, teachers, and the district,” Superintendent Lamont Jackson said. “We value the collaboration from all involved to ensure a positive experience and successful start to an academic journey that allows all students to thrive and develop a sense of belonging.”
· UTK classroom b-roll available here
· Interviews available in English and Spanish
Contact: Communications Director Maureen Magee, mmagee@sandi.net.
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