Most LEAs used multiple TK curricula and play-based, developmentally appropriate strategies, but 20% still used kindergarten curriculum in TK classrooms¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Most LEAs (72%) used more than one curriculum type in TK; 49% used a social-emotional curriculum and 46% a PreK literacy curriculum, while 20% used kindergarten curriculum. → Wang 2025 q2 i? LEAs most commonly supported social-emotional learning through play-based learning (79%) and developmentally appropriate learning environments (70%), with every listed strategy increasing from 2022–23. → Wang 2025 (2)

Evidence¶

Wang 2025¶

Wang, V., Melnick, H., Leung-Gagné, M., Parker, S., & Wechsler, M. (2025). California's universal prekindergarten implementation progress, 2023–24. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/600.551

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Statewide LEA survey reported in the TK Instruction and Assessment section and Table 5. The report notes about one fifth (20%) of LEAs used kindergarten curriculum in TK classrooms, down from 26%.

"In the 2023–24 school year, LEAs reported using a variety of curricula in their TK programs, with most LEAs (72%) using more than one curriculum type. About half of LEAs used a social-emotional curriculum (49%) and/or a PreK literacy-specific curriculum (46%)"

Wang 2025 (2)¶

Wang, V., Melnick, H., Leung-Gagné, M., Parker, S., & Wechsler, M. (2025). California's universal prekindergarten implementation progress, 2023–24. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/600.551

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Statewide LEA survey reported in the TK Instruction and Assessment section and Table 7. The report states the percentage of LEAs reporting each listed social-emotional learning strategy increased from 2022–23 to 2023–24.

"LEAs used a variety of strategies in 2023–24 to create such learning environments, most commonly through promoting play-based learning (79%) and designing developmentally appropriate learning environments (70%)."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Use of the DRDP assessment in TK increased notably to 34% of LEAs while LEA-developed assessment use fell from 66% to 44% — related
• TK classrooms used a wide range of curricula, with most LEAs using one to four approaches and nearly 1 in 5 still using kindergarten curriculum — related
• A growing share of LEAs adopted social-emotional and developmentally appropriate strategies, led by play-based learning at 82% — related
• California LEAs most commonly supported social-emotional learning through play-based learning and supported students with disabilities through instructional adaptations and added staff — related
• California TK classrooms most commonly used social-emotional and literacy-specific curricula, but about a quarter of LEAs used kindergarten curriculum in TK — related