• Update for Families: Advocacy for Funding for Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

    We wanted to keep you informed about an important meeting our district leaders attended on Monday, March 17, 2025. Superintendent Kaufman and Assistant Superintendent Rigney participated in a statewide discussion hosted by a group called Schools for Sound Finance (SF²)—an organization that supports school districts like ours that are funded mainly through local property taxes (also called “Basic Aid” or “Community Funded” school districts).

    The main topic of the meeting was funding for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in districts like ours.

    What Was Discussed:

    1. A New Bill Called AB 1391
      • This bill is being rewritten to include special funding for TK programs in Community Funded districts and small rural schools.
      • Right now, the current version of the bill does not include this funding, but changes are expected soon.
      • School districts and community members can send in letters showing their support.  
      • A sample letter has been shared on our website to make it easy to participate.
      • The group SF² plans to fully support and promote this bill.

    2. Upcoming State Hearing – May 23
      • Mill Valley School District sent a letter of support prior to the hearing in May.

    Why This Matters:

    The goal of all this advocacy is to make sure our schools receive fair funding for TK, just like other districts. This is especially important as TK expands across California and more families rely on these early learning programs.

    Please use either or both of the two suggested template letters to add your voice to this important topic. Thank you for staying engaged and helping us advocate for our students!

  • DRAFT LETTER SUPPORTING UNIVERSAL FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN

    Governor Gavin Newsom
    1021 O Street, Suite 9000
    Sacramento, CA 95814

    State Senator Mike McGuire
    1021 O Street, Suite 8518
    Sacramento, CA 95814

    Assemblymember Damon Connolly
    State Capitol
    P.O. Box 942849
    Sacramento, CA 94249-0012

    Dear Governor Newsom, Senator McGuire, and Assemblymember Connolly,

    I am writing to you as a [parent, educator, community member], who is deeply concerned about the growing inequities in the funding of educational programs, particularly for transitional kindergarten (TK). As we all know, TK is a critical early education program that serves as the foundation for students' academic and social development. However, the current funding structure has created significant challenges for community-funded districts such as ours.

    One of the primary concerns is the disproportionate funding allocation for TK between districts that rely on Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and those that operate as community-funded districts. While LCFF districts receive full state funding for all grade levels, including TK, community-funded districts are left to shoulder the financial burden without additional state support for transitional kindergarten. This situation results in an increasingly unsustainable disparity, with community-funded districts like ours being forced to make up the difference—often at the expense of other important programs and services.

    The impact of this disparity is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Community-funded districts are being asked to do more with less—facing rising costs for staff, facilities, and services, all while being expected to maintain equitable opportunities for all students. At the same time, LCFF districts receive a much-needed boost in funding that allows them to support their programs without such pressure. This is creating an unfair educational environment, where the ability to provide a high-quality early education depends on a district’s funding model, rather than the needs of the students.

    We urge you to address this inequity by advocating for full state funding of transitional kindergarten for all districts, regardless of their funding model. TK should be equally available to all students in California, and it should be fully supported by the state. No district should be required to face this growing challenge without the necessary resources to provide a robust and sustainable program.

    We also encourage your support in ensuring that all districts, regardless of their funding status, have the tools and resources necessary to offer a high-quality education for every child, particularly in early childhood education, where the impact can last a lifetime.

    Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. We look forward to your support in ensuring a more equitable and sustainable future for all of California’s students.

    Sincerely,

    [Your Full Name]
    [Your Title]
    [Your District or Organization Name]

  • DRAFT AB1391 SUPPORT LETTER

     

    Via: Electronic Submittal: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/  (Instructions can also be found here)

     

    The Honorable Al Muratsuchi, Chair  

    Assembly Education Committee  

    1020 N Street, Room 159  

    Sacramento, CA 95814 

     

    Re: AB 1391 (Addis), as Amended March 24, 2025 Position: Support 

     

    Dear Assemblymember Muratsuchi:    

    As a parent in the Mill Valley School District, I am writing to support Assembly Bill (AB) 1391 (Addis), which would provide universal funding for universal transitional kindergarten (UTK). 

    Like many parents in districts that rely primarily on local property taxes rather than state funding, I have seen firsthand the difficult trade-offs our schools have been forced to make to implement transition kindergarten (TK) without any additional funding. While we value the opportunity for our youngest learners to access an early start to their education, the current funding model has placed that opportunity in direct competition with vital existing programs.

    Without new state resources, our district has had to stretch existing funds for existing programs to cover the new grade level. These budget choices don’t just affect new TK students - they impact every child in our community’s schools.

    This inequity stems from the fact that although the state includes students in community-funded districts in its cost calculations for implementing UTK, the money generated by these students does not actually make its way to our schools. The Local Control Funding Formula does not provide any additional funding to districts like ours, even as our obligations grow.

    AB 1391 addresses this critical oversight by creating a mechanism to provide community-funded districts with the same per-student UTK funding as our state-funded neighbor districts. It recognizes that every four-year-old deserves a strong, supported start—regardless of the funding structure of the district they live in.

    I believe in the fair and equitable implementation of UTK. AB 1391 is necessary to achieve that and prevent further erosion of the programs and staff that serve all our students. On behalf of parents, families, and our children, I respectfully urge your support for AB 1391.

    Thank you, 

    [PLEASE SIGN (Electronic or Ink/Scanned and PDF’d)]

    [YOUR NAME] 

     

    cc: The Honorable Dawn Addis, Members, Assembly Education Committee, Debbie Look, Principal Consultant, Assembly Education Committee 
flyer