Manteca Unified is adding a 14th year of schooling.

It is part of a state-mandate that by the 2025-2026 academic year r any school operating a kindergarten needs to provide transitional kindergarten (TK) program for all 4 year-olds.

At the same time the state is pondering requiring full-day sessions for kindergarten students.

The universal TK mandate from Sacramento is based of decades of research that shows establishing an early and strong foundation for learning is vital.

Studies have shown children provided “effective learning opportunities” before kindergarten have an advantage in school and in life over children who do not. That is especially true of children with adverse childhood experiences.

The universal TK program offers full-day learning opportunities in a play-based environment.

Children practice early literacy skills. The program is not designed to simply teach kindergarten curriculum a year earlier.

The existing mandate and potential kindergarten requirement means not only is the school district launching essentially a new program that builds off some existing TK and preschool classes that will require additional classrooms but it also must double the space needed for kindergarten classes.

That is in addition to the existing 24,500 students and those added at  the K-12 levels in the coming years due to growth.

Nearly 400 students registered for the inaugural universal TK program this year. The TK classes are taking place at French Camp, George Komure, Golden West, Lathrop, Lincoln, and Shasta schools.

Those six sites are not exclusively for students within the attendance area but for those of nearby schools as well.

Eventually the district expects more than 1,000 youngsters will be enrolled in TK programs.

That will provide logistic and staffing challenges for the district.

The state mandate is to lower the number of students in classes while increasing the number of instructors.

The biggest issue will likely be learning spaces given the state requirements.

*Class sizes may need to be as low as 10 students.

*They must have the same type of classroom as the state requires for kindergarten. That is 1,350 square feet versus the standard  960-square-foot classroom, they also must have a fenced in playground area, restrooms, and such.

*District will not be allowed to use portables.

The state has indicated it would assist with housing costs for the programs.

The district could need to find and/or secure well in excess of 50 new learning spaces if they took a conventional approach.

The district is exploring  all options including creating locations for TK programs where multiple school attendance areas could be served, staggered learning track systems for TK, and repurposing existing space.

That would be in addition to the need for the district to double its existing kindergarten classroom space if the state mandates full days for all kindergarten students.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com