The Orange County Childcare and Development Planning Council has launched a survey for local families to share their experience enrolling their children ages 3 and 4 in preschool or kindergarten.
The OCDE-led program and its partner organization, Children’s Home Society, wants to hear from those who are either looking for a preschool program, have a child currently enrolled in preschool or have placed them in a transitional kindergarten or kindergarten program this school year. The survey takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese. Families can access the form at tinyurl.com/UPKOCFamilySurvey.
With community input, the OCDE Early Learning Services unit plans to utilize this data to create programs and expand services that support increased preschool enrollment made possible with the statewide Universal PreKindergarten program.
Under this program, every 4-year-old in California will be eligible to enroll in a public school transitional kindergarten program by the 2025-26 school year.
“The Universal PreKindergarten Needs Assessment Family Survey will aid OCDE and its partners in understanding the needs of the community and providing equitable early learning opportunities for 3- and 4-year-old children,” said Dr. Elida Garcia, OCDE administrator of Early Learning Services.
In alignment with statewide efforts, OCDE will continue to offer professional learning and funding opportunities to early learning care programs and partnering educators.
In addition to gathering data from Orange County families, the OC Childcare and Development Planning Council plans to host focus groups starting in spring 2024. Upon completion of the survey, parents or guardians can indicate their interest and enter to win an early learning basket of items for their child.
Questions about the survey can be sent to OCDE Evaluation Specialist Aubrey Roy at aroy@ocde.us.