UC Merced launches Transitional Kindergarten Residency Program

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Transitional Kindergarten has doubled successful size implicit the past 2 years successful California.

Now successful the North Valley, aboriginal teachers person the accidental to gain their credential successful a brand-new TK residency programme spearheaded by UC Merced.

The fig of children enrolled successful Transitional Kindergarten continues to turn for Merced City School District.

"This year, we added astir six much TK classrooms successful our district," MCSD Assoc. Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Meisenheimer said.

With much students comes the request for much teachers, particularly up of the authorities Gov. Newsom signed into instrumentality which volition supply escaped and high-quality TK for each four-year-olds starting successful the autumn of 2025.

Director of Education Programs astatine UC Merced Extension, Marianna Harris, says they are helping capable the spread by launching a Transitional Kindergarten Residency Program.

"We're mounting the modular and creating a exemplary that different University of California's volition astir apt travel on with us," Harris said.

In concern with UCLA and UC Berkeley, a full of 60 residents volition beryllium accepted into the programme - 20 astatine each location.

All residents indispensable person a bachelor's grade to apply.

Those accepted volition person a 24% simplification successful tuition and fees and a compensation bundle of much than $24,000.

"This outgo you tin usage to wage for programme expenses oregon wage for rent expenses," Harris said.

The residents volition beryllium capable to gain their multi-subject credential, implicit 24 units successful aboriginal puerility acquisition and beryllium placed successful a TK class.

For UC Merced students, that volition beryllium successful the Merced City School District.

Administrators accidental this concern besides creates a pipeline for imaginable hires.

"When you're hiring for those teachers, you already cognize who they are. You already cognize what their skillsets are, and truthful to beryllium capable to bring them successful and they tin astir seamlessly acceptable close in," Meisenheimer said.

Leticia Rivero is simply a existent precocious schoolhouse Science teacher successful Merced and went done the UC Merced Teacher Preparation Program.

She says the professors assistance hole aboriginal teachers for what's to come.

"Whether you're caller to teaching oregon whether you person immoderate acquisition successful it, they assistance physique a toolbox that's unsocial to you," Rivero said.

She says moving from pupil to first-time teacher was easier due to the fact that of it.

"Going from UC Merced's teacher prep programme close into the schoolroom was a precise comfy transition," Rivero said.

The deadline to use for the autumn semester is July 15, but precocious applications volition beryllium accepted.

For much accusation astir the programme oregon to apply, click here oregon email teacherprep@ucmerced.edu

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