University of California campuses to boost early childhood teacher preparation, thanks to new $1.8 million in funding

Children playing in a circle with their teacher.
UC's leadership will help Gov. Newsom to achieve his dream of free, high-quality preschool for all young children. The collaborative spirit of our three campuses and the matching support from the UC systemwide office ensure that we can produce hundreds of pre-K teachers in the coming years.
Professor Bruce Fuller
January 9, 2023

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has awarded $1.5 million to three University of California campuses, bolstering the state’s ability to prepare thousands of newly credentialed teachers to serve another quarter-million children statewide.

California lawmakers and the governor aim to extend Universal Pre-kindergarten (UPK) to all 4-year-olds by 2026. But the scarcity of new teachers has slowed implementation, a snag that Governor Gavin Newsom confronts in his new budget, due out this week.

“The governor will deliver for children and families only if we produce additional high-quality, pre-K teachers,” said Dr. Mari Harris, Director of Education Programs, who will lead the new statewide effort from UC Merced. “The University of California can help lead this effort and assess what innovative forms of teacher training prove most effective.”

The UC Office of the President will add $300,000 to the initiative to support fellowships for graduate-level teacher trainees, including those whose status falls under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)—also known as “Dreamers.”

The education consortium is led by UC Merced and the Merced County Office of Education, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Oakland schools will provide clinical training classrooms for new trainees as well.

The need is high and urgent. Some 11,000 newly credentialed early childhood teachers and 22,000 aides will be needed to carry out California’s ambitious pre-K expansion.

“We are committed to seeing the governor’s pre-K dream come true,” said Yvette Gullatt, UC Vice President for Graduate, Undergraduate and Equity Affairs.  “The university will build from existing teacher training programs and help the state discern what preparation models best lift young children.”

Berkeley School of Education Professor Bruce Fuller emphasized the importance of collaboration across the University of California campuses.

"UC's leadership will help Gov. Newsom to achieve his dream of free, high-quality preschool for all young children,” said Fuller. “The collaborative spirit of our three campuses and the matching support from the UC systemwide office ensure that we can produce hundreds of pre-K teachers in the coming years."

The newly funded initiative will advance the careers and pay of experienced pre-K teachers, including many women of color with long experience in Head Start and other community-based programs. Newly credentialed teachers can enter public school positions that offer stronger wages and benefits.

Leaders also hope to create a seamless pipeline for preparing high-quality pre-K teachers and classroom aides and to strengthen collaborations between local education agencies and universities.