By the California State PTA Family Engagement Commission
California State PTA is partnering with Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) to share valuable resources for families and children. New materials are now available to help communicate clear, accurate information on early learning programs with families in ways that meet their needs. We know that families get their information about their options from trusted advocates like you.
Check out the Toolkit: Communicating about Universal PreKindergarten with Families that includes customizable materials you can use as-is or adapt for your community:
- Flyers and posters
- Social media carousels and sample captions
- Parent testimonial videos and short clips
- Email and newsletter templates
- Talking points and key messages
- Referral and enrollment resources
- Links to translated materials
All materials are designed to be easy to share, culturally responsive, and free to use on the UPK website.
PTA Leaders: Help Spread the Word About These Materials To Your PTA Community
Help us make it easier for families to understand their enrollment options by sharing UPK CA materials through your networks. Whether it’s via social media, newsletters, or community events, your support can make a difference!
The materials were shaped to ensure they:
- Use clear, family-friendly language
- Explain free and low-cost early learning options in simple terms
- Reflect the experiences of racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse families
- Reach families who may not yet be connected to school districts
About the Materials
This project was supported by the generous investment of the Heising-Simons Foundation and Sobrato Philanthropies. It represents a joint venture between the CDE Foundation’s California Family and Community Engagement (CA Face) Initiative, the California Department of Education (CDE) Early Education Division, and Collaborative Communications.
The success of this initiative is a direct result of the project’s Co-Creation Committee; these members stepped up to the charge with immense dedication, ensuring that the community’s voice remained at the heart of every deliverable.
The Co-Creation Committee members included:
- Nancy Villarreal — Interim Executive Director, Parent Organization Network (PON)
- Janet Nuñez-Pineda (or representative) — Director, CA State Family Engagement Center, led by The Parent Institute for Quality EducationKeisha Nzwei — Co-founder, Black Californians United for ECE (BLACKECE)
- Carla Bryant — Founder, The Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education (DIAL EE)
- Kristel England — Parent Voices
- Houri Khatchadorian — Vice President for Family Engagement, California State PTA
- Nina Buthee — Executive Director, Every Child California