After two weeks of community input and a staff presentation, the Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education voted 4–1 on May 15 to retain the district’s TK cutoff date of June 2 for the 2025–26 school year while directing staff to pilot a blended Universal Pre‑K (UPK) option for summer‑birthday children.

Superintendent Linda Adamson told the board that the district is still awaiting clarity on funding for basic‑aid districts: she referenced legislation (Assembly Bill 1391 as discussed in the meeting) being considered to provide UPK funding to basic‑aid districts but cautioned the board it would likely be months before any appropriation is known. “We would not know if funding materializes until January,” she said.

To respond to family concerns in the immediate term, the board endorsed a staff recommendation to adapt the district’s existing state preschool program into a no‑cost UPK pathway located at Forest Grove Elementary for children who turn 4 between June 3 and September 1. District staff said the program would be a full‑day, developmentally‑appropriate program taught by credentialed early‑childhood staff and would include before‑/after‑school enrichment and meal service. If demand exceeds Forest Grove capacity, staff proposed a second offering through the adult‑school parent‑education program.

Board members inserted a policy change (technical corrections to board policy 6170.1) to reflect the 2025–26 language and added an explicit line allowing admissions on a case‑by‑case basis where space is available. The motion passed 4–1.

Community members who addressed the board urged full universal TK access for summer‑birthday children. Several parents and student advocates warned that denying TK access to summer birthdays can cause developmentally‑based learning gaps and urged the board to prioritize classroom staff rather than administrative or non‑student‑facing costs. District staff said the UPK blended model aimed to reduce the immediate equity impact without adding recurring general‑fund cost to the 2025–26 budget.

Staff will return with a detailed implementation plan for the Forest Grove UPK offering, including staffing, enrollment procedures and curriculum alignment with TK. The board directed staff to include a case‑by‑case placement clause in the revised policy language and to report back on enrollment counts and budget implications at the June and interim budget updates.

The board roll‑call on the policy change was 4–1 (Trustee Atmar voted no); the policy language will be updated and brought back to the board for finalization.