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Lennox highlights state preschool expansion and bilingual early education
Summary
District preschool leaders and parents described the state preschool program, bilingual instruction, professional development for teachers, and the district’s alignment with California’s Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) expansion.
District preschool leaders presented an overview of the Lennox State Preschool program, its bilingual classrooms and how the program connects with California’s broader universal preschool and transitional kindergarten (TK) expansion.
Neli Diaz Bada, identified in the meeting as the director of state preschool, opened the presentation and said the district’s preschool serves children at five sites and focuses on bilingual (English/Spanish) instruction, social‑emotional development and family partnership. She described teacher professional development requirements, the use of formative and summative assessments, and use of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) to inform classroom practice.
A parent, Stephanie Purchases, addressed the board and described her child’s experience in the program: “We’ve seen significant growth in her academic and social skills to prepare her for future grade levels,” she said. The parent praised the preschool staff for creating a “warm and welcoming environment” and for supporting individual needs.
Presenters emphasized that the district offers families a choice between half‑day state preschool and the expanded‑hours TK at elementary schools; staff noted that California’s master plan aims to expand access so that by 2026 all 4‑year‑olds will have eligible options, and the district is aligning preschool and TK pathways to provide continuity.
Staff described routine family engagement practices — two parent conferences each year, parent surveys, and volunteers — and said the program includes consultants for sensory integration and CLASS coaching. Teachers described play‑based learning as central to social‑emotional development and to preparing children for kindergarten.
The presentation closed with an invitation to visit preschool sites and a note that the program will continue offering preschool seats, and may include some 3‑year‑old placements to support early access and continuity for families.
