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Azusa Unified reports preschool expansion, parent resource center and improved DRDP scores
Summary
District Director Jenny Lee told the board Azusa Unified expanded California State Preschool Program access to every elementary site, opened a parent resource center, and saw measurable DRDP gains from fall 2025 to spring 2026 indicating improved kindergarten readiness.
Jenny Lee, director of Early Childhood Education for Azusa Unified, presented an update May 12 outlining program expansion, staff training, family engagement and early-childhood assessment results.
Lee said the district now offers the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) at every elementary site with three-hour part-day sessions and a full-day, full-year option at Longfellow School. She described specialized programming that includes Spanish dual-language-immersion preschool and TK at Hodge and Valinda, Mandarin dual-language TK at Dalton, and special-education preschool at Longfellow.
Lee highlighted a new parent resource center at Longfellow where families can check out developmentally aligned materials and "kid kits" with bilingual instructions to support learning at home. She said the resource room opened recently, is currently available one day a week, and that parents have already begun checking out materials.
The presentation included program-quality investments: districtwide staff training in social-emotional and academic-language practices, coaching for instructional aids and continuing alignment of preschool curriculum with TK–3 practices. Lee said the district conducts an annual program self-evaluation and shared DRDP (Desired Results Developmental Profile) comparisons showing an upward trend from fall 2025 to spring 2026 across domains including approaches to learning, self-regulation, social-emotional development and foundational language and math skills.
Board members asked about enrollment projections; Lee said the program is ending the year at about 225 students and expects similar enrollment next year. She said outreach and advertisement, including a billboard at the 210 freeway Azusa exit, increased interest and calls from surrounding cities.
Lee invited families to district ECE events (coffee with the director, family days and a preschool art exhibit) and noted the ECE spring family day scheduled for May 15 at Longfellow.
Next steps: expand hours for the parent resource center as demand requires, continue staff coaching and monitor DRDP and enrollment data to guide program improvement.
