Preschool, day care, UTK, Pre-K & Kindergarten: understanding the differences
Some of the questions we get most from prospective families are to explain the differences between preschool, daycare, Pre-K, Universal Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten.
Kindergarten
In California, Kindergarten is the class or grade level for children who are five years old by September 1st. California law requires children to attend school starting at six years old, which means it is not mandatory to enroll a child in Kindergarten. Kindergarten is offered at public elementary schools as well as private schools.
Pre-K
There is no official or legal definition of “Pre-K” (Pre-Kindergarten), but people generally use the term to refer to a classroom setting for children who are four years old at the beginning of the year. Preschools and childcare centers often refer to their oldest classroom for four-year-olds as their “Pre-K” classroom.
UTK
We have a separate article that goes deeper into the history behind Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK). In brief, Universal Transitional Kindergarten is essentially a new grade level for children who are four years old at the beginning of the school year, and which is offered only in public elementary schools. It is “universal” because California’s aim is to have space available in UTK for every four-year-old in the state. Private preschools and childcare centers can continue to serve four-year-olds but those programs are not part of California’s UTK program.
Preschool vs. daycare
There is no legal difference in California between the terms preschool, daycare, or childcare center. Places that care for children five and under can use any of those words in their name. All are licensed by California’s Department of Social Services and the qualifications to work at one are generally the same.
If the care is provided in the provider’s home, those are typically licensed as “family child care homes.” If the care is provided in a building where the provider does not live (commercial or mixed-use building, or space connected to an elementary school, church, or workplace), that is licensed as a “child care center.” There are some differences in the regulations between family child care homes and child care centers. For example, in a family child care home, the provider is allowed to leave a group of children alone in a room very briefly, for example to get supplies from another room. In child care centers, every child must be within conceivable line of sight of a teacher or aide at all times.
In general, however, early childhood educators do expect a center that bills itself as a “daycare” to be substantively different from a “preschool.” At a typical daycare, parents should expect the children to receive supervised care and to have their basic needs met (food, potty, rest), but should not expect curriculum or outcome/development-based education. At a preschool, safety and care are of course paramount, but parents should expect curriculum and development-focused learning. There are many forms and approaches this can take (e.g., Reggio Emilia, Montessori, language immersion, etc.).
Now, there are many daycare with highly qualified, caring teachers who do provide education focused on social, emotional, or educational development. Likewise, there are centers that bill themselves as preschools or even “learning academies” or other high-flying names, but which operate as typical daycares.
The most important takeaway is that families should research and visit any school or center they’re considering, ask questions, and make an informed decision that will best meet their own family’s needs.