In response to Los Angeles County’s growing need for qualified early childhood educators and transitional kindergarten (TK) teachers, Pacific Oaks College and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) have launched a three-year, $800,000 partnership designed to expand degree access, credential pathways, and student support for educators across the region.
Through this agreement, Pacific Oaks will provide bachelor’s degree pathways and comprehensive academic advising tailored to participants in LACOE’s Universal Prekindergarten-Career Development Initiative (UPK-CDI) and other education professionals. Programs will integrate trauma-informed and culturally responsive teaching practices, which are hallmarks of Pacific Oaks’ community-rooted approach. The partnership is designed to align degree pathways and student support with regional workforce needs.
“Expanding and sustaining the early childhood workforce is critical for families across Los Angeles County,” said Breeda McGrath, Ph.D., president of Pacific Oaks College. “This partnership ensures that dedicated educators, especially those who have historically faced barriers to higher education, can access clear pathways, strong mentorship, and the credentialing support needed to advance in their careers.”
Launched on January 5, 2026, the initiative has served 19 students so far, including first-generation learners, working adults, and current early childhood educators seeking to complete their degrees or earn credentials.
“Together, LACOE and Pacific Oaks College are opening more doors for dedicated educators to advance their careers and serve our youngest learners. This partnership strengthens clear degree and credential pathways, backed by culturally responsive, trauma-informed practices, so our workforce can meet the county’s growing demand for high-quality early childhood and TK instruction,” said Debra Duardo, Ed.D., Los Angeles County superintendent of schools.
Why Los Angeles Needs More TK Teachers
California is expanding Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to serve all eligible 4-year-olds, and Los Angeles County is at the center of that effort.
Researchers from the Learning Policy Institute estimate that California school districts need to hire between 11,000 and 15,600 lead TK teachers statewide to meet demand, with the five largest counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino, accounting for more than half of that total need.
That demand isn’t theoretical. Districts across LA County are actively seeking credentialed teachers who have completed the California-required 24 units in early childhood education or child development, the qualification that allows them to lead a TK classroom.
About the Pacific Oaks–LACOE Partnership
Under the agreement, Pacific Oaks will provide bachelor ‘s-degree pathways and comprehensive academic advising tailored for participants in LACOE’s Universal Prekindergarten-Career Development Initiative (UPK-CDI).
Programs integrate trauma-informed and culturally responsive teaching practices, core elements of Pacific Oaks’ approach to educator preparation.
Educators in the partnership can pursue three degree pathways:
- B.A. in Early Childhood Education
- B.A. in Human Development
- B.A. in Early Childhood Education with Credential
How Credentialed Teachers Can Qualify to Teach TK
For California teachers who already hold a preliminary teaching credential and want to qualify for a TK classroom assignment, the path is clear: complete at least 24 semester units in early childhood education or child development, as required by California Education Code Section 48000(g).
Pacific Oaks College offers an Online Transitional Kindergarten Certificate designed specifically for this purpose. The program is fully online, covers eight courses of three units each (24 units total), and is structured to be completed in two semesters while teachers remain in their current roles. Coursework aligns with NAEYC standards and California’s Preschool Learning Foundations.
Pacific Oaks’ History of ECE Educator Partnerships
Pacific Oaks has a longstanding history of partnering with school districts, counties, and community agencies to expand educator pipelines. In recent years, the institution has formed partnerships with San Gabriel Valley school districts and the Sacramento County Office of Education to develop educator pipelines align with California’s TK expansion.
Interested in teaching TK in California? –
If you hold a California teaching credential and want to qualify for a Transitional Kindergarten classroom, the Online TK Certificate at Pacific Oaks fulfills the state’s 24-unit ECE requirement, fully online, in two semesters.
