Rosedell Elementary now hosts Saugus Union School District’s (SUSD) newest transitional kindergarten (TK) demonstration classroom, supported by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) through its Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) initiative. Educators and administrators from Saugus and neighboring districts stepped inside to experience the classroom firsthand. As the district grows from 14 to 33 TK classrooms, this model space leads the way, helping educators and leaders redefine what high quality early learning can be.

A Classroom Designed for Learning and for the Future

On a small woven rug inside the TK demonstration classroom, three children sat surrounded by baskets of vibrant, open-ended materials such as boxes, straws, wooden sticks, feathers and tape. Nearby, photos of rainbow-colored creations accompanied a simple invitation: “What can you create?”

Across the room, another group of children negotiated roles in a flower shop, carefully selecting and arranging bouquets. A child quietly traced his name with a wet paintbrush on a chalkboard, while others built, designed and collaborated with loose parts and natural materials.

The classroom was lively, but not chaotic. Every movement, every interaction, every choice reflected something deeper.

More than a model classroom, this classroom demonstrated a countywide shift toward P–3 alignment, creating early learning experiences from preschool through third grade that are coherent and developmentally appropriate. Through intentional, play-based activities, children quickly build core executive functioning skills, like working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-regulation, that support both academic growth and long-term success.

“These environments allow students to draw on their own experiences while strengthening the foundational skills they will carry throughout their educational journey,” says Dr. Carin Fractor, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for SUSD.

The Rosedell model classroom joins a growing network of LACOE-supported demonstration classrooms across the county, including sites in Downey USD and ICEF Vista Elementary Academy, with an additional classroom in Arcadia USD to be revealed in April. 

A Countywide Commitment to Joyful, Aligned Learning

For LACOE, demonstration classrooms are part of a larger strategy to transform early education across L.A. County.

Ed Clement, assistant superintendent for educational services, credits a visit to the Downey USD demonstration classroom a year earlier as precipitating this new endeavor. He notes the partnership that has developed with LACOE has also led to broader transformations, such as discarding the “completely not relevant” TK report cards in favor of developmentally appropriate assessments, as the district now considers revamping its approach to report cards for older children as well.  

Each site serves as a tangible example of what is possible when systems are aligned with how young children learn best through purposeful, intentional play, exploration and meaningful interaction.

“We are all here because we have a passion for children,” says Norma Fregoso-Graciano, LACOE Universal PreKindergarten program manager. “This is very emotional, because we see what these transformations can do and what environments like this offer children.”

Looking Ahead

As Universal PreKindergarten continues to expand across the county, efforts like the Rosedell demonstration classroom highlight what is possible when county offices and districts work together to invest in high-quality early learning.

Because when environments are intentional, learning becomes joyful. When systems are aligned, impact is sustained. 

And when we get it right early, we change the trajectory for children long before third grade and beyond.