Preschoolers at La Jolla Elementary, Bird Rock Elementary and Torrey Pines Elementary started the school year Monday, Aug. 10, with a brand-new learning program called the Creative Curriculum, part of a district-wide overhaul of how San Diego Unified teaches its youngest students to read.

The shift is district-wide.

The curriculum features units on light, cameras, the grocery store and architecture, the district announced on X on Friday, Aug. 14.

Teachers use play, props and reading aloud to build early literacy skills, according to KPBS reporting published Aug. 7.

"Literacy gives students the ability to understand the world, express their ideas, and unlock opportunities throughout their lives," Shawna Codrington, the district's director of literacy, said in an Aug. 6 press release. Codrington added that the district is strengthening literacy instruction so every student can read deeply, think critically, communicate effectively and succeed across subjects.

The Creative Curriculum falls under SDUSD's broader literacy priority for 2026-27. Superintendent Fabi Bagula identified literacy as one of four district-wide focuses this year, alongside student wellness, mathematics and college and career readiness.

The district pointed to recent gains as evidence the emphasis is working. On the 2025 California School Dashboard, SDUSD's English Language Arts scores rose 5.2 points in a single year, landing 12.4 points above the state standard. The strongest gains came among Latino students, English learners and students with disabilities, helping narrow long-standing achievement gaps.

The district has not disclosed what curriculum the Creative Curriculum replaces or when the switch was decided.

San Diego Unified also expanded access to free Transitional Kindergarten this year, opening 5,200 TK seats for children who turn 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2026. Families can find enrollment information at SanDiegoUnified.org/TK.