In 2010, California enacted the Kindergarten Readiness Act (SB 1381). Prior to that time, California’s cutoff date of Dec. 2 for Kindergarten entry was one of the latest in the nation. In most states, children must turn five by Sept. 1 in order to start Kindergarten. California’s late Kindergarten cutoff allowed children as young as 4 years and 9 months to be in classes with children more than one year older. Rolling back the Kindergarten entry date a few months can make an enormous difference in the early years when children are rapidly growing and developing.

Transitional Kindergarten offers an additional year of school to our younger students. It provides opportunities to learn in an academically challenging and enriching environment. Children who attend Transitional Kindergarten are more likely to acquire the academic skills, confidence and maturity they need to succeed in school.

Beginning the 2014-15 school year and beyond, children who have their fifth birthday between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2 are eligible for Transitional Kindergarten.

While schools must offer a Transitional Kindergarten program for all children eligible to attend, student enrollment is voluntary though strongly encouraged. It is a free public school program.

The standards, curriculum and teacher credentialing requirements in Transitional Kindergarten are different than those in preschool. Transitional Kindergarten will be part of the TK-12 public education system and it will be based on the kindergarten standards. It will build on the skills children may have learned in preschool to ensure they will be able to begin kindergarten with confidence.

Although the curriculum in transitional kindergarten will be based on the kindergarten standards, it will be modified to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of younger children. The transitional kindergarten environment will include more opportunities for social-emotional, language development and communication through dramatic play; small group instruction; and intentional teaching through hands-on activities.

English learners in transitional kindergarten will have the same level of services as those in kindergarten.

Transitional Kindergarten teachers will be required to have a teaching credential.

Transitional kindergarteners will typically be 6 years old when they start first grade and turn 7 years old during the first few months of the school year.

No, they will be 18 years old when they graduate and will turn 19 years old several months after graduation.

Districts will be required to offer the same services to Transitional Kindergarteners with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) as they currently offer to children in kindergarten.

Transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten experience. Children will go on to kindergarten after completing transitional kindergarten.

Please visit our Enrollment page regarding "Full Day Kindergarten" for eligibility information.

After the Transitional Kindergarten year, you will return to your home/resident school for Kindergarten through grade 5. If you are not at your home school and would like to stay at the TK site for Kindergarten, you will need to apply for an intra-district permit during the Open Enrollment period which begins in January.  Approval will depend on space availability.

Yes, regular attendance is required at all grade levels.

All children are required to provide proof of immunizations before admission to Transitional Kindergarten.