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Currently, Transitional Kindergarten (TK) bridges the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten years. It is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that has been implemented in California for children who are not old enough yet for kindergarten, but want to build their social, developmental and academic skills.
However, a new California law recently passed that outlines a plan to add children in two- or three-month increments over the next few years until all 4-year-olds are eligible for the program, and a 14th year of public education is created.
TK classrooms are taught by multiple-subject credentialed teachers who also have 24 units in early childhood education, or childhood development, or both. The TK curriculum is based on the California Preschool Learning Foundations and the California Preschool Curriculum Framework.
Is Transitional Kindergarten mandatory?
No, even if a child is TK eligible, parents have a choice of whether they want to enroll their child in TK or preschool.
Who is eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?
Starting with the 2022-23 school year, all school districts in California, including ALSD, will be required by state law to expand their Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms until all 4 year olds are eligible for TK by 2025-26. If you are interested, I have linked Governor Newsom’s special message about TK: Governor's Message
ALSD will offer TK classrooms at every elementary school site, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. Additionally, we will phase in this expansion over the next four years in alignment with state law, which states that TK is for students who will be turning age 5 between September 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024. (California law requires that children be age 5 on or before September 1 of the school year to be eligible for kindergarten, and age 6 on or before September 1 of the school year to be eligible for first-grade.)
Please see below for the eligibility by school year:
2022-23 School Year
TK eligibility:
Student turns 5 between
9/2/2022- 2/2/2023
2023-24 School Year
TK eligibility:
Student turns 5 between 9/2/2023-4/2/2024
2024-25 School Year
TK eligibility:
Student turns 5 between 9/2/2024-6/2/2025
2025-26 School Year
TK eligibility:
Student turns 5 between 9/2/2025-9/1/2026
How do I register my eligible student for TK?
We are excited to offer TK at all 8 of our elementary sites, with class sizes remaining at 24:2. To ensure a spot at your school of residence, please be sure to register your student when registration opens on February 1st.
If you currently have students in our District, you will use this LINK to register your student. As a reminder, registration begins February 1st.
If you are new to our District, welcome! We are excited for you to join our family. Please use this LINK beginning February 1st to register your student.
The TK registration process is similar to the enrollment process for all grade levels. Prior to admission in our District schools, families shall provide the school with student birth certificate, immunizations and 2 current proofs of residence. Reasonable evidence of residency may be established by documentation including, but not limited to, any of the following:
- Escrow papers or official rent/lease agreement
- Property tax payment receipts
- Utility bills
- Telephone bill
- Cable bill
- Insurance (car, home/renters)
- Pay stubs
- W-2
- Voter registration / correspondence from a government agency
For the 2023-2024 school year, families should register and submit all appropriate enrollment paperwork as soon as possible to ensure attendance at your school of residence.
For more information on TK including eligibility for upcoming school years, please contact the Office of Student Services at 909-484-5151 ext. 102040.
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