TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN

PARENT INFORMATION

Desired Outcomes: The Kindergarten Readiness Act and

implications for PUSD Students Understand Transition K and what it looks

like in PUSD How to register for TK and/or get on TK

Wait-List

Background September 2010, Kindergarten Readiness

Act:

Entry date based on 5th birthday Entry date moved earlier over three years

from December 2 to September 1 (beginning 2014-15)

Established Transitional Kindergarten, a two- year kindergarten program

December 2nd If your child does not turn 5 on or before

December 2nd, they are not eligible for either TK or Kindergarten.

There are no exceptions to this cut off date. Although California Legislature did recently pass

an amendment to Education Code 48000(c) which permits districts the option to enroll students who turn 5 years of age after December 2 to be admitted to the TK program, the decision is left entirely to the school district regarding implementing this amendment.  No changes are anticipated in PUSD for the 2016-17 school year.

Sept. 2 – Dec. 2 Birthdays will attend Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

June 1 – Sept. 1 birthdays remain optional; parents may request admission to TK

How TK works:

Students attend a two year program:◦ Year 1 in Transitional Kindergarten (TK)◦ Year 2 in “regular” Kindergarten◦ Students return to their home school for

kindergarten if they are on an IDT

(Students MUST be 5 on or before December 2nd)

How TK Works:

It is the intent of PUSD to have a TK program at each elementary school

Final determination will be made based upon actual enrollment numbers

Valley Elementary is a Spanish Instruction TK program

TK schools for 2016-17

Students turning 5 in this date range can voluntarily go to TK

You must put your name on the waiting list which is located on the district website; the waiting list opens on March 1, 2016

Students will be admitted on a first come-first served basis.

Space may be very limited at certain schools

June 1 – September 1Birthdays

Must have a June 1 – September 1Birthday Must register for Regular K at your home

school in May Must put your name on the wait list which

opens on the District website on March 1 Student Attendance office will contact you

and offer you a spot at your home school or the closest school with an opening

Students with birthdays before June 1 will not be admitted to the TK program

How to “opt –in” to TK

How to get on the TK Interest List

All students – whether K or TK will register at their home school early in May

Contact your home school for exact days and times of registration

Students are placed in K or TK according to their 5th birthday

Enrollment Process

TK students are eligible to enroll in the ESS Program

TK is a ½ day program lasting 3 hours, 20 minutes

Curriculum is a modified version of the Kindergarten Curriculum and is aligned to state standards

Additional Information about TK:

Started as a voluntary program in 1999 – known as PEPP (Poway Extended Primary Program)

Addressed the challenge of California’s late enrollment date of December 2nd

Provided an alternative to the traditional retention model

Backed by research which shows our younger students face more challenges throughout school

PUSD TK Program

“Childhood should be a journey not a race”