Kindergarten

The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, Senate Bill 1381, amended the California Education Code to change the required birth date for admission to kindergarten.

For the 2013-14 school year, a child is eligible for kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if the child will have his/her fifth birthday on or before October 1. A child who turns five years old between September 2, 2013 and October 1, 2013 is eligible for either Transitional Kindergarten or kindergarten. Final determination will be based on the child’s readiness for kindergarten.

For the 2014-15 school year and each year thereafter, a child is eligible for kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if the child will have his/her fifth birthday on or before September 1.

Eligibility chart for 2013-14 (pdf)

Transitional Kindergarten

Who is eligible to attend Transitional Kindergarten in our district?

A child is eligible for Transitional Kindergarten if he or she will have his or her fifth birthday between September 2 and December 2. A child who turns five years old between September 2, 2013 and October 1, 2013 is eligible for either Transitional Kindergarten or kindergarten. Final determination will be based on the child’s readiness for kindergarten.

Eligibility chart for 2013-14 (pdf)

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

A transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate.

Transitional kindergarten (TK) is an opportunity to provide the early foundations for school success for those children turning 5 years old between September and December. The first year of a two-year kindergarten experience, transitional kindergarten provides a bridge between preschool and traditional kindergarten. Some districts in California have had similar programs in place for a number of years; others have started early implementation of these programs. Transitional kindergarten provides an important opportunity to give our youngest kindergarteners a better start in school. More information on TK can be found on the California Department of Education’s website and the Transitional Kindergarten Library website.

Additional Resources

Transitional Kindergarten Flyer (pdf)

Transitional Kindergarten Planning Guide (pdf)

Change of Age of Enrollment and Transitional Kindergarten Program (pdf) - California Kindergarten Association

Outside Sources

When Should a Kid Start Kindergarten? NYTimes.com article, Elizabeth Weil, June 3, 2007

Communication & Outreach (California’s Transitional Kindergarten Online Library)

About Transitional Kindergarten (California’s Transitional Kindergarten Online Library)

Transitional Kindergarten FAQs - Elementary (California Department of Education)