Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

Just like kindergarten, transitional kindergarten enrollment will be voluntary. Below are the options parents have according to the child’s date of birth and the enrollment year: 

Eligible Dates by school year:
These expanded dates are part of the California Universal Pre-K program, designed to give early learning opportunities to all children who qualify for state preschool and TK programs.  

The standards, curriculum and teaching requirements in transitional kindergarten will be based on the California Preschool Learning Foundations (soon to be updated by the CDE), with an emphasis on preparing students for the kindergarten content standards. It will build on developmental skills that children may have learned in previous preschool experience to ensure they will be able to begin kindergarten with confidence. TK classes will follow the same schedule as the kindergarten classes on the school campus where it is located.

The classroom ratio for the TK classes is 10:1. TK classrooms in OGSD will have up to 20 students with a credentialed multiple subject teacher and an Instructional Assistant.

English learners in transitional kindergarten will have the same level of services as those in kindergarten. Based on the home language survey, students will be tested on the initial ELPAC assessment to determine proficiency level.  Spanish speaking students may qualify for the Two Way Bilingual Immersion program at Christopher or Del Roble, where instruction is 90% in Spanish. Visit the Program Options page for application information.

Transitional kindergarten will be free and open to all age-eligible children.

Beginning in 2024, TK teachers will be required to have preschool experience or Early Childhood Education units or equivalent, in addition to their multiple subject teaching credential.

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 one of the state's Universal Pre-K options, and does not take the place of kindergarten. Children will be automatically promoted to kindergarten at their home school and not required to re-enroll.  

Teachers help children develop social skills through activities that build confidence and communication. They also expose children to reading and math foundational skills in interactive ways using educational games and play.