Transitional Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting WELCOME TO Transitional Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting

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 Don’t know if you want to go into the whole history of the Kindergarten Readiness Act, but it’s there if you want it.

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 2019-2020 school year. This is an important slide because you will have parents in the audience asking about exceptions for their children who turn 5 after December 2. If you show this slide early, it keeps parents from waiting through the whole presentation to ask this question.

How TK Works: Sept. 2 – Dec. 2 Birthdays will attend Transitional Kindergarten (TK) June 1 – Sept. 1 birthdays remain optional; parents may request admission to TK on a space available basis

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

June 1 – September 1 Birthdays Students turning 5 in this date range can voluntarily go to TK Parents must put your child’s name on the waiting list which is located on the district website; the waiting list opens on March 1, 2019 Students will be admitted on a first come- first served basis Space may be very limited at certain schools You’ll need to tell them when the website goes live for the wait list. I’m also not sure it needs to be at 12:01 a.m. Maybe 7:00 a.m. or something like that makes more sense??

How to “opt –in” to TK: Must have a June 1 – September 1birthday Must put your child’s name on the wait list which opens on the District website on March 1 Must register for Regular K at your home school in May Student Attendance office will contact you and offer you a spot at your home school or the closest school with an opening (placement will be made from late June through the first day of school as availability is determined) Students with birthdays before June 1 will not be admitted to the TK program

How to get on the TK Interest List Slides 10-14 are just screenshots of where to find the TK waitlist links. They will need to be updated if you choose to show these slides.

Update slide with new Wait-List screen shot

Enrollment Process: 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 Make sure Optional TK parents know to register at their home school so we have them in the system.

Additional Information about TK: TK students are eligible to enroll in the ESS Program TK is a ½ day program lasting 3 hours, 20 minutes plus lunch Curriculum is a modified version of the Kindergarten Curriculum and is aligned to state standards ESS start date for TK students?

Questions for our panel? “Childhood should be a journey not a race”