Welcome to IUSD's Transitional Kindergarten webpage. This online resource is the place for news and information about the Irvine Unified School District's efforts to establish a first-rate educational foundation for so-called "young 5-year-olds".
What is Transitional Kindergarten?
In short, California is moving the cut-off age for kindergarten enrollment, and that means some children won't be starting kindergarten as early as their families had planned. To accommodate children who will be impacted by the shift, and to give younger 5-year-olds an extra year of academic readiness, school districts are required to offer Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programs, starting in the fall of 2012.
Ready to get your child enrolled? Scroll down to "How to enroll your child in TK" and find out how!
IUSD Transitional Kindergarten Continuum of Standards
Please click on the link to access the continuum of standards for each curricular area:
Santiago Hills - Serving Schools in the Northern Irvine area
Springbrook - Serving Schools in the Central Irvine area
University Park - Serving Schools in the Southern Irvine area
Westpark - Serving Year-Round Schools
TK School Sites for 2013-2014
Santiago Hills and Canyon View - Serving Schools in the Northern Irvine area
Springbrook and Eastshore - Serving Schools in the Central Irvine area
University Park - Serving Schools in the Southern Irvine area
Westpark - Serving Year-Round Schools
Here's a little more background
Up until now, students who turn 5 years old on or before December 2 were allowed to start kindergarten. As a result, children with later birthdays could begin when they were still 4 years old. But some policymakers argued that those younger learners lacked critical social, literacy, and math skills.
So in 2010, California passed the Kindergarten Readiness Act, which will gradually shift the birthday cut-off date for kindergarten enrollment. The idea is to ensure that future students enter kindergarten as 5-year-olds, but it will be implemented gradually over three years. Here's how it will work:
For 2012-13, all students entering kindergarten must turn 5 on or before November 1.
For 2013-14, all students entering kindergarten must turn 5 on or before October 1.
For 2014-15 and beyond, all students entering kindergarten must turn 5 on or before September 1.
A few more facts about TK
So what does Transitional Kindergarten look like? Think of it as sort of a hybrid that
combines the essential foundations of preschool with the California Common Core Standards for kindergarten, nurturing each child's intellectual and socio-emotional growth.
Eligible families are not required to participate, and the state has left it up to individual school districts to establish their own transitional programs. In IUSD, a committee of educators spent more than seven months developing curriculum for the year-long course.
Transitional Kindergarten Parent Night
TK Parent Information Night for the 2013-2014 school year was held in the District office (5050 Barranca Parkway) on April 23, 2013 at 7:00pm.
To view materials from the TK Parent Information Night held on April 23, 2013, click on one of the following:
In his latest budget proposal, Gov. Jerry Brown has called for the elimination of funding for Transitional Kindergarten, which would effectively put an end to the program before it even started. Keep in mind that Brown's proposal merely represents the starting point for budget negotiations, which could drag on through the summer months. While IUSD will be closely monitoring discussions at the state level, TK remains a state requirement for the fall of 2012 until further notice.
Is your child eligible to enroll?
Check the chart below to find if your child will be eligible to enroll in Transitional Kindergarten.
For school year ...
... will your child turn 5 years old during this time period?
2012-13
November 2 through December 2
2013-14
October 2 through December 2
2014-15 and beyond
September 2 through December 2
If the answer is "yes," your child is eligible for Transitional Kindergarten.
How to enroll your child in TK
During the district's enrollment window, which is ongoing for the current 2012-13 school year and begins March 8, 2013 for the 2013-2014 school year, you can enroll through IUSD's online enrollment process, which can be started by clicking here or visiting http://www.iusd.org/enrollment/index.html. Students who are enrolled and meet the eligibility requirements will automatically be enrolled in TK. When you enroll online for TK, please choose the Kindergarten grade level and it will be adjusted at the school site when you complete enrollment.
Be sure to follow the instructions carefully on the IUSD enrollment page to complete the registration process.
To access TK Health Documents necessary for enrollment, click on each link:
What is the difference between Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten?
The Transitional Kindergarten classroom will provide developmentally appropriate thematic-based curriculum. The curriculum is a hybrid between the California Preschool Learning Foundations and the California Common Core Standards for Kindergarten. Students in the TK program will be provided a program that will bridge their early childhood experiences to those of the public school system.
Is my child required to go to a TK class if their birthday falls within the cut-off date?
No, it is an optional program for families.
Can my child enter kindergarten if they are eligible for the TK class?
No, kindergarten entry is based on the new cut-off dates.
Where will the TK classes be held?
The classes will be held at elementary school sites within IUSD. TK classes will be regionalized and not offered at every elementary school campus in the district.
If the TK class is not offered at my child's neighborhood school, where will they go?
They will go to the TK classroom at the school closest to your child's neighborhood school.
Which school will my child attend for kindergarten if they go to a different school for TK?
Your child will still go to their assigned neighborhood school for kindergarten, unless you choose to pursue IUSD's Open Enrollment and follow those procedures.
Will there be transportation to the schools offering TK classes?
No, again, TK is not compulsory, and transportation would be cost-prohibitive. It is the parents' responsibility to transport their children to their TK program.
Can my child participate in TK if his/her birthday is in September?
For the 2012-2013 school year, IUSD's TK program will only be available for students who turn five years old between November 2 and December 2. Children born prior to November 2 are eligible for Kindergarten in IUSD.
For the 2013-2014 school year, IUSD'S TK program will only be available for students who turn five years old between October 2 and December 2. Children born prior to October 2 are eligible for Kindergarten in IUSD.
I heard Transitional Kindergarten is already in danger of being cut as a result of the state budget crisis. Is this true?
In his latest budget proposal, Gov. Jerry Brown has called for the elimination of funding for Transitional Kindergarten, which would effectively put an end to the program before it even started. Keep in mind that Brown's proposal is merely the starting point for budget negotiations, which could drag on through the summer months. While IUSD will be closely monitoring discussions at the state level, TK is a state requirement for the fall until further notice.
Additional TK resources
To learn more about Transitional Kindergarten, please visit the California Department of Education website at:
