PRE-KINDERGARTEN (TK)

Pre-K (TK) Enrollment Age Eligibility

Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) has replaced our program formerly known as Transitional Kindergarten (TK). This change has happend gradually over the past few years, expanding the age eligibility range each year for children to enroll in IUSD's Pre-K program.  IUSD will serve the educational needs of all 4 year-olds by the 2025-26 school year and beyond.

Pre-K (TK) Parent information

The age requirement for Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K), formerly known as Transitional Kindergarten, for the 2024-2025 school year includes children who will turn 5 years of age between September 2 - June 2.

IUSD held a virtual (live) Pre-K parent information meeting on February 26, 2024 at 6:00 pm. 

Information regarding a parent information meeting for the 2025-26 school year will be posted in the near future.

If you missed the meeting and would like to view a recording, click HERE.

Click Here for the Flyer

View Additional Information Below:

• PreK/TK  Electronic Handouts

Pre-K (TK) in IUSD

How to enroll 

1. Enrollment will begin February 28th for the 2025-26 school year. You can enroll through IUSD's online enrollment process, which can be started by clicking here or visiting iusd.org/enrollment.  Students who are enrolled and meet the eligibility requirements will automatically be enrolled in Pre-K (TK). 
   
   Be sure to follow the instructions carefully on the IUSD enrollment page to complete the registration process.
    

2. To access Pre-K (TK) Health Documents necessary for enrollment, click on the link:
   • Pre-K (TK) Immunization Requirements
3. Upon completion of enrollment, if your assigned neighborhood school site does not offer Pre-K (TK) or if the class is full, you will be designated to the closest site that does offer Pre-K (TK) (based on space availability). 

What is Pre-K vs. tk?

Over the last five years, Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) replaced our previous program known as Transitional Kindergarten (TK). This change gradually phased to include all 4 year-olds by the 2025-26 school year.

Historically, TK has served as the first year of a two year Kindergarten program.  Pre-K will represent a true bridge between Preschool and Kindergarten.  Pre-K is taught by a credentialed teacher with early childhood expertise, utilizing a unique specialized curriculum that is aligned with the Preschool Learning Foundations and Kindergarten Common Core standards.  Pre-K instruction is explicitly designed to support the range of social-emotional, physical, and academic needs of developing four year-olds. The Pre-K environment will include many opportunities for fine and gross-motor activities, oral language development, and social-emotional learning. IUSD's Pre-K program prioritizes intentional teaching that is hands-on and child-centered,  purposeful structured play, and small-group instruction.

Pre-K will provide our youngest learners with a strong foundation for school readiness so that students enter Kindergarten prepared to learn and thrive!

For the 2024-2025 school year, Pre-K will serve students who turn 5 years-old between September 2nd and June 2nd. For the 2025 -2026 school year, Pre-K will serve all students who turn 5 between September 2, 2020 and September 1, 2021. 

Pre-K (TK) school sites

Pre-K (TK)  will be offered at the following sites:

Serving the Northern Area: Beacon Park, Brywood, Cadence Park, Canyon View, Cypress Village, Eastwood, Loma Ridge, Northwood, Portola Springs, Santiago Hills, Solis Park, Stonegate and Woodbury (Year Round) 

Serving the Central Area:  College Park, Culverdale, Deerfield, Eastshore, Greentree, Meadow Park, Oak Creek, Plaza Vista (Year Round), Springbrook, Stone Creek and Westpark (Year Round)

Serving the Southern Area: Alderwood, Bonita Canyon, Turtle Rock and University Park 

Sites are designated (upon completion of enrollment) based on assigned neighborhood school and space availability.

*Due to the expansion of the program, sites can be added and/or changed for the 2024-25 school year.

IUSD Pre-K (tK) continuum of standards

• IUSD's Continuum of Standards: This is IUSD's continuum of standards that outlines the bridge between the Preschool Learning Foundations and the Kindergarten Common Core Standards.  It is a roadmap for the standards taught - acknowledging the progression of skill development along the continuum.
• California Department of Education Preschool Learning Foundations:  The Foundations provide an overview of the key knowledge and skills that most preschool children can achieve when provided with interaction, instruction, and an environment that is based on the research of early experiences shown to promote early learning and development.
• California Department of Education Preschool Curriculum Frameworks: The Frameworks provides an overall approach to teachers to support student learning through environments and experiences that are developmentally appropriate, reflective of thoughtful observation and intentional planning, individually and culturally meaningful, and inclusive of children with disabilities and special needs.

questions and answers

What is the difference between Pre-K (formally TK) and Kindergarten?
The Pre-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 Pre-K 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 Pre-K 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 Pre-K class?
 

No, students must turn 5 on or before September 1st to enter kindergarten.
 

Where will the Pre-K classes be held?
 

The classes will be held at elementary school sites within IUSD. Sites are located regionally and designated (upon completion of enrollment) based on assigned neighborhood school and space availability.
 

If the Pre-K class is not offered at my child's neighborhood school, where will they go?
 

Based on space availability, they will go to the Pre-K classroom at the school closest to your child's neighborhood school. Please keep in mind this is a one year program; your child will return to their assigned neighborhood school the following school year.
 

Which school will my child attend for kindergarten if they go to a different school for Pre-K?
 

Your child will still go to their assigned neighborhood school for kindergarten, unless you choose to pursue IUSD's Intradistrict/School Choice option and follow those procedures.
 

Will there be transportation to the schools offering Pre-K classes?
 

No, again, Pre-K is not compulsory, and transportation would be cost-prohibitive. It is the parents' responsibility to transport their children to their Pre-K program.
 

Can my child participate in Pre-K if his/her birthday is in August?
 

For the 2024-25 school year, IUSD'S Pre-K program will  be available for students who turn five years old between September 2, 2024 and June 2, 2025. Children turning 5 on or before September 1 are eligible for Kindergarten in IUSD.

additional Pre-K (tk) resources

To learn more about Universal Pre-K (Transitional Kindergarten), please visit the California Department of Education website at: 

• http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderfaq.asp

TK California Website: 

• TKCalifornia.org

For more information on before/after school care, please visit the City of Irvine at: 

• Irvine Child Care Project
• On-Site Before/After School Care Program Listing