Transitional Kindergarten

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 established TK to offer a developmentally appropriate curriculum for young students and build a strong foundation for school success. With thematic based units of study emphasizing the joy of hands-on learning, students will learn the basics of literacy, math and social-emotional interactions.

For the 2022-23 school year, transitional kindergarten classrooms will be hosted at the Mary E. Silveira and Vallecito Elementary Campuses. 

How do I enroll my child in transitional kindergarten?

All Enrollment forms are available in packets on the Enrollment Page of the District website and can be submitted electronically to either MES or VAL directly, using the link on the webpage. On the website link above, there is a complete listing of the documents required during the enrollment process, including proof of residency, proof of immunizations, a passport or birth certificate verifying date of birth and various oral and physical health forms.

Will my child be placed at the same school site for TK and K-5?

Not necessarily. Students assigned to a TK class that is not at their attendance area school will return to their home school. Should parents wish to remain at the same school, they can request an intra-district transfer.  This placement is done separately in the spring of a child’s TK year. 

Will my child be able to enter first grade after completing a year of TK?

No. TK is the first of two years of kindergarten and is not a substitution for a full kindergarten program.

Which students can register for the transitional kindergarten program?

For the 2022-23 school year, students with birthdays between September 2nd, 2017 and February 2, 2018 are age eligible for transitional kindergarten. 

For the 2023-24 school year, students with birthdays between September 2nd, 2018 and April 2, 2019 are age eligible for transitional kindergarten.

What is a typical day in the TK classroom like?  

A typical day in TK might begin with creative choice-play.  Students then move to meet in groups and individually to work on phonemic awareness, letter sounds and other language arts activities.  After a snack and recess, math instruction begins and students focus on numbers, counting, learning one to one correspondence and basic addition and subtraction. Each day students have a science or social studies lesson as well. Learning songs and art activities are incorporated into many of our lessons throughout the day. There is quite a bit of physical movement built into learning activities in the classroom and outside. TK students will eat lunch at school and continue with learning activities until the end of the day. TK students participate in the enrichment program with classes in art, music/movement, PE and library.