Transitional Kindergarten

Eligibility, Ratio, and Class Size Requirements

	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
Eligibility	Turn five between Sep 2 and Feb 2	Turn five between Sep 2 and Apr 2	Turn five between Sep 2 and Jun 2	Turn four by Sep 1
Ratios	1:12	1:10*	1:10*	1:10*
Class Size	24	20	20	20

*Subject to future legislative appropriation

At district discretion, students who turn five after the eligibility date and before the end of the school year may attend ETK.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Expanded Transitional Kindergarten (ETK)

Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

The Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program. It uses a modified Kindergarten curriculum that is age- and developmentally-appropriate. Pursuant to law, (EC 48000[c]), a child is eligible for Transitional Kindergarten only if a child will have his or her fifth birthday on or after the dates in the above table of the school year in which they wish to be enrolled. PAUSD does not allow for early-age entry into the TK program.

PAUSD has TK classrooms at five elementary schools: Duveneck, Barron Park, and Palo Verde, Walter Hays, and El Carmelo. PAUSD will place TK students in the school that is in the same cluster as the student's neighborhood elementary school (if space is available); for a full explanation of "neighborhood school" and "cluster", please visit the PAUSD School Placement & Transfers web page. TK students will be enrolled for Kindergarten in the neighborhood elementary school.

Expanded Transitional Kindergarten (ETK)

The goal of Expanded Transitional Kindergarten (ETK) is to provide the Transitional Kindergarten experience to underrepresented/socioeconomically disadvantaged children. ETK is designed for students who turn 5 years old after February 2, but before the last day, of the school year in which they wish to be enrolled.

For the 2023-24 school year, this includes children that were born between April 3, 2019 and June 2, 2019.

Registrations can be submitted only during Priority Registration to the PAUSD Registration Services office (25 Churchill Ave). They will be reviewed for qualification under any one of the following criteria:

Students whose parents have not received a high school diploma
Students who are, or will be, eligible for the Free or Reduced-Priced Meal (FRPM) Program (also known as the National School Lunch Program)
Students who are migrant, homeless, or foster youth

Effects of early kindergarten admittance

To enroll your child in the Expanded Transitional Kindergarten program, please review the Advantages and Disadvantages of Early Kindergarten Admittance below, and then follow the process outlined on the New Student Enrollment page. Enrollment will be based upon a space-available basis.

Advantages	Disadvantages
First year of a two-year kindergarten program. Prepares students to transition to kindergarten. Serves as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten, giving children more time for hands-on, interactive learning. Gives children the opportunity to spend time learning important social, emotional, and academic skills that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Helps children adjust to the school environment and develop strong learning skills. Helps young children learn school routines and activities, providing opportunities to learn in a school setting. Builds confidence and maturity. Enhances language and literacy skills. Improves social skills and self-control. Promotes communication skills with classmates and teachers. Improves behavior. Offers a developmental approach that emphasizes the social and emotional needs of children. Increases academic achievement in the primary grades, compared to students who do not attend ETK.	May be difficult for children with separation anxiety. May be frustrating and/or lead to a negative attitude towards school, if the child is not academically ready. Can be controversial, because some argue that it's best to keep young children at home for most of the years before formal schooling begins. Does not guarantee long-term academic benefits, compared to students who do not attend ETK. Only provides students with a three-hour program, which may pose a challenge for those families needing additional child care.A

Advantages

Disadvantages

First year of a two-year kindergarten program. Prepares students to transition to kindergarten.
Serves as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten, giving children more time for hands-on, interactive learning.
Gives children the opportunity to spend time learning important social, emotional, and academic skills that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
Helps children adjust to the school environment and develop strong learning skills.
Helps young children learn school routines and activities, providing opportunities to learn in a school setting.
Builds confidence and maturity.
Enhances language and literacy skills.
Improves social skills and self-control.
Promotes communication skills with classmates and teachers.
Improves behavior.
Offers a developmental approach that emphasizes the social and emotional needs of children.
Increases academic achievement in the primary grades, compared to students who do not attend ETK.

May be difficult for children with separation anxiety.
May be frustrating and/or lead to a negative attitude towards school, if the child is not academically ready.
Can be controversial, because some argue that it's best to keep young children at home for most of the years before formal schooling begins.
Does not guarantee long-term academic benefits, compared to students who do not attend ETK.
Only provides students with a three-hour program, which may pose a challenge for those families needing additional child care.A

Adapted from tkcalifornia.org, cde.ca.gov, air.org, edsource.org, and carolinaparent.com. PAUSD Elementary Education - March 2019

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