Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Update
The San Marino Unified School District plans to offer both a traditional Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten Program at the elementary level for the 2013-14 school year.
Senate Bill 1381 (also known as the Kindergarten Readiness Act) amended California Education Code to change the required birthday for admission to kindergarten and first grade.
Students must be five years old by the following dates to enroll in traditional Kindergarten:
- School Year 2013-2014 – Must be 5 years old on or before October 1st
- School Year 2014-2015 – Must be 5 years old on or before September 1st
Every year thereafter a child must be 5 years old on or before September 1st to enroll in traditional Kindergarten.
Senate Bill 1381 also created a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for all public elementary schools. Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program.
Program Eligibility
- Students whose fifth birthday falls between October 2nd and December 2nd, 2013, are eligible for the TK Program only. These students will participate in TK during the 2013-14 school year and then participate in Kindergarten during the 2014-15 school year.
- Students whose fifth birthday falls between September 2nd and October 1st, 2013 are eligible for either TK or Kindergarten. Each family makes this decision individually, recognizing that if TK is chosen, their child will participate in a two-year kindergarten program.
- Students whose fifth birthday is on or before October 1st, 2013 are eligible for Kindergarten only.
At this point, we anticipate offering a TK class at both Carver and Valentine Schools. However, the number of enrollees will determine the final structure of the program. For example, it is possible that only one school site will offer TK or both school sites could offer Kindergarten/TK combination classes. Regardless of the final structure of the program, all eligible students in the district will be able to attend.