HIGH FIVE (Transitional Kindergarten Program) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010?
Senate Bill (SB) 1381(Chapter 705, Statues of 2010) amended California Education Code (Section46300, 48000, and 48010) to change the required birthday for admission to kindergarten and first grade and established a transitional kindergarten program beginning in the 2012–2013 school year.
2. What is the minimum age for admittance to kindergarten in California?
A child shall be admitted to a kindergarten maintained by the school district at the beginning of a school year, or at a later time in the same year if the child will have his or her fifth birthday on or before one of the following dates (EC48000[a]):
For the 2010–11 school year the date is December2
For the 2011–12 school year the date is December 2
For the 2012–13 school year the date is November 1
For the 2013–14 school year the date is October 1
For the 2014–15 school year and each school year thereafter the date is September 1.
3. What is transitional kindergarten?
A transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. Pursuant to law, (EC 48000[c]), a child is eligible for transitional kindergarten if a child will have his or her fifth birthday between:
For the 2012–13 school year November 2 and December 2
For the 2013–14 school year October 2 and December 2
For the 2014–15 school year and each school year thereafter September 2 and December 2.
4. Will transitional kindergarten continue after 2014?
Yes.
5. Must children attend transitional kindergarten or kindergarten?
Parents and guardians are currently not required to enroll children in transitional kindergarten or kindergarten (EC Section 48200).
6. Is a district required to offer transitional kindergarten and kindergarten programs?
Each elementary or unified school district must offer transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes for all children eligible to attend.
7. What is the curriculum for transitional kindergarten?
California law (EC48000) defines transitional kindergarten as “the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate.” While no state curriculum is mandated, local education agencies must modify the local course of study in order to provide age and developmentally appropriate curriculum for transitional kindergarten.
8. Will transitional kindergarten have the same statutory class size limits as regular kindergarten (33 maximum/31 average)? What about Class Size Reduction for transitional kindergarten?
The same requirements that apply to kindergarten also apply to transitional kindergarten.
9. What is the teacher-student ratio for transitional kindergarten?
This is a local district decision and will most likely be impacted by budget and contract agreements.
10. Does the transitional kindergarten teacher need a teaching credential?
The teacher must be properly credentialed as is currently required of kindergarten teachers.
