Transitional Kindergarten: What Are the Benefits?

For families of children who turn five right on the cusp of their district's cut-off date, the decision to send their child to kindergarten or hold them back a year can be a tough one. Children with a fall birthday may be eligible for kindergarten in some states but may not be mature enough to handle a full-day academic program. California was one of the first states to acknowledge this issue and develop a solution at no additional cost to families. We're breaking down everything parents need to know about Transitional Kindergarten including how to know if it's right for your child.

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

Transitional kindergarten (often referred to as TK) is a free public school program in California for four-year-olds who turn five between September 2nd and December 2nd. Essentially, it is an extra year of schooling meant to be a bridge between preschool and kindergarten. California introduced this two-part Kindergarten experience after introducing the Kindergarten Readiness Act in 2010, which pushed the cut-off date for kindergarten entry from September 2nd to December 2nd, and added TK into the mix. School officials noticed that some children entering kindergarten at four years old or having just turned five were falling behind their older peers. Pushing the cut-off date back and giving children the benefit of an extra year of growth has helped level the playing field for kids.

What are the benefits of Transitional Kindergarten?

Before adding Transitional Kindergarten, children could potentially start kindergarten when they were still four years old. If a child turned five on December 1st, just before the cut-off date of December 2nd, they could be in a class with children who are nearly a full year older than them. We know that children develop at different rates, and some children may be ready for kindergarten's academic and social-emotional demands at four, but many are not. Transitional kindergarten offers a buffer year to allow children with fall birthday's the chance to enter kindergarten more mature and more fully prepared, without placing the financial burden on parents to pay for an additional year of preschool.

What makes TK different from preschool or Pre-k?

On the surface, TK may look similar to its Pre-K counterpart, but when you look closely, there are some significant differences. In California, TK teachers are state-certified and must meet the same credential requirements as kindergarten teachers. In addition, the curriculum taught in TK is a modified version of the kindergarten curriculum that is developmentally appropriate for this younger subset of children. It was designed using the Common Core learning standards and California's Preschool standards and helps to prepare children for success in kindergarten. The program focuses on social-emotional skills and foundational academic skills like early literacy, math, and STEM.

Kindergarten thirty years ago was mostly playing, socializing and still included naptime but today's kindergarten is much more rigorous. For children who have attended preschool or Pre-K but still aren't developmentally ready for the demands of elementary school, TK gives children the opportunity of an extra year of growth and development before kindergarten.

Can children who are eligible for kindergarten attend TK instead?

Families of children who are technically eligible for regular kindergarten but are still a "young five" may opt to instead send their child to TK. Instead of traditional K, parents who opt for TK must sign a Kindergarten Continuance form, committing to the two-year sequence of TK and K; a child cannot attend TK and then skip to first grade. TK and kindergarten are a package deal, and although TK isn't mandatory, once a child enrolls, they have to follow it with regular kindergarten.

Is TK offered in other states or only in California?

California is the only state that offers this extra year of public school at no cost to families and calls it "Transitional Kindergarten," but other states have started to recognize the need for similar programs and may follow suit in the future. In addition, some programs offer this extra year before kindergarten in a private setting. Still, California is the first state to ensure that all children have access to this much-needed resource.

What can I do if my state doesn't offer TK?

If your state doesn't offer TK and your child is on the younger side, you can always share your concerns with your local school district. Kindergarten teachers are prepared to meet children where they are, and since Pre-K isn't mandatory, many children enter kindergarten without any preschool experience at all. At the end of the day, you know your child best, and if you feel they may benefit from an extra year before kindergarten, you're probably right.

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