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May 11, 2012 Update: At the May 8, 2012 Board of Trustees meeting, the board has approved the creation of a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class for the 2012-2013 school year. The TK class will the a "stand alone" class held at Argonaut Elementary School. "Stand alone" means that only children enrolled in a two-year Kindergarten program will be in this class. If your child's birthday falls between November 2 and December 2, 2007, and you are a district residents, you are eligible to enroll. Families with a "young 5 student" whose birthday falls before November 2, may enroll in TK as space permits.
Students with birthdays between November 2 to December 2, 2007 will be offered this option first and then, space permitting, we will open it up to families who believe that this program would be best for their "young 5" student. A Parent Meeting for prospective parents/guardians interested in the 2012-2013 Transitional Kindergarten program will be held Wednesday, May 16 at 3:45pm in the Saratoga Elementary School multipurpose room. The TK meeting will be followed by the Kindergarten Tea for all prospective TK and Kindergarten parents at 4:30. Director of Educational Services Diane Smalley would be happy to speak with any parent interested in Transitional Kindergarten. Please email her at
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About Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Transitional Kindergarten is defined as "the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate." (Education Code, Section 48000(d)).
The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010, (Senate Bill 1381) changes California's entry-age for kindergarten from five years of age, and for first grade from six years of age, by December 2nd to September 1st. To allow local districts time to prepare for implementation, the new age requirement will be phased-in over three years beginning in the 2012-13 school year. This bill creates a transitional kindergarten to build a bridge between early learning and kindergarten. 
The benefits of a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program: - allows for the gift of time for children who would benefit from a two-year program
- improves social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive development
- builds self-esteem and identity as a successful student
- increases test scores
- reduces grade retention and special education placement
- offers a valuable opportunity to integrate the early learning and elementary systems
- provides a credentialed teacher for the program
The state of California is allowing individual school districts to create TK programs with standards and curricula that meet the unique needs of their student populations. Currently in SUSD, a TK Task Force comprised of preschool and kindergarten teachers and site and district administrators are researching the best models of implementation, curriculum, materials, and classroom environment for our students.
More information will be posted on this webpage as it becomes available.
For information regarding Registration for the 2012-2013 school year, please CLICK HERE
Additional Resources
Immunization Requirements for Transitional Kindergarten According to California immunization law, students in the TK program are subject to the same immunization requirements as kindergarten. Since TK is considered the first year of a two-year kindergarten program, the TB requirement to enter the TK program will be subject to the same requirement as kindergarten. Please refer to the SUSD Required Immunization Information Webpage for more information. Additional immunization resources:
For more information about the TK Program, please contact Diane Smalley, Director of Educational Services
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