Transitional Kindergarten
Pittsburg Unified School District is currently implementing Transitional Kindergarten at all of our elementary school sites beginning this next school year. We are excited about the educational opportunity and advantages that this new program will provide for our youngest students.
With all of the overwhelming evidence showing the benefits of having Transitional Kindergarten for our youngest students, we will not be waiting three years to have the program fully implemented. Children turning five years of age after September 1st and on or before December 2nd will be eligible for TK. Register your kids now at your neighborhood school.
The Kindergarten Readiness Act (SB1381) incrementally changes the eligibility cutoff date for kindergarten to September 1st. This means that children must turn five years of age on or before September 1st in order to enroll in kindergarten. The law implementing the new cutoff date will be phased in one month at a time over the next three years.
Those students previously eligible for kindergarten if they turned five years of age on or before December 2nd will now participate in Transitional Kindergarten (TK). TK is the first year of a two year kindergarten program. This class will be taught by a highly qualified kindergarten teacher, utilize kindergarten curriculum and be structured around the kindergarten instructional standards. One of the primary differences for these young students is that the program will also include activities and instruction that incorporate the developmental Foundations of Early Childhood Education. These young students will receive the benefit and gift of time as they grow and mature socially and emotionally as well as academically.
Research clearly indicates that our youngest children are most at-risk in regards to experiencing academic problems. They are more likely to be retained in a grade level, be referred for intervention services and even drop out of high school. This does not mean that all students that begin kindergarten at the age of four will struggle. Many are highly successful. However, evidence does show conclusively that when students start school at an older age, they achieve greater success. They score higher on academic achievement tests, experience fewer social and emotional problems and are even more likely to go on to college.
Pittsburg Unified School District is excited about this new program. We believe that this will provide tremendous benefits for our students. It's what is right for our kids!
With all of the overwhelming evidence showing the benefits of having Transitional Kindergarten for our youngest students, we will not be waiting three years to have the program fully implemented. Children turning five years of age after September 1st and on or before December 2nd will be eligible for TK. Register your kids now at your neighborhood school.
The Kindergarten Readiness Act (SB1381) incrementally changes the eligibility cutoff date for kindergarten to September 1st. This means that children must turn five years of age on or before September 1st in order to enroll in kindergarten. The law implementing the new cutoff date will be phased in one month at a time over the next three years.
Those students previously eligible for kindergarten if they turned five years of age on or before December 2nd will now participate in Transitional Kindergarten (TK). TK is the first year of a two year kindergarten program. This class will be taught by a highly qualified kindergarten teacher, utilize kindergarten curriculum and be structured around the kindergarten instructional standards. One of the primary differences for these young students is that the program will also include activities and instruction that incorporate the developmental Foundations of Early Childhood Education. These young students will receive the benefit and gift of time as they grow and mature socially and emotionally as well as academically.
Research clearly indicates that our youngest children are most at-risk in regards to experiencing academic problems. They are more likely to be retained in a grade level, be referred for intervention services and even drop out of high school. This does not mean that all students that begin kindergarten at the age of four will struggle. Many are highly successful. However, evidence does show conclusively that when students start school at an older age, they achieve greater success. They score higher on academic achievement tests, experience fewer social and emotional problems and are even more likely to go on to college.
Pittsburg Unified School District is excited about this new program. We believe that this will provide tremendous benefits for our students. It's what is right for our kids!
