Can a 4 year old start kindergarten in California?

California has expanded its transitional kindergarten program to include 4-year-olds. Here's what parents need to know to navigate the new program and enroll their child.

Can I put my 4-year-old in pre-K in California?

Parents of 4-year-old children may choose to enroll their child in any available TK program, CSPP, Head Start, private preschool or any other prekindergarten program for which the family is eligible.

Can a 4-year-old start kindergarten in California 2024?

A child must turn 5 on or before September 1, 2024 to enroll in kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year.

What is the cut off age for TK in California?

In the 2023–24 school year, California children will be eligible for TK if they turn 5 between Sept. 2 and April 2; in 2024–25, children will be eligible if they turn 5 between Sept. 2 and June 2, according to the CDE. By fall 2025, all 4-year-olds will make the cut.

Can you skip TK and go to kindergarten?

Transitional Kindergarten is part of a two year kindergarten program. Therefore, children should be enrolled in kindergarten following TK. If you and the TK teacher agree that the child might be prepared for 1st grade, you will still register your child for kindergarten.

Can a 4 year old start kindergarten in California?

Who qualifies for TK in California?

A Kindergarten Continuance Form is not needed for children who are age-eligible for TK. A child is eligible for TK if they have their fifth birthday between September 2 and December 2 (inclusive) and each school year thereafter (EC 48000[c]).

Is it OK to start kindergarten at 6 years old?

No. Pursuant to EC 48000(a), a child is eligible for kindergarten if the child will have his or her fifth birthday by September 1.

Is TK mandatory in California?

Every public California school district is required to offer TK classes, but the grade itself isn't mandatory and parents can opt out of sending their kids.

What is the difference between preschool and TK?

Unlike preschool and pre-kindergarten, transitional kindergarten is part of the public school system. While families can enroll any 4-year-old child in pre-K, transitional kindergarten is currently available to children who are 4 but will turn 5 between September 2 and February 2 the following year.

What is the difference between TK and kindergarten?

TK is described as the first year in a two-year Kindergarten program.

Do California schools accept 4 year olds?

Although most school districts already offered limited TK programs, the new state law entitles every 4-year-old a public school seat by the 2025-26 school year, beginning this year with children who turned 5 by Feb. 2, 2023.

Is kindergarten mandatory in California 2023?

Senate Bill 70, introduced by Sen. Susan Rubio, D-Baldwin Park, a former teacher, would have made enrollment in kindergarten mandatory for all 5-year-olds beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Currently, California, like most other states, does not require children to attend school until first grade, after they turn 6.

How many hours a day is TK in California?

The annual instructional minutes requirement for TK is 36,000 minutes per year (Education Code [EC] sections 46207 and 47612.5). For school districts, the maximum school day in Kindergarten is 4 hours (EC Section 46111).

Is 4 too old for preschool?

Most preschool programs are designed for children between ages of two and five years old. Preschools tend to fill up quickly, so it's best to start looking for options when your child is around one year old or even sooner.

Is there free pre-K in California?

California has three main publicly funded preschool programs—the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, and Transitional Kindergarten. Other publicly funded programs serve a broader age range, typically ages 0-12, by providing vouchers for some low-income working families to obtain care.

What is the youngest age for pre-K?

While there is no magical preschool age, many preschool programs begin taking children at age three, and the typical preschool age range is three to four years old.

Can my 4 year old go to TK?

By the 2024-25 school year, children who turn 5 between Sept. 2 and June 2 will be able to enroll in TK. And by 2025-26, the program will reach all 4-year-olds. Many districts are beginning to register new students for the coming year so now is the time to reach out.

Why is kindergarten called TK?

Transitional kindergarten (abbreviated TK) is a California school grade that serves as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten, to provide students with time to develop fundamental skills needed for success in school in a setting that is appropriate to the student's age and development.

Why does California have Transitional Kindergarten?

“To be effective, TK needs to be a play-based, developmentally appropriate course of study.” Transitional kindergarten, which California first launched in limited capacity in 2010, is meant to ease 4-year-olds into the rigors of elementary school.

What age does preschool start in California?

Starting between the ages of two and three years old, you will have the option of placing your child in preschool.

What is the purpose of Transitional Kindergarten?

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) bridges the path between preschool and Kindergarten and gives students the gift of time that will help them build a strong foundation for future school success.

Should I hold my 5 year old back from kindergarten?

Delaying kindergarten for a year may provide a small advantage to children. However, if you suspect your child has special needs or a disability, you may want to avoid redshirting and start school as soon as possible to get them the services they need.

Is it better to be the oldest kid in kindergarten or the youngest?

Studies show that older students often outperform their younger peers in the early years, but the older kids typically lose their advantage in the long run. In fact, some research shows that the younger students who have to strive to keep up with the older kids ultimately become more successful.

Is it illegal to not enroll your child in school in California?

California compulsory education law requires everyone between the ages of six and eighteen years of age to attend school, except students who have graduated from high school or passed the California High School Proficiency Exam and obtained parental permission.