Kindergarten Entry Age Criteria and Transitional Kindergarten FAQ for Parents

Q. I've heard about a change in the minimum age for admittance to kindergarten in California. What is it going to mean for my child?

A. 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 (EC 48000[a]):

For the 2010–11 school year the date is December 2
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.

 

Q. I've also heard about a transitional kindergarten program that may be offered in the 2012-13 school year for children that will be 5 years of age on or before September 1 or October 1. Is that true?

A. Currently, the Solana Beach School District has no plans to offer a transitional kindergarten program.

Q. Are there options for parents who would like to keep younger children out of kindergarten for another year?

A. Kindergarten is not required in California. Many parents of younger kindergarten-age children choose to enroll a year later. This decision often means making a choice between keeping the child home another year or enrolling in a pre-school program. We always encourage families to carefully consider giving children born in September, October, and November additional time. Another year of pre-school can greatly benefit children not yet five, providing time to gain maturity, independence, and self-confidence. The Solana Beach School District's Child Development Center offers a fee-based preschool for children from 18 months to pre-kindergarten. Also, next fall, our Child Development Center will offer a fee-based Pre-K Plus program to accommodate these students. You can learn more about this program at http://www.sbsd.net/cdc/preschool/pre-k-plus-for-fall-2012.

Q. Where else can I learn about kindergarten entry age criteria and the transitional kindergarten program?

A. As new information becomes available and decisions are made, we will provide updates on our website. Many good resources are also available on the internet. Try the California Department of Education Website TK FAQ page at:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderfaq.asp