Transitional Kindergarten

MJUSD

DIVISION 6000

INSTRUCTION

TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN

BP 6170.1(a)

The Governing Board desires to offer a high-quality transitional kindergarten program for eligible children who do not yet meet the minimum age criterion for kindergarten. The program shall assist children in developing the academic, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

The district's transitional kindergarten shall be the first year of a two-year kindergarten program. (Education Code 48000)

The Board encourages ongoing collaboration among district preschool staff, other preschool providers, elementary teachers, administrators, and parents/guardians in program development, implementation, and evaluation.

Eligibility

The district's transitional kindergarten program shall admit children whose fifth birthday lies between: (Education Code 48000)

  1. November 2 and December 2 in the 2012-13 school year
  2. October 2 and December 2 in the 2013-14 school year
  3. September 2 and December 2 in the 2014-15 school year and each school year thereafter

Parents/guardians of eligible children shall be notified of the availability of this program and the age, residency, and any other enrollment requirements. Enrollment in the transitional kindergarten program shall be voluntary.

Curriculum and Instruction

The district's transitional kindergarten program shall be based on a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. (Education Code 48000)

Upon recommendation by the Superintendent or designee, the Board shall approve academic standards for transitional kindergarten that bridge preschool learning foundations and kindergarten standards. Such standards shall be designed to facilitate students' development in essential skills which may include, as appropriate, language and literacy, mathematics, physical development, the arts, science, social sciences, English language development, and social-emotional development.

The number of instructional minutes offered in transitional kindergarten shall be the same as that required for the district's kindergarten program.

Transitional kindergarten students may be placed in the same classrooms as kindergarten students when necessary, provided that the instructional program is differentiated to meet student needs.

Staffing

Teachers assigned to teach in transitional kindergarten classes shall possess a teaching credential or permit that authorizes instruction at the kindergarten grade level.

The Superintendent or designee may provide professional development as needed to ensure that transitional kindergarten teachers are knowledgeable about district standards and effective instructional methods for teaching young children.

Continuation to Kindergarten

Students who complete the transitional kindergarten program shall be eligible to continue in kindergarten the following school year. Parents/guardians of such students shall not be required to submit a signed parental permission form for kindergarten attendance.

A student shall not attend more than two years in a combination of transitional kindergarten and kindergarten. (Education Code 46300)

Program Evaluation

The Superintendent or designee shall develop or identify appropriate assessments of transitional kindergarten students' development and progress. He/she shall monitor and regularly report to the Board regarding program implementation and the progress of students in meeting related academic standards.

Legal Reference:

Education Code

8973 Extended-day kindergarten

44258.9 Assignment monitoring by county office of education

46111 Kindergarten, hours of attendance

46114-46119 Minimum school day, kindergarten

46300 Computation of average daily attendance, inclusion of kindergarten and transitional kindergarten

48000 Minimum age of admission (kindergarten)

48002 Evidence of minimum age required to enter kindergarten or first grade

48200 Compulsory education, starting at age six

60605.8 Academic Content Standards Commission, development of Common Core Standards

First Reading: 8/8/12

Governing Board Adoption: 9/12/12

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