Transitional Kindergarten for the 2022-2023 school year will run from January 26, 2023, through the end of the school year (The last day of school is currently June 21, 2023). Applications will be accepted starting in November 2022. A link to the application form will be added below when the application window is open. Interviews and student selection will take place in December 2022.
WHAT IS TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN?
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a state-funded kindergarten program for children, turning 5 years old on or before August 31 of the year the program starts, who do not have access to high-quality early-learning experiences prior to kindergarten. They have been deemed by the district, through a screening process, to be in need of additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten the following school year. Transitional Kindergarten is a full-day program similar to regular kindergarten in both length of day and beginning of K curriculum. It is essentially an extension of the students’ kindergarten year. The program starts at the end of January and operates on our regular school district calendar. This program will focus on foundational academic, social and self-help skills to jumpstart qualifying students toward success in school.
WHAT ARE THE KEY ACTIVITIES AND TIMELINES FOR TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN?
November
* Communications and information meetings with area early-learning providers
* Communication with families about the program
* Application process opens
December
* Student interviews
* Program placement decisions finalized and communicated to families
January
* First day of Transitional Kindergarten: January 26, 2023
WHERE WILL OUR TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS BE LOCATED?
Tahoma will have two transitional kindergarten classrooms, one being housed at Cedar River Elementary and one at Lake Wilderness Elementary. Transportation will be offered to all students in our district. Students who opt-in for district provided transportation will ride a transfer bus from their home school to the school where the program is located.
HOW DO STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN?
To be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten, children must:
- be 5 years old on or before August 31 of the year the program starts*
- live within the boundaries of Tahoma School District
- not be currently enrolled in an early learning program (preschool/daycare)
- demonstrate academic and/or social-emotional needs through a screening process
*This means they will be eligible to start kindergarten in the fall of that same year.
WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP TO GET MY CHILD ENROLLED IN TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN?
If parents believe their child meets the eligibility criteria, and may qualify for Transitional Kindergarten due to a need for additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten the following school year, parents/guardians should complete this questionnaire/interest form by the end of the day December 1. Once the form is received, it will be reviewed and families will be notified if their child is invited to participate in an interview or not.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IF WE ARE INVITED FOR AN INTERVIEW?
An in-person interview will be scheduled with eligible families to assist in determining acceptance into the program. The interview is a screening used to determine your child’s developmental strengths and needs. Parents will answer questions about their child and have an opportunity to ask questions about the program. Your child will draw, count, name shapes/colors, jump and have fun!
If you have questions about Transitional Kindergarten in Tahoma, please contact Carole Witruk.