Formerly known asÌýTransitionalÌýKindergarten
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InÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ, we believe the goal of our Early Childhood Learning Programs is to promote a joy of learning in a positive and nurturing environment.Ìý This will create critical thinkers, effective oral communicators, and life-long learners.Ìý In partnership with parents, we will provide intentional opportunities that meet the emotional, social, physical, and academic needs of all learners.Ìý Early Childhood Learning ProgramsÌýincludeÌýPreschool, Pre-Kindergarten (formerlyÌýknown as Transitional Kindergarten) and Kindergarten.
Click on one of + signs belowÌýfor more information.
PK (TK) Enrollment AgeÌýEligibility
Pre-Kindergarten (PK) has replaced our program formerly known as Transitional Kindergarten (TK). This change has happend gradually over the past few years, expanding the age eligibility range each year for children to enroll in Â鶹ÊÓƵ PK program.Ìý IUSD will serve the educational needs of all 4 year-olds by the 2025-26 school year and beyond.
School Year | PK Eligible | Kindergarten Eligible |
| 2024-25 | Birthdate 09/02/2019 - 06/02/2020 | Birthdate 09/02/2018 - 09/01/20219 |
| 2025-26 | BirthdateÌý09/02/2020 - 09/01/2021 | Birthdate 09/02/2019 - 09/01/2020 |
| 2026-27 | BirthdateÌý09/02/2021 - 09/01/2022 | BirthdateÌý09/02/2020 - 09/01/2021 |
| 2027-28 | BirthdateÌý09/02/2022 - 09/01/2023 | Birthdate 09/02/2021 - 09/01/2022 |
PK & Kindergarten Parent Night
A parent meeting will be hosted by each elementary school on Thursday, February 27, 2025.Ìý
Please visit your assigned neighborhood elementary school's website for the time.
Prior to theÌýevent on February 27th we ask that all parents watch IUSD’s Welcome to PK & Kindergarten Parent Information Presentation and review the electronic resources below.Ìý
The age requirement for Pre-Kindergarten (PK), formerly known as Transitional Kindergarten, for the 2025-26 school year includes children who will turn 5 years of age between September 2 - September 1.
View Additional Information Below:
How to enroll
Enrollment for the current year is on-going.ÌýÌý
Enrollment will begin February 28th for the 2025-26 school year. ÌýYou can enroll through the Â鶹ÊÓƵ online enrollment process, which can be started by clicking here or visiting www.iusd.org/enrollment. Students who meet the age eligibility requirements will automatically be enrolled in PK.
To access the health documents necessary for enrollment, click on the link:
Once the enrollment has been completed, your assigned school will process it and contact you once it has been finalized. ÌýThis can take a few weeks if you are enrolling for the 2025-26 school year. ÌýPlease visit your assigned school's website for additional information.
If your assigned neighborhood school site does not offer PK (TK) or if the class is full, your child will be placed at the closest site that has space availability.
Please note: If your student is enrolled at ECLC, you do not complete the online portion of the enrollment. ÌýSimply bring the enrollment documents to your school site.
PK (TK) in IUSD
What is PK vs. tk?
Over the last five years, Pre-Kindergarten (PK) replaced our previous program known as Transitional Kindergarten (TK). This change gradually phased to include all 4 year-olds by the 2025-26 school year.
Historically, TK has served as the first year of a two year Kindergarten program.Ìý PK will represent a true bridge between Preschool and Kindergarten.Ìý PK is taught by a credentialed teacher with early childhood expertise, utilizing a unique specialized curriculum that is aligned with the Preschool Learning Foundations and Kindergarten Common Core standards.Ìý PK instruction is explicitly designed to support the range of social-emotional, physical, and academic needs of developing four year-olds. The PK environment will include many opportunities for fine and gross-motor activities, oral language development, and social-emotional learning. Â鶹ÊÓƵ PK program prioritizes intentional teaching that is hands-on and child-centered,ÌýÌýpurposeful structured play, and small-group instruction.
PK will provide our youngest learners with a strong foundation for school readiness so that students enter Kindergarten prepared to learn and thrive!
PK (TK) school sites
PK (TK) Ìýwill beÌýoffered at the following sites:
Serving the Northern Area:ÌýBeacon Park, Brywood,ÌýCadence Park, Canyon View, Cypress Village, Eastwood, Loma Ridge, Northwood, Portola Springs, Santiago Hills, Solis Park, Stonegate and WoodburyÌý(Year Round)Ìý
Serving the Central Area:ÌýÌýCollege Park, Culverdale, Deerfield, Eastshore, Greentree, Meadow Park, Oak Creek, Plaza VistaÌý(Year Round), Springbrook, Stone Creek and WestparkÌý(Year Round)
Serving the Southern Area:ÌýAlderwood, Bonita Canyon, Turtle Rock and University ParkÌý
Sites are designated (upon completion of enrollment) based on assigned neighborhood school and space availability.
*Due to the expansion of the program, sites can be added and/or changed for the 2025-26 school year.
IUSDÌýPK (tK) continuum of standards
- This is Â鶹ÊÓƵ continuum of standards that outlines the bridge between the Preschool Learning Foundations and the Kindergarten Common Core Standards.Ìý It is a roadmap for the standards taught - acknowledging the progression of skill development along the continuum.
- The Foundations provide an overview of the key knowledge and skills that most preschool children can achieve when provided with interaction, instruction, and an environment that is based on the research of early experiences shown to promote early learning and development.
questions and answers
What is the difference between PK (formally TK)Ìýand Kindergarten?
The Pre-Kindergarten classroom will provide developmentally appropriate thematic-based curriculum. The curriculum is a hybrid between the California Preschool Learning Foundations and the California Common Core Standards for Kindergarten. Students in the PK program will be provided a program that will bridge their early childhood experiences to those of the public school system.
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Is my child required to go to a PK class if their birthday falls within the cut-off date?
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No, it is an optional program for families.
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Can my child enter kindergarten if they are eligible for the PK class?
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No, students must turn 5 on or before September 1st to enter kindergarten.
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Where will the PKÌýclasses be held?
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The classes will be held at elementary school sites within IUSD.ÌýSites are located regionally and designated (upon completion of enrollment) based on assigned neighborhood school and space availability.
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If the PK class is not offered at my child's neighborhood school, where will they go?
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Based on space availability, they will go to the PK classroom at the school closest to your child's neighborhood school. Please keep in mind this is a one year program; your child will return to their assigned neighborhood school the following school year.
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Which school will my child attend for kindergarten if they go to a different school for PK?
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Your child will still go to their assigned neighborhood school for kindergarten, unless you choose to pursue Â鶹ÊÓƵÌýIntradistrict/School Choice optionÌýand follow those procedures.
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Will there be transportation to the schools offering PK classes?
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No, again, PK is not compulsory, and transportation would be cost-prohibitive. It is the parents' responsibility to transport their children to their PKÌýprogram.
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Can my child participate in PKÌýif his/her birthday is in August?
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For the 2025-26 school year, IUSD'SÌýPK program will Ìýbe available for students who turn five years old between September 2, 2025Ìýand September 1, 2026. Children turning 5 on or before September 1 are eligible for Kindergarten in IUSD.
Child care & additional PK (tk) resourcesÌý
To learn more about Universal PK (Transitional Kindergarten), please visit the California Department of Education website at:Ìý
TK California Website:Ìý
For more information on before/after school care, please visit the City of Irvine at:Ìý