Is tk: What is TK & Kindergarten?

Опубликовано: October 14, 2023 в 6:42 pm

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Transition to Kindergarten | OSPI


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2023-24 TK Survey

Is your district planning to implement TK? Complete the 2023-24 TK Assessment Profile to let OSPI know of your intention with TK and keep up to date with TK/WaKIDS data due dates.

Contact Information

Transition to Kindergarten (TK) is a legislatively established and authorized program for children who are at least 4-years-old by August 31 and have been identified through a screening process to be in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year.  

OSPI published data on February 1, 2023, showing that TK is an effective strategy for closing opportunity gaps.  

OSPI will adopt emergency rules for the 2023-24 school year consistent with the criteria identified in House Bill 1550 (HB 1550) as passed by the legislature. 

Bulletin No. 036-23 provides information about the upcoming rulemaking process and guidance for local education agencies implementing a TK program. Updated rules and guidance will be posted to the OSPI website.

For questions related to TK funding, visit OSPI School Apportionment and Budget Preparations. 

ESD 101–Spokane
Kimberly Lyman
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

ESD 105–Yakima
Kathleen Lenihan
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Dana Floyd
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Maggie Mendoza
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator
Cynthia Juarez
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

ESD 112–Vancouver
Cari Wood
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Sara Rushlo
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Jackie Brock
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator
Samantha Stevens
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

ESD 113–Tumwater/Olympia
Kerri Blankenship
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinators
Jana Brock
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Josie Komorowski
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

ESD 114–Bremerton
Laura Batcheller
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Kristen Sheridan
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator
Kim Crummey
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

PSESD 121–Renton
Courtney O’Catherine
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Apurva Wikstrom
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Aeryn King
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Whitney White
P-3 Professional Learning Consultant
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

ESD 123–Tri-Cities
Jennifer Ann Kelly
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

NCESD 171–Wenatchee
Jane Fox
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Jan Dosh
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Janelle Bersch
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

ESD 189–Anacortes
Rae Allen
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist
Sarah Southard
WaKIDS/Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Coordinator

OSPI
Julie Dean
Washington Pyramid Model Implementation Specialist

TK Materials

  • TK Introductory Webinar 
  • Transitional Kindergarten FAQ 
  • Transitional Kindergarten Administrators’ Best Practices Workbook 
  • Suggested Eligibility Determination for TK 
  • TK Readiness Considerations 
  • Coordinated Enrollment and Referral Planning Worksheet 
  • TK Worksheet for Coordinated Recruitment & Enrollment and Budget Planning
  • WA State Early Learning and Development Guidelines 

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WaKids

What Is Transitional Kindergarten? – Teaching Strategies

The concept of transitional kindergarten—also known as “TK”—first emerged in 2010, when California passed the Kindergarten Readiness Act. This act was created for 4-year-old children who turn 5 between September 2 and December 2, although California recently expanded the range to February 2 of the following year. Since these children have late birthdays, they traditionally missed the cutoff for kindergarten in California, which requires kindergarten students to be 5 years old by September 1.

Transitional kindergarten has recently picked up steam after California unveiled a $2.7 billion, 3-year plan to expand the offering, starting with rolling out a universal transitional kindergarten program this year.

Despite the new and exciting advancements developing in the transitional kindergarten space, many teachers, families, and school leaders have been left with unanswered questions. Fortunately, we’ve got answers.

 

What Is Transitional Kindergarten?

A steppingstone between preschool and kindergarten, transitional kindergarten is often referred to as the first year of a two-year kindergarten experience. It’s an entirely optional offering, since children in California are only required to start attending school once they turn 6 (although there is pending legislation that may require attending kindergarten). This means families can choose whether to enroll children in a transitional kindergarten program, sign them up for a private preschool program, or keep them home.

Transitional kindergarten programs are offered at no cost to families. Just like with kindergarten, schools can offer transitional kindergarten as a half-day (3 hours) or a full-day (6 hours) program. That said, California’s new Expanded Learning Opportunities Program requires local schools to offer a 9-hour school day that includes before- and after-school activities for transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.

Ultimately, the goal of transitional kindergarten is to provide children with late birthdays with a developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum that will help them thrive in kindergarten. It can also help Spanish-speaking multilingual learners become more acquainted with English prior to kindergarten. This is particularly beneficial in a state with nearly 11 million Spanish speakers. In addition, since about 90% of brain growth happens before kindergarten, expanding access to early childhood education can help close the achievement gap (First Things First).1

 

Transitional Kindergarten vs. Preschool and Pre-K

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.

Transitional kindergarten also features more structured curriculums than those used in pre-K along with modified versions of kindergarten lessons. This includes important skills for reading, writing, and math, as well as learning social–emotional skills such as listening to directions and taking turns.

Facility requirements for transitional kindergarten are the same as for kindergarten. As a result, new and existing facilities will need to ensure transitional kindergarten classrooms are close to drop-off and bus loading zones, allow for play yard supervision, include windows, provide height-appropriate sinks for children, and have restrooms located within the classroom or the kindergarten complex. To ensure providers are meeting these requirements, California has allocated about $490 million to build new transitional kindergarten facilities or update existing ones (Officer of Governor Gavin Newsom, 2021).2

 

Transitional Kindergarten in California

As we mentioned, California has started rolling out a universal transitional kindergarten program as part of its public school system, making it available to children regardless of family income. Although most school districts will receive funding for their transitional kindergarten programs based on the average number of children in attendance throughout the school year, approximately 15% of districts will not receive funding (Aguilera, 2022). 3 Known as basic aid districts, these exempted districts are among the wealthiest in California (Aguilera, 2022).3

About 100,000 children in California attended transitional kindergarten programs in 2021 (D’Souza, 2021a).4 The new universal transitional kindergarten program has started accepting younger children and aims to ensure all 4-year-olds in California—about 400,000 children in total—are eligible for transitional kindergarten by the 2025-2026 school year (D’Souza, 2021b).5 This is a game-changing initiative for a state with almost 3 million children under the age of 5 (D’Souza, 2021b).5 

Requirements for TK teachers

Transitional kindergarten teachers are currently required to have a multiple-subject teaching credential, which is the same credential teachers need for all the elementary grades.

By 2023, transitional kindergarten teachers will also need to complete an additional 24 units of early childhood education coursework or the equivalent, depending on their employer’s requirements, or they’ll need to hold a child-development permit. To learn more about the credentialing process for transitional kindergarten teachers, check out our upcoming blog, “Preparing teachers for transitional kindergarten.”

Once transitional kindergarten teachers meet the necessary requirements, they can look forward to smaller class sizes with a ratio of 12 children per teacher or teaching assistant. California hopes to transition to 10 children per teacher by the 2025-2026 school year. Furthermore, while school districts have the final word on compensation, transitional kindergarten teachers can typically expect the same pay as kindergarten teachers.

 

Strengthening School-Family Connections in TK

Transitional kindergarten will mark the first time many families send their children to school, making it an ideal opportunity to start building strong family-school partnerships that can set young learners up for success.

According to the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2004), young children experience the world through their interpersonal relationships. 6 Since these relationships affect almost all aspects of a child’s development, it’s crucial that transitional kindergarten programs nurture family engagement, such as by

  • fostering an inviting, uplifting environment where families feel welcomed, regardless of whether they’re visiting their children’s classrooms or the school’s front office;
  • engaging families in conversations, especially at the start of the school year, to better understand each child’s home life; and
  • creating opportunities to connect with families throughout the year and maintaining an open dialogue on how families can support their children’s learning.

 

How Teaching Strategies Supports TK

At Teaching Strategies, we remain committed to empowering teachers and engaging children and families alike. Our transitional kindergarten curriculum is no exception. Designed to build a bridge from preschool to kindergarten, our play-based curriculum is rooted in a whole-child approach that promotes all areas of development and learning.

“Labor Code of the Russian Federation” (TC of the Russian Federation) dated December 30, 2001 N 197-ФЗ (last edition) \ ConsultantPlus

(as amended by Federal Laws of 07.24.2002 N 97-ФЗ,

dated 07.25.2002 N 116 -FZ, dated 06/30/2003 N 86-FZ, dated 04/27/2004 N 32-FZ,

dated 08/22/2004 N 122-FZ, dated 12/29/2004 N 201-FZ, dated 05/09/2005 N 45-FZ,

dated 06/30/2006 N 90-FZ, dated 12/18/2006 N 232-FZ, dated 12/30/2006 N 271-FZ,

dated 04/20/2007 N 54-FZ, dated 07/21/2007 N 19 4-FZ, dated 01.10.2007 N 224-FZ,

dated 10/18/2007 N 230-FZ, dated 12/01/2007 N 309-FZ, dated 02/28/2008 N 13-FZ,

dated 07/22/2008 N 157-FZ, dated 07/23/2008 N 16 0-FZ, from 12/25/2008 N 280-FZ,

of 12/25/2008 N 281-FZ, of 12/30/2008 N 309-FZ, of 12/30/2008 N 313-FZ,

of 05/07/2009 N 8 0-FZ, from 17.07 .2009 N 167-FZ, dated 07/24/2009 N 206-FZ,

dated 07/24/2009 N 213-FZ, dated 11/10/2009 N 260-FZ, dated 11/25/2009 N 267-FZ,

9000 2 from 27. 07. 2010 N 227-FZ, dated December 23, 2010 N 387-FZ, dated December 29, 2010 N 437-FZ,

dated 06/17/2011 N 146-FZ, dated 07/01/2011 N 169-FZ, dated 07/18/2011 N 238-FZ,

dated 07/18/2011 N 242-FZ, dated 07/18/2011 N 2 43-FZ, dated 07/19/2011 N 248-FZ,

of 11/07/2011 N 303-FZ, of 11/07/2011 N 305-FZ, of 11/21/2011 N 329-FZ,

of 11/22/2011 N 3 34-FZ, dated 28.11 .2011 N 337-FZ, dated 11/30/2011 N 353-FZ,

dated 12/07/2011 N 417-FZ, dated 02/29/2012 N 16-FZ, dated 04/01/2012 N 27-FZ,

dated 23.04. 2012 N 35-FZ, dated July 28, 2012 N 136-FZ, dated November 12, 2012 N 188-FZ,

dated 03.12.2012 N 231-FZ, dated 03.12.2012 N 234-FZ, dated 03.12.2012 N 236-FZ,

dated 12.29.2012 N 280-FZ, dated 05.04.2013 N 5 8-FZ, dated 04/05/2013 N 60-FZ,

of 05/07/2013 N 95-FZ, of 05/07/2013 N 99-FZ, of 05/07/2013 N 102-FZ,

of 06/07/2013 N 108- Federal Law, dated 07.06 .2013 N 125-FZ, dated 02.07.2013 N 157-FZ,

dated 02.07. 2013 N 162-FZ, dated 02.07.2013 N 185-FZ, dated 07.23.2013 N 204-FZ,

9000 2 dated 25.11. 2013 N 317-FZ, dated 12/28/2013 N 421-FZ, dated 04/02/2014 N 50-FZ,

dated 04/02/2014 N 55-FZ, dated 04/02/2014 N 56-FZ, dated 05/05/2014 N 116-FZ,

dated 06/04/2014 N 145-FZ, dated 06/28/2014 N 199 -FZ, from 07/21/2014 N 216-FZ,

dated 11/04/2014 N 333-FZ, dated 11/24/2014 N 358-FZ, dated 12/01/2014 N 409-FZ,

dated 12/22/2014 N 4 32-FZ, from 22.12 .2014 N 443-FZ, dated 12/29/2014 N 457-FZ,

dated 12/31/2014 N 489-FZ, dated 12/31/2014 N 519-FZ, dated 04/06/2015 N 82-FZ,

from 02.05. 2015 N 122-FZ, dated 06/08/2015 N 152-FZ, dated 06/29/2015 N 200-FZ,

dated 06/29/2015 N 201-FZ, dated 07/13/2015 N 230-FZ, dated 07/13/2015 N 233-FZ,

dated 07/13/2015 N 237-FZ, dated 07/13/2015 N 2 42-FZ, dated 10/05/2015 N 285-FZ,

of 12/29/2015 N 391-FZ, of 12/30/2015 N 434-FZ, of 05/01/2016 N 132-FZ,

of 07/03/2016 N 2 36-FZ, dated 03. 07 .2016 N 239-FZ, dated 07/03/2016 N 272-FZ,

dated 07/03/2016 N 305-FZ, dated 07/03/2016 N 347-FZ, dated 07/03/2016 N 348-FZ,

9000 2 from 28.12. 2016 N 505-FZ, dated 05/01/2017 N 84-FZ, dated 06/18/2017 N 125-FZ,

dated 07/01/2017 N 132-FZ, dated 07/01/2017 N 139-FZ, dated 07/29/2017 N 255-FZ,

dated 07/29/2017 N 256-FZ, dated 11/27/2017 N 3 59-FZ, dated 12/20/2017 N 400-FZ,

of 12/29/2017 N 461-FZ, of 12/31/2017 N 502-FZ, of 02/05/2018 N 8-FZ,

of 07/19/2018 N 207 -FZ, dated 03.08 .2018 N 304-FZ, dated 03.08.2018 N 315-FZ,

dated 03.10.2018 N 353-FZ, dated 11.10.2018 N 360-FZ, dated 12.27.2018 N 542-FZ,

9000 2 from 01.04. 2019 N 48-FZ, dated 07/26/2019 N 231-FZ, dated 08/02/2019 N 292-FZ,

of November 12, 2019 N 372-FZ, of December 2, 2019 N 393-FZ, of December 16, 2019 N 439-FZ,

of April 24, 2020 N 127-FZ, of May 25, 2020 N 1 57-FZ, dated 07/13/2020 N 210-FZ,

of 07/31/2020 N 246-FZ, of 07/31/2020 N 261-FZ, of 11/09/2020 N 362-FZ,

of 12/08/2020 N 4 07-FZ, from 29. 12 .2020 N 477-FZ, dated 03/09/2021 N 34-FZ,

dated 04/05/2021 N 74-FZ, dated 04/20/2021 N 99-FZ, dated 04/30/2021 N 109-FZ,

dated 30.04. 2021 N 110-FZ, dated 06/28/2021 N 220-FZ, dated 07/02/2021 N 311-FZ,

dated 11/19/2021 N 372-FZ, dated 11/19/2021 N 373-FZ, dated 11/22/2021 N 377-FZ,

dated 02/25/2022 N 27-FZ, dated 06/11/2022 N 15 5-FZ, dated 07/14/2022 N 240-FZ,

of 07/14/2022 N 273-FZ, of 07/14/2022 N 283-FZ, of 07/14/2022 N 349-FZ,

of 10/07/2022 N 3 76-FZ, dated 04.11 .2022 N 434-FZ, dated 12/19/2022 N 545-FZ,

dated 06/13/2023 N 259-FZ, dated 07/10/2023 N 319-FZ,

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from 03/15/2005 N 3-P,

Decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of 11.07.2006 N 213-O,

of 03.11.2009 N 1369-O-P,

Decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of 15.12.2011 N 28-P,

from 12/19/2018 N 45-P, dated 07/14/2020 N 35-P, dated 06. 10.2021 N 43-P,

dated 07/15/2022 N 32-P, dated 11.04.2023 N 16-P,

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of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation Article 80. Termination of the employment contract at the initiative of the employee (at his own request) \ ConsultantPlus

A version of the document has been prepared with amendments that have not entered into force

Labor Code of the Russian Federation Article 80. Termination of an employment contract at the initiative of the employee (at his own request)

Guides on personnel issues and labor disputes. Issues of application of Art. 80 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation

Guide to personnel issues:

– How to issue a dismissal of one’s own free will

– How to provide unused vacation with the subsequent termination of the employment contract at the initiative of the employee?

– How is the resignation of the application for dismissal processed?

– Is it legal to terminate one’s own will before the expiration of two weeks if the date of dismissal is not specified in the application?

An employee has the right to terminate an employment contract by notifying the employer in writing no later than two weeks in advance, unless another period is established by this Code or other federal law. The specified period begins the next day after the employer receives the employee’s application for dismissal.

(as amended by the Federal Law of 30.06.2006 N 90-FZ)

(see the text in the previous edition)

By agreement between the employee and the employer, the employment contract may be terminated even before the expiration of the notice of dismissal.

In cases where the employee’s application for dismissal on his own initiative (of his own free will) is due to the impossibility of continuing his work (enrollment in an educational organization, retirement and other cases), as well as in cases of established violation by the employer of labor legislation and other regulatory legal acts containing labor law norms, local regulations, terms of a collective agreement, agreement or employment contract, the employer is obliged to terminate the employment contract within the period specified in the employee’s application.

(as amended by Federal Laws No.