Transitional Kindergarten:

• Is part of the public school system so there is no charge
• Taught by Credentialed Teachers specializing in Early Education
• Is a voluntary program
• Is offered at regional sites with transportation provided by parents
• Is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program

Starting school is a very exciting time for children and their families!  In our district and throughout the state, Transitional Kindergarten will be offered to children who are the age of 4 by September 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year.  This will allow students to develop social and academic skills, and the confidence needed for success in Kindergarten and beyond.

Transitional Kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn in an enriching and academically challenging environment that nurtures their growth.  Research shows that children who attend Kindergarten readiness programs, like Transitional Kindergarten, are more likely to do well in school. 

Parents all over California recognize the benefits of developmental programs such as Transitional Kindergarten.  Transitional Kindergarten will help students have the best possible start with curriculum that is designed just for them!

Students will return to their school of residence for traditional kindergarten after their year in TK.

TK students are unique in their developmental and experiential backgrounds.  Although TK classes are typically composed of a chronologically similar age group, teachers recognize the students' unique needs and carefully plan and deliver an effective and developmentally appropriate educational program.  Students entering the TK classroom will need high-quality instruction and support to develop social and emotional competence and to successfully achieve the rigorous academic standards they will encounter in their second year of kindergarten.

The following areas include the foundational content of TK curriculum:

• Social-Emotional Development
• English Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• History-Social Science
• Physical Education
• Visual and Performing Arts

Admission Ages

Transitional Kindergarten	Kindergarten
4th birthday on or before September 1, 2025	5th birthday on or before Sept. 1, 2025

For the 2025-2026 school year, Saddleback Valley Unified School District will be offering Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for children who are the age of 4 by September 1, 2025. Registration will begin on March 17, 2025. Our program is a half-day program with childcare available through TLC for those who need before or after-class child care. For students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), please consult with your student's IEP Team for TK placement.

A Dual Language Immersion (DLI) TK program in Spanish, will also be offered at Gates Elementary School. If you are interested in the DLI TK program, please fill out this DLI-TK Interest Form.

K-6 school assigned attendance area	Regional TK site student assigned to:
Cielo Vista and Trabuco Mesa Elementary	Cielo Vista
Robinson and Trabuco Elementary	Robinson
Gates, Olivewood, and Santiago Elementary	Olivewood
Lomarena, San Joaquin, and Valencia Elementary	Lomarena
Glen Yermo and Melinda Heights Elementary	Glen Yermo
Del Lago and Foothill Ranch Elementary	Del Lago
Lake Forest and Portola Hills Elementary	Lake Forest
de Portola and Linda Vista Elementary	Linda Vista
La Madera and Rancho Cañada Elementary	Rancho Cañada
Del Cerro and Montevideo Elementary	La Tierra Early Childhood Center

Please use this link beginning on March 17, 2025 to register for Transitional Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year: https://www.svusd.org/register-now

Top 10 Questions About Transitional Kindergarten

Will transitional kindergarten be mandatory for children with a 4th birthday by September 1?

Just like kindergarten, transitional kindergarten enrollment will be voluntary.

How is transitional kindergarten different from preschool?

The standards, curriculum and teaching requirements in transitional kindergarten will be different from preschool. Transitional kindergarten will be part of the K-12 public education system and it will be based on the kindergarten standards. It will build on the skills children may have learned in preschool to ensure they will be able to begin kindergarten with confidence.

How is transitional kindergarten different from traditional kindergarten?

Although the curriculum in transitional kindergarten will be based on the kindergarten standards, it will be modified to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of younger children. The transitional kindergarten environment will include more opportunities for social-emotional, language development and communication through dramatic play, small group instruction, and intentional teaching through hands-on activities.

Will transitional kindergarten provide support for children who do not speak English?

English learners in transitional kindergarten will have the same level of services as those in kindergarten.

Will transitional kindergarten be free or will I have to qualify based on income?

Transitional kindergarten will be free and open to all age-eligible children.

What kinds of qualifications will transitional kindergarten teachers have?

Transitional kindergarten teachers will be required to have a teaching credential, just like kindergarten teachers.

How old will transitional kindergarteners be when they begin 1st grade?

Transitional kindergarteners will typically be 6 years old when they start first grade and turn 7 years old during the first few months of the school year.

Will children in transitional kindergarten be 19 years old when they graduate from high school?

No, they will be 18 years old when they graduate and will turn 19 years old several month after graduation.

How will this affect children in special education?

Students with IEPs that are TK age-eligible will be enrolled in TK.  Please refer to your IEP team for IEP TK placement information.

What grade will children go into after transitional kindergarten?

Transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten experience. Children will go on to kindergarten at their school of residence after completing transitional kindergarten.