Orcutt Union School District

Transitional Kindergarten

A young girl and a teacher work together to string colorful beads on a green cord.

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is the first year in a two-year Kindergarten program. TK bridges the path between preschool and Kindergarten and gives students the gift of time that will help them build a strong foundation for future school success. It blends social and emotional experiences with academic learning, so that students not only learn essential pre-literacy, pre-math, and other cognitive skills, but also develop social and self-regulation skills needed to succeed in school and life.

Why Transitional Kindergarten Matters

TK offers significant advantages for children turning 4 years old by September 1st:

Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Focuses on social-emotional, pre-literacy, and pre-math skills through play-based learning.
Small Class Sizes: Maximum of 24 students with a 12:1 adult-to-child ratio for more individual attention.
Social and Emotional Growth: Fosters cooperation, sharing, problem-solving, and self-regulation.
Stronger Kindergarten Foundation: Provides familiarity with classroom expectations and basic academic concepts.
Free Program: Publicly funded, ensuring no cost for eligible families in California.
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A group of young children sit on the floor in a classroom, raising their hands to answer a question.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Transitional Kindergarteners have their own classroom at their home school.
Students attend school for 3 ½ hours per day.
Breakfast is available to students before school begins. Lunch is optional immediately after dismissal when accompanied by a parent.
When space is available after school care also known as Campus Connection is available to TK students at all sites.