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Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

Full-Day Transitional Kindergarten

Note: Students who turn four years old on or before September 1, 2026, will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten. See chart below for details.

Transitional Kindergarten Lotteries:

Should a site be determined near capacity in grade TK, a lottery process may be necessary to determine student placement. Only enrollment packets received between February 2, 2026, and February 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. at these sites will be eligible to be included if a lottery process is necessary. If needed, dates of lottery will be communicated to families.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a full day early education program for four-year olds, acting as a bridge to kindergarten, integrating preschool concepts with a play based curriculum. If your child was born between September 2, 2021 and September 1, 2022, they are eligible to be enrolled in Transitional Kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year. 

* Students who attended PUSD Preschool for the 2025-2026 school year will need to complete a New Student Enrollment packet for the 2026-2027 school year.

Additional Programs

Extended Student Services (ESS)

PUSD offers an Extended Student Services (ESS) program. This fee-based program extends the school day into the hours before and after school, and during school vacations. for elementary-aged students. ESS provides a comprehensive program of developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities. A separate application process for ESS is required for all new students. Click here to learn more about the ESS program.

TK Resources

As part of a well-rounded full-day student classroom experience, in addition to the classroom instruction, a TK student will also have:

  • ✓ A lunch period.
  • ✓ A recess that includes time to eat a snack.
  • ✓ A classroom Quiet Time with activities designed to allow students to relax and recharge for up to 30 minutes.

Poway Unified Transitional Kindergarten program is modeled upon the State of California's Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children and The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education.

California PTKLF

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The newly revised California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) were released in the summer of 2024 by the California Department of Education (CDE), Early Education Division (EED). The PTKLF describes the knowledge and skills that most children develop in a high-quality, early learning program.

Grade Level Placement Charts 

The following charts are helpful to determine enrollment in PUSD Kindergarten, Transitional Kindergarten, or Preschool.

Grade Level Placement Chart 2026-2027 School Year

Birthdate Criteria Grade Level
Born on or after 9/2/2022 Not eligible for TK enrollment
9/2/2021 - 9/1/2022 Transitional Kindergarten
9/2/2020 - 9/1/2021 Kindergarten
9/2/2019 - 9/1/2020 1
9/2/2018 - 9/1/2019 2
9/2/2017 - 9/1/2018 3
9/2/2016 - 9/1/2017 4
9/2/2015 - 9/1/2016 5
9/2/2014 - 9/1/2015 6
9/2/2013 - 9/1/2014 7
9/2/2012 - 9/1/2013 8
9/2/2011 - 9/1/2012 9
9/2/2010 - 9/1/2011 10
9/2/2009 - 9/1/2010 11
9/2/2008 - 9/1/2009 12

Placement Protocol

  • PUSD follows the standard practice of reciprocity between other districts and states if grade placement is within the appropriate age range and in correspondence with the current school calendar year. When a child has been legally enrolled in a public school of another district within or out of state, they may be admitted to school and placed in the grade of enrollment in the district of former attendance, at the discretion of the school administration of the district entered. (EC Section 48011)
  • Students enrolling in the district, entering grades 9-12, will be initially placed in the grade level reached prior to enrolling in the district. After evaluation of the student's academic performance, compatibility of courses, and satisfactory coursework completion, the appropriate placement will be determined. The student's appropriate grade placement should happen within 30 days of enrollment. (PUSD Board Policy 6146.3)

Tabla de asignación de nivel de grado escolar 2026-2027

Criterios según fecha denacimiento Nivel de grado
Born on or after 9/2/2022 No elegible para la inscripción en el TK
9/2/2021 - 9/1/2022 Kínder de transición
9/2/2020 - 9/1/2021 Kínder
9/2/2019 - 9/1/2020 1
9/2/2018 - 9/1/2019 2
9/2/2017 - 9/1/2018 3
9/2/2016 - 9/1/2017 4
9/2/2015 - 9/1/2016 5
9/2/2014 - 9/1/2015 6
9/2/2013 - 9/1/2014 7
9/2/2012 - 9/1/2013 8
9/2/2011 - 9/1/2012 9
9/2/2010 - 9/1/2011 10
9/2/2009 - 9/1/2010 11
9/2/2008 - 9/1/2009 12

Protocolo de colocación:

  • El PUSD sigue la práctica estándar de reciprocidad entre otros distritos y estados si la colocación de grado está dentro del rango de edad apropiado y en correspondencia con el año calendario escolar actual. Cuando un niño ha sido matriculado legalmente en una escuela pública de otro distrito dentro o fuera del estado, puede ser admitido a la escuela y colocado en el grado de inscripción en el distrito de asistencia anterior, a discreción de la administración escolar del distrito al que entró. (Sección 48011 del CE)
  • Los estudiantes que se inscriban en el distrito y que ingresen a los grados 9-12 serán ubicados inicialmente en el nivel de grado alcanzado antes de inscribirse en el distrito. Después de la evaluación del rendimiento académico del estudiante, compatibilidad de cursos, y la finalización del trabajo de curso satisfactorio, se determinará la ubicación adecuada. La colocación del grado apropiado del estudiante debe realizarse dentro de los 30 días posteriores a la inscripción. (Política de la Junta del PUSD 6146.3)

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