Transitional Kindergarten
RVC gives our youngest students a strong foundation to begin Kindergarten.
Transitional Kindergarten is a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for children who will turn 5 between September 2, 2023 and April 1, 2024. TK gives young learners a head start and the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs.
At Ross Valley Charter, Transitional Kindergarten fosters independence and nurtures curiosity in our youngest students by providing a supportive atmosphere of play, exploration, and creativity. Students form friendships, learn to collaborate, and take their first steps in academic learning. Centered around social and emotional learning (SEL) and mindfulness, we create a positive first classroom experience for children and focus on kindergarten readiness.
RVC TK Students participate in activities that help them learn how to share, take turns, follow instructions, and work independently. The classroom environment is warm and welcoming, with lots of cozy places to read, build, play, and learn.
The Transitional Kindergarten Schedule
The TK school day is from 8:30 to 1:45, the same schedule as our kindergarten classes. Our TK/K students have their own recess, snack, and lunch schedules that is separate from the upper grades.
Our TK and Kindergarten mixed-age classroom follows an age- and developmentally-appropriate inquiry-based curriculum designed to prepare your child for a full day of learning and activities.
Building the Foundations for Social-Emotional Resilience
Our Transitional Kindergarten students begin their SEL learning right away. Mindfulness, breathing, communication and empathy are all taught, encouraged, and reflected upon throughout the day.
No Need to Re-Apply
Students who enter RVC at the TK level are enrolled and do not need to re-apply for Kindergarten.
Want to learn more about our TK program? Apply now or sign up for a tour.
Eligibility is being updated annually and is currently students turning 5 years old between September 2nd, 2023 and April 2nd, 2024.
Why Choose to Enroll in Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?
Our Transitional Kindergarten program focuses on social-emotional development and physical and motor development, as well as the academic skills needed to prepare your child for Kindergarten.
Transitional Kindergarten, or TK, creates a strong foundation for future academic by connecting the gap between preschool and kindergarten. At RVC, we combine the development of social and emotional skills with academic learning so that students build the fundamental pre-literacy, pre-math, and other cognitive skills as well as the social and self-regulation abilities required to thrive.
With TK, children have a stronger foundation for success in elementary school. TK also gives families the choice to prepare their kids for kindergarten with foundational learning skills, self-assurance, and socialization they need to succeed.
With a foundation of progressive student-driven learning, social-emotional development, academic rigor, and inspiring project-based education, Ross Valley Charter makes learning come alive for students. Our immersive, hands-on approach creates lifelong learners who act on their confidence, both inside and out of the classroom.
Is My Child Old Enough for TK?
- 2023-24: Children must turn five between September 2, 2023, and April 2, 2024 in order to be eligible to enroll in Transitional Kindergarten for the 2023–24 school year.
- 2024-25: Children must turn five between September 2, 2024, and June 2, 2025 in order to be eligible for the 2024–2025 school year.
Learn About TK in California
RVC follows the guidelines of the Marin County Department of Education, which covers the Ross Valley School District and all Marin Districts and feeds into the California Department of Education. In the summer of 2021, Governor Newsom announced that Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) would be implemented gradually starting in the fall of 2022 and fully starting in 2025.
To learn more about Transitional Kindergarten, please see the Department of Education's TK page:
Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs) about California state law pertaining to Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Universal Prekindergarten (UPK).
How Transitional Kindergarten Helps All Students
Transitional Kindergarten acts as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for students with late birthdays. It's like the first chapter of a two-year kindergarten story.
Transitional Kindergarten is a gentle, play-based way for children with later birthdays to prepare for kindergarten. It also helps Spanish-speaking students get familiar with English before kindergarten. This is extremely helpful when more rigorous academics get started in Kindergarten.
Most brain growth happens before kindergarten, in the first years of life. By having more early education, TK can help everyone do better in school.
Transitional kindergarten also provides benefits that preschool doesn't. It's a bit more structured than regular preschool, which helps children with the transition to kindergarten. It strikes a balance between the structure of kindergarten and the playfulness of preschool. In TK, students develop essential academic skills like reading, writing, and math while also acquiring crucial social skills such as following directions, building friendships, and taking turns.
Ross Valley Charter's TK program places a strong emphasis on social-emotional development and physical and motor development, in addition to building academic skills necessary for a successful transition to kindergarten. This comprehensive approach combines essential pre-literacy, pre-math, and cognitive skills with social and self-regulation abilities, fostering well-rounded students who are prepared for the academic challenges that lie ahead.