More transitional kindergarten classes to be added to Citrus Heights schools

By Sara Beth Williams–
Two more elementary schools in Citrus Heights will be implementing transitional kindergarten classes in the 2024–25 school year, according to the San Juan Unified School District.

In response to the state rolling out a universal transitional kindergarten program in 2021, which would allow all 4-year-olds to be eligible for transitional kindergarten by the 2025–26 school year, the San Juan district reported that it has incorporated transitional kindergarten programs at all but six elementary and K–8 schools throughout the district as of the 2023–24 school year.

In an April 9 San Juan Unified Board meeting, the district presented a Universal Transitional/Pre-kindergarten update, which laid out the future of the program for the next two years.

A chart provided by the district shows that during the 2023–24 school year, transitional kindergarten classes were added to both Kingswood K-8 and Mariposa Elementary School in Citrus Heights.

Previously, transitional kindergarten programs were also implemented at Grand Oaks Elementary, Lichen K-8, and Woodside K-8 in the 2022–23 school year and at Skycrest Elementary in the 2021–22 school year.

Two transitional kindergarten classes were also added to Arlington Heights during the 2021–22 school year, but one was removed during the 2023–24 school year.

In an email to The Sentinel, the district explained that enrollment data drives decisions to add or remove additional transitional kindergarten classrooms.

“As classes have been added at other nearby school sites, student enrollment becomes more widely dispersed,” San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai said via email.

In the 2024–25 school year, the district anticipates adding transitional kindergarten programs to both Cambridge Heights and Carriage Drive Elementary.

What about age-appropriate playgrounds?

During the April 9 board meeting, board members voiced their concerns regarding the necessity and lack of age-appropriate playground structures for children younger than 5 years old. According to the district, not all Citrus Heights elementary and K–8 school sites are currently equipped with age-appropriate play structures for students under 5, but other options are available, such as open grassy areas, and equipment such as balls, tricycles, water and sand tables, sidewalk chalk, small trampolines and hula hoops.

The district is currently working with its facilities department to determine the needs of each school site in order to develop an appropriate plan. The district did not specify which school sites had or did not have age-appropriate playgrounds.

What are the TK age requirements going into next school year?

The district said students whose fifth birthday falls between Sep. 2, 2024, and June 2, 2025 are eligible to enroll for the 2024–25 school year. Students who turn four by Sept. 1, 2025 are eligible to enroll for the 2025–26 school year.

The district is currently still utilizing a lottery enrollment system. State regulations require there to be a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio with one teacher and one instructional assistant per 24 students, allowing for a maximum enrollment of 24 in any transitional kindergarten classroom. According to the California Department of Education, beginning in the 2025–26 school year, the student-adult ratio will drop to 10 children per one adult.

Will the district transition to open enrollment for transitional kindergarten in the future?

“The district would not be able to consider an open enrollment system unless we have enough students to fill a TK class at every site,” Rai said, adding that not all families will choose to enroll their children in TK, and therefore the district does not foresee transitional kindergarten enrollment matching that of kindergarten enrollment.

For further information regarding transitional kindergarten, visit the district’s website.