Formerly known as Transitional Kindergarten
In Irvine Unified School District, we believe the goal of our Early Childhood Learning Programs is to promote a joy of learning in a positive and nurturing environment. This will create critical thinkers, effective oral communicators, and life-long learners. In partnership with parents, we will provide intentional opportunities that meet the emotional, social, physical, and academic needs of all learners. Early Childhood Learning Programs include Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten (formerly known as Transitional Kindergarten) and Kindergarten.
Click on one of + signs below for more information.
Pre-K (TK) Enrollment Age Eligibility
Over the next five years, Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) will replace our existing Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. This change will gradually phase in over time with the following age requirements for children eligible to enroll in IUSD's Pre-K program. IUSD will ultimately serve the educational needs of all 4 year-olds by the 2025-26 school year and beyond.
| School Year | Pre-K/TK Eligible | Kindergarten Eligible |
| 2022-23 | 5th birthday 9/2/2022 - 2/2/2023 |
5th birthday by 9/1/2022 |
|
2023-24 |
5th birthday 9/2/2023 - 4/2/2024 |
5th birthday by 9/1/2023 |
|
2024-25 |
5th birthday 9/2/2024 - 6/2/2025 |
5th birthday by 9/1/2024 |
|
2025-26 |
5th birthday 9/2/2025- 9/1/2026 - All 4 year olds eligible |
5th birthday by 9/1/2025 |
Pre-K (TK) Parent information
The age requirement for Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K), formerly known as Transitional Kindergarten, for the 2022-2023 school year includes children who will turn 5 years of age between September 2 - February 2.
IUSD will be hosting a virtual (live) TK Parent Information meeting on February 24, 2022 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
Click Here to Register - the Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants the afternoon of the 24th
We ask all participants to please watch IUSD’s Welcome to Pre-K & K Parent Presentation and review the electronic resources below, prior to attending the virtual event on February 24th.
View Additional Information Below:
Pre-K (TK) in IUSD
Pre-K (TK) School Sites
Pre-K (TK) is currently offered in person at the following sites:
Serving the Northern Area: Cadence Park, Canyon View, Cypress Village, Eastwood, Loma Ridge, Northwood, Portola Springs, Santiago Hills, Solis Park, Stonegate and Woodbury (Year Round)
Serving the Central Area: Deerfield, Eastshore, Meadow Park, Plaza Vista (Year Round), Springbrook and Westpark (Year Round)
Serving the Southern Area: Alderwood, Turtle Rock and University Park
Sites are located regionally and designated (upon completion of enrollment) based on assigned neighborhood school and space availability.
*Due to the expansion of the program, sites may be added and/or changed.
how to enroll
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Enrollment began March 4, 2022 for the 2022-23 school year. You can enroll through IUSD's online enrollment process, which can be started by clicking here or visiting iusd.org/enrollment. Students who are enrolled and meet the eligibility requirements will be enrolled in Pre-K (TK).
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Be sure to follow the instructions carefully on the IUSD enrollment page to complete the registration process.
- To access Pre-K (TK) Health Documents necessary for enrollment, click on each link:
- Upon completion of enrollment, if your assigned neighborhood school site does not offer Pre-K (TK), you will be designated to the closest site that does offer Pre-K (TK) (based on space availability).
What is Pre-K vs. tk?
Over the next five years, Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) will replace our existing Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. This change will gradually phase in over time to include all 4 year-olds by the 2025-26 school year.
Historically, TK has served as the first year of a two year Kindergarten program. Pre-K will represent a true bridge between Preschool and Kindergarten. Pre-K is taught by a credentialed teacher with early childhood expertise, utilizing a unique specialized curriculum that is aligned with the Preschool Learning Foundations and Kindergarten Common Core standards. Pre-K instruction is explicitly designed to support the range of social-emotional, physical, and academic needs of developing four year-olds. The Pre-K environment will include many opportunities for fine and gross-motor activities, oral language development, and social-emotional learning. IUSD's Pre-K program prioritizes intentional teaching that is hands-on and child-centered, purposeful structured play, and small-group instruction.
Pre-K will provide our youngest learners with a strong foundation for school readiness so that students enter Kindergarten prepared to learn and thrive!
For the 2022-23 school year, Pre-K will serve students who turn 5 years-old between September 2nd and February 2nd.
IUSD Pre-K (tK) continuum of standards
- IUSD's Continuum of Standards: This is IUSD's continuum of standards that outlines the bridge between the Preschool Learning Foundations and the Kindergarten Common Core Standards. It is a roadmap for the standards taught - acknowledging the progression of skill development along the continuum.
- California Department of Education Preschool Learning Foundations: The Foundations provide an overview of the key knowledge and skills that most preschool children can achieve when provided with interaction, instruction, and an environment that is based on the research of early experiences shown to promote early learning and development.
- California Department of Education Preschool Curriculum Frameworks: The Frameworks provides an overall approach to teachers to support student learning through environments and experiences that are developmentally appropriate, reflective of thoughtful observation and intentional planning, individually and culturally meaningful, and inclusive of children with disabilities and special needs.
questions and answers
What is the difference between Pre-K (formally TK) and Kindergarten?
The Pre-Kindergarten classroom will provide developmentally appropriate thematic-based curriculum. The curriculum is a hybrid between the California Preschool Learning Foundations and the California Common Core Standards for Kindergarten. Students in the Pre-K program will be provided a program that will bridge their early childhood experiences to those of the public school system.
Is my child required to go to a Pre-K class if their birthday falls within the cut-off date?
No, it is an optional program for families.
Can my child enter kindergarten if they are eligible for the Pre-K class?
No, students must turn 5 on or before September 1st to enter kindergarten.
Where will the Pre-K classes be held?
The classes will be held at elementary school sites within IUSD. Sites are located regionally and designated (upon completion of enrollment) based on assigned neighborhood school and space availability.
If the Pre-K class is not offered at my child's neighborhood school, where will they go?
Based on space availability, they will go to the Pre-K classroom at the school closest to your child's neighborhood school. Please keep in mind this is a one year program; your child will return to their assigned neighborhood school the following school year.
Which school will my child attend for kindergarten if they go to a different school for Pre-K?
Your child will still go to their assigned neighborhood school for kindergarten, unless you choose to pursue IUSD's Intradistrict/School Choice option and follow those procedures.
Will there be transportation to the schools offering Pre-K classes?
No, again, Pre-K is not compulsory, and transportation would be cost-prohibitive. It is the parents' responsibility to transport their children to their Pre-K program.
Can my child participate in Pre-K if his/her birthday is in August?
For the 2022-23 school year, IUSD'S Pre-K program will be available for students who turn five years old between September 2, 2022 and February 2, 2023. Children turning 5 on or before September 1 are eligible for Kindergarten in IUSD.
additional Pre-K (tk) resources
To learn more about Universal Pre-K (Transitional Kindergarten), please visit the California Department of Education website at:
TK California Website:
For more information on before/after school care, please visit the City of Irvine at: