MVUSD to Offer Transitional Kindergarten

Students who turn 5 between Nov. 2 and Dec. 2 will no longer be eligible to enter kindergarten next year.

However, those students will qualify for a new transitional kindergarten (TK) program being offered next year by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District at three elementary school sites: , and

The Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2010 raises the age for admission to kindergarten, said Karen Parris, spokesperson for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District.

The legislation requires districts to offer a transitional kindergarten program for children whose kindergarten admission would be delayed because of the new age criteria, Parris said, in a news release.

In 2012, children must be 5 by Nov. 1 to enter kindergarten. In 2013, they must be 5 by Oct. 1, and in 2014 by Sept. 1.

"Transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a developmentally-appropriate hands-on kindergarten curriculum aligned to kindergarten standards and taught by a credentialed teacher," Parris said.

The district is currently accepting transitional kindergarten applications for the 2012-2013 school year.

"Parents of TK students are encouraged to apply at their home schools as soon as possible so district administrators will have an accurate estimate of the number of TK classes needed," Parris said.

Other TK classes may be opened in the district if the number of students exceeds the capacity at the three sites, Parris said.

Parents who would like more information are encouraged to attend a TK Parent Information meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5 at Alta Murrieta Elementary, 39475 Whitewood Road, Murrieta.

RSVP for the meeting by emailing Gertie Lewis at glewis@murrieta.k12.ca.us.

District officials said they currently have an interest list of 75 TK students, and will likely roll the program out to other school sites in the coming school years.

A Parent's Perspective

Michelle McCarthy is a teacher on special assignment in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. She has 18 years of elementary teaching experience, and now does reading interventions and teacher training.

McCarthy and her husband Sean—also a nationally board-certified teacher and MVUSD instructional support coordinator—have decided to enroll their son in transitional kindergarten, even though he will be old enough to enter the kindergarten class, Parris said.

“More than 16 years ago, it was time for my oldest son to enter kindergarten.  He was 4 years old and turning 5 on Sept. 26. Being a kindergarten teacher myself, I knew that I had a decision to make," McCarthy said.

"I had experienced first-hand how much more academically-oriented kindergarten had become and the adverse impact it was having on my younger students. My son could enter kindergarten and be the youngest in the class, or I could wait one year and allow him to grow and mature before exposing him to the academic rigors of a kindergarten classroom. 

"My husband and I decided to give him the extra year, and we have never regretted that decision. As he progressed through school, he was physically, socially, and emotionally in the right place at each grade level. Academically he excelled, he played varsity sports, and when it came time to graduate from high school, I was happy he was a year older as he began his journey into college and the real world. 

"Fast forward to today, and I am now faced with a decision of what to do with my youngest son who will be 5 in 2012, but not until Sept. 27. I am once again faced with whether to have my son among the youngest in his class or wait one more year before having him enter kindergarten. Luckily, I now have another choice…transitional kindergarten.”