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Transitional Kindergarten FAQs


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What is transitional kindergarten?       

A transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program. Pursuant to law, (Education Code section 48000[c]), children are eligible for transitional kindergarten if their fifth birthday is between September 2 and December 2, or, under additional conditions, if their fifth birthday occurs after December 2 but during that same school year.

 

Should students who are 4 years old receive their Kindergarten booster vaccines? 

Yes.  Under California’s kindergarten immunization requirements, even four-year-old children need their kindergarten immunizations prior to the first day of transitional kindergarten where they could potentially be exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases.  The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy Family Physicians recommend kindergarten immunizations starting as young as four years of age. (See CDC's Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for more details.)

 

Are students in transitional kindergarten subject to the Kindergarten immunization requirements?

Yes. They are required to have documentation of required immunizations or a valid exemption prior to admission to transitional kindergarten.

 

Are students in transitional kindergarten required to meet Kindergarten immunization requirements before the first or second year of the program?

Before admission to the first year of the transitional kindergarten program.

 

How should a school report these transitional kindergarten students for the kindergarten annual immunization assessment report?

For each year students are attending transitional or traditional kindergarten, report on their immunization status. The reporting process does not distinguish transitional from traditional kindergarten students. TK students are subject to the same requirements as kindergarten students and should be reported together. Reporting opens in September at shotsforschool.

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