Transitional Kindergarten FAQs

Funding and Reporting Information | TK Class Size and Ratios | Instructional Time and TK | Early Enrollment Children

Additional FAQs regarding programmatic requirements are available on the California Department of Education's (CDE’s) Universal Prekindergarten web page.

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Funding and Reporting Information

1. How should a school report Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students for the Kindergarten annual immunization assessment report? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   The school will report their TK students within the same line as their Kindergarten students; there will be no differentiation between TK or Kindergarten students for purposes of reporting immunization to the California Department of Public Health. More information on immunization reporting is available at the Shots Required for Transitional Kindergarten and 7th Grade (ca.gov) and Immunization Reporting (ca.gov) .

2. If a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) student turns four after the first day of school but before September 1, can we only claim Average Daily Attendance (ADA) from the time the student turns four-years-old, or can we claim ADA from the first day of the school year? (Updated 08-Aug-2025)

   Beginning in fiscal year 2025–26, local educational agencies are required to make TK available to all children who will have their fourth birthday by September 1 of the school year. Students that turn four by September 1 generate ADA for the purpose of funding beginning the first day of the school year (Education Code Section 48000(c)).
   
   For example, a child that meets the age-eligibility requirement (i.e., turns four by September 1) may be enrolled in a TK program that is scheduled to begin prior to September 1. While this TK student would be three years old at the beginning of the school year, they will generate ADA from the first day of instruction.

3. Can we enroll and claim Average Daily Attendance (ADA) for a student in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) who turns four after September 1? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   No. In order to participate in public school, all students must meet the age-eligibility requirements provided for in statute. Education Code Section 48000(c)(1)(G) requires all students enrolled in a TK program to be four years of age by September 1.

4. How is Average Daily Attendance (ADA) reported for Transitional Kindergarten (TK)? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   ADA for students who turn four by September 1 and are enrolled in a TK program should be reported with all other TK/K-3 ADA through the Principal Apportionment Data Collection (PADC) Web Application. Students who turn four after September 1 are not eligible for enrollment in a TK program.
   
   Please refer to FAQ #2 of the Funding and Reporting Information section for eligibility cut-off dates.

5. Are school districts and charter schools required to report Transitional Kindergarten (TK) information via the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS)? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   Yes. School districts and charter schools should enroll all TK students in CALPADS. School districts and charter schools are required to obtain Statewide Student Identifiers (SSIDs) for all Kindergarten students, including TK students. Students participating in a TK program are enrolled in CALPADS with a grade level of Transitional Kindergarten (TK). Anyone with CALPADS-related questions should consult relevant CALPADS documentation on the CALPADS System Documentation web page.
   
   Please refer to FAQ #2 of the Funding and Reporting Information section for the eligibility cut-off dates.
   

6. How many years can a school district or charter school claim apportionment for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten? (Updated 14-Aug-2024)

   Pursuant to Education Code (EC) 46300(g), school districts and charter schools may claim average daily attendance for a child for one year of TK and not more than two years in Kindergarten or two years in a combination of TK and Kindergarten (EC Section 46300(g)(2)).

7. Can a school district partner with a non-local educational agency (LEA) to provide their Transitional Kindergarten (TK) services? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   No. TK is the first year of a two-year Kindergarten program and cannot be provided by a non-LEA agency as statute requires that students must be under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of the school district or county office of education (EC Section 46300(a)).

8. Can district A enter into an interdistrict transfer agreement with district B so that district B can provide a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program for district A’s TK-eligible children? (Revised 26-Sep-2023)

   No. Each school district must offer TK for the students residing in their district. Nevertheless, LEAs may enter into interdistrict transfer agreements with each other in order to serve students who wish to be served in other districts. In interdistrict transfer agreement situations, the district serving the individual student claims the individual student’s attendance for apportionment.

9. Can a local educational agency (LEA) meet the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) offering requirement through a vendor? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   No. The Education Code (EC) establishes criteria that must be met in order for attendance for apportionment to generate Average Daily Attendance (ADA). One criterion is the supervision of students by a certificated employee of the LEA. Below are the requirements for attendance generation in different instructional settings.

   • Classroom-Instruction (School Districts and county offices of education [COEs]): For attendance generated through classroom (in-person) instruction, EC Section 46300(a) requires that a student must be under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of a school district or a COE.
   • Classroom-Instruction (Charter Schools): For attendance generated through classroom-based instruction, EC Section 47612.5(e) requires that a student must be under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of the charter school.
   • Independent Study (School Districts, COEs, and Charter Schools): For attendance generated through independent study instruction, EC Section 51747.5(a) requires that the supervising teacher coordinating and evaluating the work product be a certificated employee of a school district, charter school, or COE.

10. Can a school district contract or enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with another local educational agency to operate its Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

    Pursuant to Education Code Section 46300(a), a school district can contract with a county office of education to provide instruction to its students and the school district can claim the Average Daily Attendance (ADA). However, a school district cannot claim ADA by contracting with another school district or charter school.

11. Can a preschool program generate Transitional Kindergarten (TK) funding? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

    No. Preschool programs are not eligible to generate funding for TK programs. TK funding is based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) which is funded through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

12. What are the penalties for not meeting the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) requirements for class size, adult-to-student ratios, and teacher credentialing? (Updated 26-Sep-2023)

    Penalties for failing to meet the requirements for average TK class enrollment, adult-to-student ratios, and credentialed teachers are outlined in Education Code (EC) Section 48000.1.

    Average Class Enrollment of 24

    The penalty for failing to meeting the average class enrollment of 24 is calculated using the TK/Kindergarten through grade 3 (TK/K-3) Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) grade span adjustment (GSA) and TK Average Daily Attendance (ADA) for the Second Principal Apportionment Period (P-2).
    

    Fiscal Years	2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25	2025–26 and Thereafter
    Penalty	Loss of TK/K-3 LCFF GSA for all TK ADA at the local educational agency	Loss of TK/K-3 LCFF GSA ADA for the affected schoolsites
    Example Calculation	TK/K-3 GSA dollar amount × all P-2 TK ADA	TK/K-3 GSA dollar amount × affected schoolsites’ P-2 TK ADA*

    
    * A schoolsite is an entity that is assigned a school code in the California School Directory. For more information please consult the Definition of a School page.

    This penalty will not be applied to a school district that loses the TK/K–3 LCFF GSA pursuant to EC Section 42238.02(d)(3)(D)(i).
    
    Adult-to-student ratio:
    
    The penalty is the amount determined based on multiplying the following:

    Fiscal Years 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25

    Fiscal Years 2025–26 and Thereafter

    i. The number of additional adults needed to meet the 1:12 ratio requirement as calculated pursuant to EC Section 48000.1(b)(1)(A)(i)(I) ii. The number 24, reduced by the statewide average rate of absence for elementary school districts for kindergarten and grades 1 through grade 8, inclusive, as calculated by the California Department of Education (CDE) for the prior year and rounded to the nearest tenth iii. The applicable TK LCFF add-on rate as provided for in EC Section 42238.02(g)(2)

    i. The number of additional adults needed to meet the 1:10 ratio requirement as calculated pursuant to EC Section 48000.1(b)(1)(A)(ii)(I) ii. The number 24, reduced by the statewide average rate of absence for elementary school districts for kindergarten and grades 1 through grade 8, inclusive, as calculated by the CDE for the prior year and rounded to the nearest tenth iii. The applicable TK LCFF add-on rate as provided for in EC Section 42238.02(g)(3)

    
    For example, an audit finding stating one additional adult was needed to meet the ratio requirement would result in a penalty of one adult multiplied by 24 reduced by the statewide average rate of absence for elementary school districts for kindergarten and grades 1 through grade 8 multiplied by the TK LCFF add-on rate for that audit year.

    The Early Childhood Education Credential Requirement pursuant to EC Section 48000(g)(4) went into effect on August 1, 2025.

    Early Childhood Education Credential Requirements: The penalty is the amount determined based on multiplying the following:

    i. The number of credentialed teachers that did not meet the TK requirements
    
    

    ii. The number 24, reduced by the statewide average rate of absence for elementary school districts for kindergarten and grades 1 through grade 8, inclusive, as calculated by the CDE for the prior year and rounded to the nearest tenth

    iii. The applicable TK/K–3 LCFF Base Grant per ADA

    iv. The sum of all school days the teacher(s) rendered service in a TK classroom without meeting the requirements divided by the total days of instruction for those teacher(s).

    An example of an audit finding stating one teacher taught for 90 days out of 180 days without meeting the TK teacher requirements would result in the following penalty:

    One teacher multiplied by 24 reduced by the statewide average absence rate for elementary school districts for kindergarten and grades 1 through grade 8 multiplied by the applicable TK/K–3 LCFF Base Grant per ADA multiplied by the sum of all school days multiplied by (90 ÷ 180)].

    The maximum penalty for all three TK requirements is the product of the LEA’s total Second Principal Apportionment TK ADA multiplied by the sum of the applicable TK/K–3 base grant per ADA, the TK/K–3 GSA, and the TK add-on funding.

    Statewide absence rates, the TK/K-3 GSA, the TK Add-on, and the TK/K-3 LCFF Grant are available on the CDE website’s Principal Apportionment section on the Funding Rates and Information page.

13. What are the additional requirements beyond a teaching credential for teachers who are assigned to a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

    Beginning August 1, 2025, the following requirements in Education Code Section 48000(g)(4) will be in place for teachers assigned to a TK classroom:

    • At least 24 units in early childhood education, childhood development, or both.
    • As determined by the school district or charter school employing the teacher, professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children that is comparable to the 24 units of education described above; or
    • A child development teacher permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

14. Do the additional requirements apply to assigned Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teachers providing independent study instruction? (Posted 08-Aug-2025)

    Independent study must be provided under the general supervision of an employee of the school district or charter school who possesses a valid certification document pursuant to Education Code sections 44865, 44300, or 47605(l).

    As a condition of apportionment, existing law requires a credentialed teacher who is first assigned to a TK classroom after July 1, 2015, to have one of the following by August 1, 2025:

    • At least 24 units in early childhood education, childhood development, or both.
    • As determined by the school district or charter school employing the teacher, professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children that is comparable to the 24 units of education described above; or
    • A child development teacher permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Transitional Kindergarten Class Size and Ratio Information

1. What are the adult-to-student ratios for Transition Kindergarten (TK) classrooms? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, the adult-to-student ratio will be 1 adult to 10 students (Education Code Section 48000(g)).

2. What is the adult-to-student ratio for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) during recess and lunch? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   Statute requires that a school district or charter school shall maintain an average ratio of at least 1 adult for every 10 students during instructional time. For TK students at a school district, instructional time may also include recess if the students are engaged in educational activities required of them and under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee (Education Code Section 46115).

   The law is silent with respect to whether the ratio must be maintained during lunch and recess that is not being counted towards instructional time.

3. How is the average calculated for the 1:10 adult-to-student Transitional Kindergarten (TK) ratio? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   The calculation for the average 1:10 adult-to-student ratio for TK classrooms required pursuant to Education Code Section 48000(g)(2) is as follows:

   • Step 1: Determine the total TK enrollment, which is the sum of the average enrollment count per class of all classes at the schoolsite, as determined for the 24 average class enrollment requirement (see FAQ #4, Step 3)
   • Step 2: Determine the number of adults:
     • Take a count of employees of the school district or charter school assigned to each class at the schoolsite that includes TK students on the last teaching day of each school month that ends before April 15 of the school year;
     • Sum the adult counts and divide by the total number of those counts, rounded to the nearest half or whole integer.
   • Step 3: The adult-to-student ratio is the total TK enrollment divided by the total number of adults calculated in Step 2, rounded to the nearest half or whole integer.
   • For more information regarding how the adult-to-student ratio average is calculated, please see the October 20 TK Requirements Webinar slide deck (PDF).

4. Are Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classes required to maintain a schoolsite average of 24 students? How is the average calculated? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   Yes. Pursuant to Education Code Section 48000(g)(1), as a condition of apportionment for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students, school districts and charter schools are required to maintain an average TK class enrollment of not more than 24 students for each schoolsite.
   
   The average TK class enrollment is calculated for each schoolsite using a process similar to the average TK through grade 3 (TK/K-3) class enrollment for purposes of the TK/K-3 grade span adjustment for school districts:

   • Step 1: Take an active enrollment count of all students enrolled in a class with TK students on the last teaching day of each school month that ends before April 15 of the school year;
   • Step 2: Sum all active enrollment counts for each class;
   • Step 3: Calculate the average enrollment count for each class by dividing the sum of all active enrollment counts by the total number of active enrollment counts made for each class;
   • Step 4: Sum the average enrollment count calculated for each class at the schoolsite and divide by the total number of classes at the schoolsite that include TK students, rounded to the nearest half or whole integer.
   • For more information regarding how the class size average is calculated, please see the October 20 TK Requirements Webinar slide deck (PDF).

    

5. Is it acceptable for a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class to have more than 24 students if they maintain the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   Per Education Code (EC) Section 48000(g)(1) a school district or charter school is required to maintain an average transitional kindergarten (TK) class enrollment of not more than 24 students for each schoolsite (see FAQ #4 for information on how the TK average class size is calculated). Failure to meet this requirement would lead to a penalty to the TK Local Control Funding Formula funding pursuant to EC Section 48000.1.
   
   The average TK class enrollment requirement is by schoolsite, not individual TK class, therefore it is possible for a school district or charter school to have an individual TK class with more than 24 students but still maintain an average at the schoolsite of 24 or less.

6. Does the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio need to be maintained at all times during the instructional day? (Updated 08-Aug-2025)

   Per Education Code Section 48000, school districts and charter schools are required to maintain an average of at least 1 adult for every 10 students for Transitional Kindergarten classrooms at each schoolsite. This 1:10 adult-to-student ratio should be maintained for the entire instructional day to the extent it is reasonably possible. (For example, a teacher may need to take a student to the office or take a quick bathroom break in which case the ratio would, briefly, not be met.) Please see FAQ #8 for more information on maintaining the 1:10 ratio when the second adult is assigned to the TK classroom on a part-time basis.

   Note: The manner in which the ratio is calculated does not relieve a local educational agency (LEA) from meeting supervision requirements for the entirety of the instructional day whereby instructional time and attendance for apportionment may only be counted when a student is under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of the LEA. Please refer to the FAQs under Instructional Minutes Information for guidance regarding instructional time requirements.

7. Can a special education aid or a speech therapist assigned to work with specific students in the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classroom be counted in the 1:10 ratio? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   No. The assigned adult must be an employee of the school district or charter school who is dedicated and available to all TK students for the duration of their time in the TK classroom.

8. Can an adult assigned to a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classroom on a part-time basis be counted in the 1:10 ratio? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   Yes. If the adult is dedicated and available to all TK students, the adult’s time can be counted towards meeting the 1:10 ratio. The school district or charter school should maintain documentation for the fractional amount of time the adult is assigned to a TK classroom.

   For example, a TK classroom with 24 students, 1 teacher, and 2 part-time adults, would require that the total time the 2 part-time adults are assigned to the classroom equal 100% of a full-time adult in order to still satisfy the 1:10 ratio.

9. Do the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class size and adult-to-student ratio requirements apply to all students in combination classes, or only to the TK students in the class? (Updated 26-Sep-2023)

   The TK class size and adult-to-student ratio requirements apply to all students in a classroom providing instruction to TK students, including combination classes, with the exception of students enrolled in “long term” independent study, as described in Education Code (EC) Section 48000(g)(1)(B)(ii) and (iii) (which address school district and charter schools respectively) and in special day classes. [EC sections 42238.02 (d)(3)(D)(ii), 48000(g)(1)(A) and 48000.1(b)(2)].

10. Do the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class size and adult-to-student ratio apply to students participating in independent study? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

    If a student is participating in long term independent study, as described in Education Code (EC) Section 48000(g)(1)(B)(ii) or (iii), the student is not counted for the purpose of calculating the TK class size and adult-to-student ratio. Instead, the student’s Average Daily Attendance and the corresponding certificated employee’s full time equivalent (FTE) for independent study is counted towards the independent study ratio calculation pursuant to EC sections 51745.6 and 51749.5.

    If the student is not participating in independent study, as described in the above-referenced subdivisions, the student is counted for the purpose of calculating the TK class size and adult-to-student ratio. For example, a student who participates in independent study for fewer than 15 schooldays in a school year, whether in a district-operated or charter school, is counted for the purpose of calculating the TK class size and adult-to-student ratio.

    For more information regarding the independent study ratio, please refer to the Independent Study Ratio Calculations page.

11. Do the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class size and adult-to-student ratio requirements apply to special education students? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

    The TK class size and adult-to-student ratio requirements apply to any classroom providing instruction to TK students, with the exception of special day classes. Special education students in general education classes are subject to the TK requirements (Education Code sections 48000(g)(1)(A) and 48000.1(b)(2)).

12. Can a school district or charter school apply for a waiver for the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classroom enrollment and ratio requirements? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

    No. The requirements of TK in Education Code (EC) Section 48000(g) are conditions of apportionment and are therefore not waivable by the State Board of Education. School districts and charter schools will incur fiscal penalties to the TK Local Control Funding Formula pursuant to EC Section 48000.1 if the annual audit finds that they failed to meet the TK requirements.

13. Can we have a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class with more than 24 students if we add a third adult? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

    Since Education Code (EC) Section 48000(g)(1) requires that a school district or charter school maintain an average TK class enrollment of not more than 24 students for each schoolsite, it is possible to have an individual TK class with more than 24 students while maintaining an average at the schoolsite of 24 or less. However, failure to maintain an average of 24 students or less at the schoolsite would lead to a penalty to the TK Local Control Funding Formula funding pursuant to EC Section 48000.1, regardless of the number of adults.

14. How can schools meet the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio requirement upon full implementation of Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in fiscal year (FY) 2025-26? (Updated 09-Sep-2024)

    Commencing with FY 2025–26, Education Code (EC) Section 48000(g)(3) specifies that the average adult-to-student ratio for TK classrooms at each schoolsite will be one adult for every 10 students.

    This 1:10 adult-to-student ratio must be maintained for the entire instructional day to the extent it is reasonably possible.
    
    Additionally, school districts and charter schools shall maintain an average TK class enrollment of not more than 24 students for each schoolsite. Consistent with previous years, schools continue to calculate the average class enrollment and adult-to-student ratio per the calculation method provided in law (EC Section 48000(g)(1) – (3) ).
    
    Please see below for two examples of schools that meet the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio requirement, and two examples where the school does not meet the ratio requirement.

    Adults	Class-size	Ratio	Meets Ratio?	Notes
    1 Certified Teacher 2 Full-time Adults	24	3:24 = 1:8	YES	This TK class would have a 1:8 adult-to-student ratio, which exceeds the ratio requirements for TK.
    1 Certified Teacher 1 Full-time Adult	20	2:20 = 1:10	YES	This TK class would have a 1:10 adult-to-student ratio, which means that 1:10 ratio requirements for TK.
    1 Certified Teacher 1 Full-time Adult 1 Personal Aide – assigned to 1 student	24	2:24 = 1:12	NO	This example would not meet the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio requirement. The assigned adults in the classroom must be employees of the school district or charter school who are dedicated and available to all TK students for the duration of their time in the TK classroom.
    1 Certified Teacher 1 Full-time Adult 1 Part-time Adult	24	2:24 = 1:12	NO	This example would not meet the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio requirement. Schools may split the amount of time multiple adults are assigned to a TK classroom provided that the 1:10 ratio requirements are being met for the entire schoolday. However, in this example, only one full-time adult is present for the cumulative schoolday.

15. Can a school move a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) student and/or the second adult into a different classroom when needed during the school month in order to comply with the adult-to-student ratio or average class enrollment requirements? (Updated 09-Sep-2024)

    No. School districts and charter schools calculate the average class enrollment and adult-to-student ratio based on the definitions of class and number of adults as outlined in Education Code (EC) sections 48000(g)(1)(A) and 48000(g)(2)(B), respectively. EC Section 48000(g)(1)(A) defines “class” as a “a group of pupils scheduled to report regularly at a particular time to a particular teacher during the regular schoolday.” Moving students and an adult in the manner described is misaligned with this definition.

    In addition, the class counts used in these calculations are completed monthly up until the last school month that ends before April 15th of the school year. Since the class counts are taken on a monthly basis, moving TK students into a different classroom temporarily would not ensure statutory compliance, nor would it protect a local educational agency from receiving an audit finding.

16. Can a school district or charter school split one adult between two Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms each day to meet the adult-to-student ratio requirements? (Updated 08-Aug-2025)

    No. An adult cannot be counted in two TK classrooms at the same time. To count an adult for the purposes of the ratio, they must be physically present in the classroom (Education Code Section 48000(g)(2)).

    The following examples demonstrate how a school can and cannot split an adult’s time for the purposes of meeting the 1:10 or 1:10 adult-to-student ratio, as applicable.
    
    Schoolsite A
    Example Classrooms:

    Adults	Class-size	Ratio	Meets Ratio?	Notes
    1 Certificated Teacher ½ Adult Split at Schoolsite A	14 Students	1:14	NO	These TK classrooms, located on one schoolsite, split one adult between both classrooms, and do not meet the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio requirement, because each classroom requires a second adult for the full instructional day.
    1 Certificated Teacher ½ Adult Split at Schoolsite A	15 Students	1:15	NO	See note above.

    
    Please note that a school can split the amount of time multiple adults are in a TK classroom provided that the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio requirements are being met for the full schoolday.
    
    Schoolsite B
    Example Classroom:
    
    

    Adults	Class-size	Ratio	Meets Ratio?	Notes
    1 Certificated Teacher 1 Full-time Adult 2 Part-time Adults cumulatively present the entire day	24 Students	3:24 = 1:8	YES	This example would meet the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio requirement. Schools may split the amount of time multiple adults are assigned to a TK classroom provided that the 1:10 ratio requirements are being met for the entire schoolday. In this example, two part-time adults are present for the cumulative schoolday to meet the ratio requirement.

Instructional Time and TK

1. Is there a specific number of instructional minutes required for Transitional Kindergarten (TK)? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   Both school districts and charter schools must meet the annual instructional minutes requirements. The annual instructional minutes requirement for TK is 36,000 minutes per year (Education Code [EC] sections 46207 and 47612.5).

   • For school districts, the maximum school day in Kindergarten is 4 hours (EC Section 46111). There are two exceptions to this statute which allow schools that have adopted an early primary program (extended-day kindergarten) (EC Section 8973), and schools in which students are participating in an Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (EC Section 46120), to exceed 4 hours. In general, the minimum length of instructional time that must be offered to constitute a school-day is 180 minutes (EC sections 46114 and 46117). Pursuant to EC Section 46208, school districts must offer 180 or more days of instruction per school-year unless a school operates on a multitrack year-round schedule, in which case it must offer at least 163 days.
     • With the exception of instances of school closures prompted by an emergency, EC Section 37202(a) requires that elementary school programs operated by a school district must be of equal length of time during the school year, and this would include any TK and Kindergarten programs operated by the school district. EC Section 37202(b) provides an exception to this rule whereby a school district may operate TK and Kindergarten classes, either within the district or at the same schoolsite, for different lengths of time without a waiver if the school district is operating an Early Primary Program pursuant to EC Section 8973. For further information about Early Primary Programs please visit Kindergarten in California - Elementary.
   • Charter schools do not have a minimum number of minutes that must be offered each schoolday, although they do have to offer 175 days and a total of 36,000 instructional minutes to meet the annual days and minutes requirements for TK and Kindergarten pursuant to EC sections 47612(d)(3), 47612.5, and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11960.

2. Can a school district offer 180 minutes of instruction on 180 days for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten classes and still comply with the annual instructional minutes requirement? (New – 08-Aug-2025)

   A school district that offered 180 daily instructional minutes for TK/Kindergarten classes would not meet the annual instructional minutes requirement of 36,000 minutes pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 46207.

   TK is a program within Kindergarten, and as such, the instructional time requirements for TK are the same as the instructional time requirements for Kindergarten.

   School districts offering a TK program are required to meet the following instructional time requirements:

   • The annual instructional minute requirement for TK/Kindergarten is 36,000 minutes (EC Section 46207).
   • The minimum length of instructional time that must be offered to constitute a schoolday for TK/Kindergarten is 180 minutes (EC sections 46114 and 46117).
   • The maximum schoolday in TK/Kindergarten is 4 hours, except for students in early primary programs (EC sections 8973, 46111, and 37202).
   • TK/Kindergarten programs operated by a school district must be of equal length to any TK/Kindergarten program operated by the same school district, unless there is:

   • an approved State Board of Education waiver on file, or
   • the school district operates an early primary program pursuant to EC Section 8973 (EC Section 37202).

   
   If the school does not meet the instructional time requirements, then they would be out of compliance with statute and subject to a fiscal penalty for the affected grade level(s).

3. Must a student admitted to Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program in a school district at the start of the school year be scheduled for and offered the required instructional minutes in California Education Code (EC) for TK/Kindergarten? (Revised 08-Aug-2025)

   Yes. If the student is enrolled in a TK classroom, the student should be scheduled for a minimum of 180 minutes per school day and offered the same number of annual instructional minutes offered other TK/Kindergarten students enrolled at the same school site. For more information on claiming Average Daily Attendance, refer to the Funding and Reporting section.
   
   Please refer to FAQ #2 of the Funding and Reporting Information section for the eligibility cut-off date.

4. Are instructional minutes for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten inclusive of recess? (Revised 26-Sep-2023)

   Recess may be included in the instructional time requirements provided that the students are in attendance under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of the school district and engaged in educational activities required of them (Education Code [EC] Section 46300).

   • As a reminder:
     • Pursuant to EC Section 46117: the minimum school day for pupils in Kindergarten is 180 minutes inclusive of recesses.
     • Pursuant to EC Section 46111: a pupil in Kindergarten shall not be kept in school in any day more than four hours excluding recesses except for pupils in Early Primary Programs and students in Expanded Learning Opportunity-Programs intended to supplement instructional time provided by a school district pursuant to EC Section 46120.

5. Are instructional minutes for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten inclusive of breakfast? (Revised 26-Sep-2023)

   • Breakfast in the classroom may be counted towards the instructional minutes requirement as long as the students are under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of the local educational agency and appropriate educational activities are taking place during meal services.
   • Letter from Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, on Instructional Minutes and Breakfast In the Classroom.

6. Are instructional minutes for Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten inclusive of lunch? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   “Noon intermissions” (otherwise known as lunch time) may not be counted as instructional minutes pursuant to Education Code Section 46115.

7. If naptime is built into the daily schedule for Transitional Kindergarten (TK), does this time count as instructional minutes? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   No. While naptime is a healthy activity for students of this young age, it would not count towards TK instructional minutes, as 180 minutes per day are required by Education Code (EC) Section 46117. In order to generate and claim attendance for apportionment, pursuant to EC Section 46300, students must be engaged in educational activities while under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of the school district for 180 minutes per day. If TK and California State Preschool Program are blended to create a full-day of Universal Prekindergarten services (6 hours or more), a nap could be scheduled at any point during the program day, however, in order to meet the requirements for apportionment, the program would need to ensure that students are engaged in educational activities while under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee of the school district for no less than 180 minutes of the program day. For example, if the program provides 120 TK instructional minutes, then transitions to naptime, the program must still provide an additional 60 TK instructional minutes at some point during the remainder of the day in order to claim attendance for apportionment. Alternatively, the program may provide the full 180 TK instructional minutes prior to the scheduled naptime.

Early Enrollment Children:
The Following FAQs are specific to fiscal years 2023–24 and 2024–25

1. Can children with summer birthdays enroll in a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   For the 2024–25 school year, a child whose fourth birthday falls between June 3rd and September 1st preceding the school year may be enrolled in a TK classroom provided certain statutory provisions are met.

2. What is an “early enrollment child”? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   Education Code (EC) Section 48000.15(b)(4) defines an early enrollment child as a child whose fourth birthday falls between June 3rd and September 1st preceding the school year during which they are enrolled in a TK classroom.

   The allowance for an “early enrollment child” to be admitted into a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program was signed into law by the Governor as part of Senate Bill (SB) 114 (Chapter 48, Statutes of 2023) and amended by SB 141. The signing of SB 114 and 141 enacted EC Section 48000.15, which permits the admission of “early enrollment children” into a TK classroom.

3. Are school districts and charter schools required to admit “early enrollment children” into a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   No. It is a local decision to admit early enrollment children into a TK program during the 2024–25 school year.

4. Are the statutory requirements for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms that admit “early enrollment children” the same as those that do not have any “early enrollment children?” (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   The instructional time and supervision requirements necessary to generate average daily attendance (ADA) are the same for any classroom with TK students. However, any school that includes a TK classroom with an “early enrollment child” must meet the following statutory requirements outlined in Education Code (EC) Section 48000.15:
   

   • Maintain a 1:10 adult-to-student ratio
   • Maintain a classroom enrollment of no more than 20 students
   • Prioritize assigning credentialed teachers that meet at least one of the requirements in EC Section 48000(g)(4)(A-C), to the extent possible
   • Offer concurrent enrollment to these students in a California state preschool program that is run by the school district if they operate one

   Compliance with the adult-to-student ratio and classroom enrollment requirements will be verified during the annual audit which will be posted on the Education Audit Appeals Panel’s web page at Education Audit Appeals Panel's web page .

   Note: The instructional time and supervision requirements apply to all TK classrooms, inclusive of those with an “early enrollment child”. Please refer to the FAQs under Instructional Minutes Information for guidance regarding instructional time requirements

5. Can a school district or charter school admit children who turn 4 after September 1st into a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program in the 2024-25 school year? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   No. In order to participate in a TK program, students must meet the age eligibility requirements provided for in state law. This means that only students who turn five during the schoolyear pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 48000(c), or meet the definition of an “early enrollment child” pursuant to EC Section 48000.15(b)(2) may be admitted to TK in the 2024-25 school year.

6. Do “early enrollment children” generate Average Daily Attendance (ADA)? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   An “early enrollment child” shall not generate ADA and shall not be included in the enrollment or unduplicated pupil count until the student has attained their fifth birthday.

7. How is the 1:10 adult-to-student Transitional Kindergarten (TK) ratio calculated? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   The calculation for the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio for TK classrooms with early enrollment children required pursuant to Education Code Section 48000.15(d)(1) is individually calculated for each classroom as follows:
   

   • Step 1: Determine the total TK active enrollment for the classroom, which is the sum of each enrollment count for any classroom with an early enrollment child on the last teaching day of each school month that ends before April 15 as determined for the 20 class size enrollment requirement (see FAQ 8, step 3).
   • Step 2: Determine the number of adults:
     • Take a count of employees of the school district or charter school assigned to each TK classroom with early enrollment children on the last teaching day of each school month that ends before April 15;
     • Sum the adult count for each classroom and divide by the total number of those counts, rounded to the nearest half or whole integer.
   • Step 3: The adult-to-student ratio is the total TK enrollment for each classroom divided by the total number of adults calculated for each classroom in Step 2, rounded to the nearest half or whole integer.

8. Are Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classes with early enrollment children required to maintain a classroom enrollment of 20 students? How is the classroom enrollment calculated? (Posted 19-Dec-2022)

   Pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 48000.15(d)(3), separate from the existing TK classroom average of 24 students, school districts and charter schools are required to maintain a TK classroom enrollment of not more than 20 students for any TK classroom with early enrollment children as follows:
   

   • Step 1: Take an active enrollment count of all students enrolled in a class with early enrollment children on the last teaching day of each school month that ends before April 15;
   • Step 2: Sum the active enrollment counts for each class;
   • Step 3: Calculate the enrollment count for each class by dividing the sum of active enrollment counts by the total number of active enrollment counts made for each class. This number may be rounded to the nearest half or whole integer.

9. What are the penalties for not meeting the early enrollment Transitional Kindergarten (TK) requirements for class size, adult-to-student ratios, and teacher credentialing? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

   Penalties for failing to meet the requirements for TK class enrollment and adult-to-student ratios for classes with early enrollment children are outlined in Education Code (EC) Section 48000.15(e)(1).
   
   

   • Classroom Enrollment of 20: The penalty is loss of the transitional kindergarten through grade 3 (TK/K–3) Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) grade span adjustment (GSA) (10.4% of the K–3 LCFF base grant per Average Daily Attendance [ADA]) for TK classrooms with early enrollment children. For example, an audit finding would result in a penalty of the GSA dollar amount multiplied by the school district’s or charter school’s second principal apportionment period’s TK ADA for classrooms with early enrollment children. This penalty will not be applied to a school district that loses the TK/K–3 LCFF GSA pursuant to EC Section 42238.02(d)(3)(D)(i). This penalty would also not be applied in the case of a classroom including only early enrollment children.
   • 1:10 adult-to-student ratio: The penalty is the amount determined based on multiplying the following:
     1. The number of additional adults needed to meet the 1:10 ratio requirement as calculated pursuant to EC Section 48000.15(e)(1)(A)(i)
     2. The number 20, reduced by the statewide average rate of absence for elementary school districts for kindergarten and grades 1 through grade 8, inclusive, as calculated by the California Department of Education (CDE) for the prior year and rounded to the nearest tenth
     3. The applicable TK LCFF add-on rate as provided for in EC Section 42238.02(g)(2)

   
   For example, an audit finding stating one additional adult was needed to meet the ratio requirement would result in a penalty of one adult multiplied by 20 reduced by the statewide average rate of absence for elementary school districts for kindergarten and grades 1 through grade 8 multiplied by the TK LCFF add-on rate for the audit year.
   

   • Early Childhood Education Credential Requirement: The school district or charter school assigning credentialed teachers shall prioritize teachers meeting one of the requirements of EC Section 48000(g)(4)(A) to (C). However, there is no audit penalty for a school district or charter school that does not assign a teacher meeting the early education credential requirement to a class room with one or more early enrollment children.

   Statewide absence rates and the TK/K-3 GSA are available on the CDE website’s Principal Apportionment section in the Funding Rates and Information page.

10. Are the requirements for early enrollment children waivable? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

    No. Pursuant to Education Code Section 33050(a)(14), these requirements are not waivable by the State Board of Education.

11. If a class includes a combination of age-eligible and early enrollment children, what requirements must be met? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

    Once one enrollment child is enrolled in a Transitional Kindergarten classroom, all of the requirements for early enrollment children must be met in order to avoid an audit penalty. See FAQ #7 under Early Enrollment Children for the requirements for classrooms with an early enrollment child.

12. Must an early enrollment child be offered the required instructional minutes and days in California Education Code (EC) for Transitional Kindergarten (TK)? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

    Yes. All TK students must be offered the minimum number of annual instructional minutes and days, and must be scheduled for the minimum of 180 minutes per schoolday, as applicable.
    
    For more information on the instructional time requirements for TK students, please see the Instructional Time Table and the Instructional Time and TK Section.

13. How are the requirements for the 1:10 adult-to-student ratio and class size of no more than 20 calculated for Traditional Kindergarten classrooms with early enrollment children? How will the respective audit penalties be assessed? (Posted 26-Sep-2023)

    The requirements and respective penalties for the adult-to-student ratio and class size are calculated and determined for each classroom at the schoolsite with at least one early enrollment child.

    See FAQ #9 under Early Enrollment Children for the requirements and audit penalties for classrooms with at least one early enrollment child.