Kindergarten Frequently Asked Questions - Elementary (CA Dept of Education) (2024)

FAQs

What do kids learn in kindergarten in California? ›

Kindergartners will learn to recognize, write, order, and count objects up to the number 30. They'll also add and subtract small numbers (add with a sum of 10 or less and subtract from 10 or less). This focus on addition and subtraction will continue through second grade.

Recognize letters in their first name. Know that letters are used to make words, such as c-a-t, d-o-g. Be able to read some common words by sight such as STOP on a stop sign. Recognize rhymes in familiar stories, poems and songs.

State legislation does not permit districts to deny enrollment to incoming TK students if they are not fully potty trained. However, we STRONGLY encourage you to potty train your child before the start of the school year. What does it mean to be fully potty trained?

(b) Toddlers (18 months to 36 months old)-1:4 adult-child ratio, 1:16 teacher-child ratio. (c) Preschool (3 years old to enrollment in kindergarten)-1:8 adult-child ratio, 1:24 teacher-child ratio. (d) Children enrolled in kindergarten to 13 years old-1:14 adult-child ratio, 1:28 teacher-child ratio.

Share materials, such as crayons and blocks. Know the eight basic colors: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, black, white, and pink. Recognize and write the letters of the alphabet in upper- and lowercase forms (get letter-writing practice). Know the relationship between letters and the sounds they make.

By statute, the maximum school day in kindergarten is 4 hours (Education Code [EC] 46111). An exception to this statute allows schools that have adopted an early primary program (extended-day kindergarten) to exceed 4 hours (EC 8973).

One of the fundamental differences between TK and Kindergarten lies in eligibility criteria. While Kindergarten typically admits children who turn five by a specific date, TK accommodates children who miss the Kindergarten age cutoff but will turn five during the academic year.

Can a Child Attend Kindergarten in Diapers? The short answer is: Yes, your child can attend kindergarten in diapers, as every child is entitled to a daycare spot upon reaching three years of age.

Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) outlines the minimum licensing requirements for all early childhood programs in the state. These requirements are designed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children in care.

What are California's Title 5 regulations? ›

Title 5 regulations are the working understanding of Education Code mandates established by the California Legislature. Education Code supersedes Title 5 regulations.

State law in California currently sets a maximum class size of 30 in the early grades but also provides a financial incentive, within the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), to encourage local district to set a maximum class size of 24. California State PTA fully supports LCFF and local flexibility but urges all ...

Thinking and cognitive skills.

First Day of School – What Parents, Teachers Should Know. Subjects like math, reading, writing, science, social studies and art are also offered in high-quality kindergartens.

Kindergarten is the time when kids learn about the world around them. This includes both science and social studies. In science, they learn about the basic building blocks of the universe, including plants and animals. They also learn about the Earth's resources and how to conserve them.

Districts must admit children at the beginning of the school year (or whenever they move into a district) if they will be five years of age on or before September 1 (EC Section 48000[a]). Children who are age-eligible for kindergarten may attend any pre-kindergarten summer program maintained by the school district.