In 2021, California set out to offer transitional kindergarten (TK) to all four-year-olds by the 2025-2026 school year. Only two school years away from this goal, some school districts in California are struggling to build or modify the facilities that are appropriate for these young students.
TK students need a classroom with the square footage to play, inside and outside, as well as a bathroom inside of the classroom, or close by, for supervision. Because California’s requirements for TK classrooms differ from the requirements of a typical classroom, districts are having to build or renovate classrooms for TK students. This becomes a challenge if there is a lack of funding.
The article below highlights the importance of providing a classroom space for TK students as well as adequate facilities, such as “tiny potties,” and the struggle to obtain funding to build or renovate TK classrooms.
An initial analysis of state data by the Learning Policy Institute, yet to be published, found most districts reported having classroom space for early learners, but a third expressed concerns about adequate facilities, including square footage, bathrooms, and outdoor play areas
