California school districts are mandated to offer transitional kindergarten to age-eligible children this year, but the Carpinteria Unified School District is having to turn away families.
The district says it was unable to enroll all of the age-eligible transitional kindergarten students this year because of budget constraints.
The district could afford only two classes with 20 TK students each, one at Canalino Elementary School and one at Aliso School. CUSD Superintendent Diana Rigby said they have nearly 20 students on the waitlist.
School districts have to offer a space to eligible TK students, just as they would for any other grade, according to Michelle Hatfield, public information officer with the California Department of Education. Children who turned 4 years old by Sept. 1 are eligible for transitional kindergarten this school year.
“Although demographics and class-size restrictions may prevent parents or guardians from enrolling their children in their neighborhood or other specific school within a school district, no age-eligible child may be denied access to TK by being placed on a waiting list, similar to any grade level,” the California Department of Education website states.
However, it appears there are not penalties for districts that are unable to accommodate all eligible students, according to state guidelines.
While school officials may need time to find a spot for students, they have to provide families with the names of schools with available TK classrooms, according to the state.
CUSD is partnering with the Carpinteria Children’s Project, which provides preschool to children 18 months to 4 years old, Rigby said. They are also directing families to education programs such as Head Start and local preschools.
Rigby said the district was disappointed that a state law did not go through that would have provided additional state funding for TK to community-funded districts.
CUSD is a basic aid district, meaning its property tax revenues already exceed what it would get under the state’s funding formula.
“We continue to advocate for state funding for all TK programs in community-funded districts as we want to enroll all TK students and families who are interested,” Rigby said.
The district claims to be facing financial turmoil because of legal battles from a decades-old sexual assault case and litigation over firing a middle school teacher who was later reinstated.