Dear Parents of Kindergarten Age Children

255 Pico Avenue, Suite 250 Tel. 760.752.1299 Fax 760.471.4928 www.smusd.org San Marcos, CA 92069 January 16, 2013

Dear Parents of Kindergarten Age Children, In 2010 California passed Senate Bill (SB) 1381, The Kindergarten Readiness Act. This bill introduced changes in the enrollment dates for children entering Kindergarten in California. In order to enroll in Kindergarten, Senate Bill 1381 requires a child be five years old by:

 October 1 for the 2013-14 school year  September 1 for the 2014-15 school year and each year thereafter.

As a result of this bill, your child is not eligible to start Kindergarten in the 2013-14 school year if he/she has a birthday later than October 1, 2008. However, your child is eligible for San Marcos Unified School District’s Transitional Kindergarten program if he or she turns 5 between October 2 and December 2 in 2013. Transitional Kindergarten is a program designed to give students time to acquire the necessary skills for kindergarten. The curriculum will address the new Common Core State Standards and the Preschool Standards for five year olds. Following a year in Transitional Kindergarten your child would enroll in a regular kindergarten at their home school site. The Transitional Kindergarten class will be held five days a week for 3 ½ hours a day following the San Marcos Unified school calendar and the school bell schedule. Morning or afternoon sessions will be determined by the site principals. We currently offer Transitional Kindergarten programs for all eligible students at Paloma Elementary, Carrillo Elementary, and La Costa Meadows Elementary. We will open classes at additional school sites based on enrollment and space availability. To enroll your child in the Transitional Kindergarten program, complete the Transitional Kindergarten enrollment packet available at your home school and return the completed packet by April 25, 2013 so we can determine facility needs. You will be notified of your school site placement by June 1, 2013. Sincerely,

Tracy Garcia Director of Elementary Education

Governing Board: Becky Garrett Sharon Jenkins Janet McClean Jay Petrek Randy Walton

Kevin Holt, Ed.D. Superintendent

255 Pico Avenue, Suite 250 Tel. 760.752.1299 Fax 760.471.4928 www.smusd.org San Marcos, CA 92069

Governing Board: Becky Garrett Sharon Jenkins Janet McClean Jay Petrek Randy Walton

Kevin Holt, Ed.D. Superintendent