TK and Kindergarten Transition

We’re on our way!

What is our agenda?

• Transitional Kindergarten (TK) VS Kindergarten
• Enrollment
• Immunizations/Medications
• Location of Services and Supports Across the District
• Current Continuum of Services and Supports 23-24 School Year
• Programs, Services and Supports for the 24-25 School Year
• What happens next? Transition Process
• Where will my child receive their supports and services?

Who attends Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?

• If your child will be 5 years old between September 2, 2024 and June 2, 2025 he or she will be eligible to attend Transitional Kindergarten
• Special Education services are available for TK students whose IEP teams recommend them
• All TK age Glankler students will have a transition IEP to discuss TK special education recommendations
• Recommendations may include the team discussion around the student remaining at Preschool for another year (and postponing their transition to elementary school until their Kindergarten year).

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

TK teachers have both an early childhood credential and a multiple subject credential.

TK has its own curriculum that is focused on social emotional learning and and based on both the Preschool Learning Foundations and the Common Core Standards for Kindergarten.

TK classes are located at various elementary schools throughout the district (but not at every elementary site)

Who attends Kindergarten?

If your child turns five on or before September 1, 2024 he or she is eligible to attend Kindergarten.

Special Education services are available for students whose IEP teams recommend them.

All Kindergarten age students will have a transition IEP to discuss special education recommendations.

Is my child required to attend tk or Kindergarten?

T

​

Kindergarten is not mandatory in the state of California.

Students who choose not to enroll in FUSD Kinder programs and only receive speech therapy on their IEP can receive therapy through an Individual Service Plan (ISP) at their home school.

Students cannot receive any other services indicated on their IEPs through an ISP.

​

​

​

​

​

Transitional Kindergarten is not mandatory in the state of California

Students who choose not to enroll in FUSD TK programs and only receive speech therapy on their IEP can continue to receive speech therapy through Glankler.

Students with IEPS indicating specialized academic instruction services will be offered those services in a TK program and not a preschool program.

​

​

​

Do i need to enroll?

Glankler students are already enrolled in Fremont Unified School District.

All families with TK and Kindergarten eligible students must complete a “Residency Verification Form” to provide proof of residency as well as proof of immunization.

You will receive an email with the Residency Verification form from FUSD on January 29, 2024. Please be sure to upload with immunization records PRIOR to February 23, 2024 to guarantee continued enrollment.

Medications and Doctor’s Orders

Medications:

• All Medications must be picked up on the last day of school, by an adult, either by 5/31/2024 or by the last day of ESY (Extended School Year)
• Students who attend Rix who will be attending ESY: parents MUST pick up the medications at Rix and drop them off at the Glankler office by the 1st day of ESY.
• All medications and medical equipment NOT PICKED UP will be disposed of after ESY

​

Medical care needed at new school:

• New doctor’s orders are required for the new school year (new forms are with the medications when you pick them up at the end of the year)
• OR get any FUSD health forms online: Health Forms/Medication
• Send new Doctor’s orders and medications to the new school (prefer one week before school starts)
• If you have any concerns regarding your child’s health, or need to add a new medication at school, please communicate with your school nurse

​

What school will my child attend?

Fremont Unified School District offers a continuum of special education programs and services.

Your child may attend their home school or another school in the district with the appropriate supports and services.

Your child’s IEP team will work together with you to develop a transition IEP.

Terms to remember…...

FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education

LRE: Least Restrictive Environment

Inclusive Practices: Are determined by the individual IEP teams and may include providing the student with an IEP access to the general education setting whereby the student is performing with minimal support and demonstrating academic competence or it may be providing the student access to the general education setting for social benefit and life skills without the focus on academic gain.

​

Services….Programs….Placements

• Special Education is a service not a place
• Services are based on the established needs of the student and the goals developed to address those needs
• Placement is where the appropriate services can be provided to the student.

Programs vs. Classes

The goal of special education is to give the student the support they require to access the curriculum while also fostering independence.

“Programs” are defined by the level of support the student requires to successfully access the curriculum.

“Classes” are the physical location of the program.

Current 23-24 School Year FUSD Continuum of programs and services

General Education (Exit from Special Education)

General Education with Resource and/or Speech Therapy and/or Inclusion Support (Consultation to GE Teacher)

***Mild/Moderate Special Day Class (Only for Preschool & Grades 2 through 12)

Moderate Special Day Class

Moderate/Severe Special Day Class

Intensive Instruction Special Day Class

Resource Specialist Program (RSP)

• Every elementary school has a Resource Specialist with a caseload maximum of 28 multi-grade students
• One paraeducator assigned as support to teacher
• Student attends General Education for majority of the day
• Grade level/Standards based support with accommodations and other general education interventions as noted in the IEP
• Student participates in Smarter Balanced Assessment beginning in third grade.

​

​

Mild/Moderate Special Day Class***

​

• Located at various elementary schools throughout the district.
• Class Size Average: Preschool & Grade 2-3: 10+ students. Grades 4-12: 12+ students.
• Typically one paraeducator (Preschool Only: two paraeducators)
• Mainly large group and some small group instruction
• Inclusive practices as appropriate per each student’s IEP
• Smarter Balanced Assessment (Beginning in Third Grade)

Moderate Special Day Class

• Located at various elementary schools throughout the district
• Class Size Average: TK to Grade 3: 10+ students; Grades 4-12: 12+ students
• Two ParaEducators
• Standards based/modified curriculum, functional academics and life skills (includes slower pacing, repetition and modified content)
• Small group instruction with some whole group instruction
• Inclusive practices as appropriate per student’s IEP
• California Alternative Assessment (CAA) beginning in third grade

​

moderate-Severe Special Day Class

• Functional academics, life skills, language based instruction
• Class Size Average: TK to Grade 3: 10 Students; Grade 4 to 12+: 12 Students
• Paraeducators: Average ratio 3:1
• Small group and individualized instruction
• Inclusive practices as appropriate per student’s IEP
• California Alternative Assessment (CAA) beginning in third grade

Intensive Instruction Special Day Class

• Functional academics, language and behaviorally based, highly structured with sensory supports
• Class Size Average: TK to Grade 3: 10 students; Grade 4 to 12+: 12 students
• Paraeducators: Average ratio of 2:1
• Individualized and small group instruction
• Inclusion as appropriate per student’s IEP
• California Alternative Assessment (CAA) beginning in third grade

WHat are the continuum of services for the 24-25 school year?

​

• General education and General education with supports will continue for the 23-24 School Year

​

• Supports and services, including specialized academic programs, will continued to be offered across the district.
• Services for students with Mild Moderate needs will be added to the continuum of services for grades TK/K-Grade 1 for the 23-24 School Year

​

• Fremont Unified will be aligning/re-classifying their Special Day Class Programs in accordance with the new Teacher Credential Program Authorizations

​

​

So what does that mean for the 24-25 school year?

• All specialized academic programs will fall under 2 primary categories
• MMSN (Mild to Moderate Support Needs)
• Supports students with needs in 1 or more of their areas of present levels
• Practices include a higher student to educator ratio.
• ESN (Extensive Support Needs)
• Supports students with needs in 2 or more of their areas of present levels
• Practices include a lower student to educator ratio.

How do the new program names align with the current programs offered?

MMSN (Mild to Moderate Support Needs)

• Mild Moderate
• ***Moderate
• Depending on present levels/areas of need/goals

ESN (Extensive Support Needs)

• Moderate-Severe
• Intensive Instruction
• ***Moderate
• Depending on present levels/areas of need/goals

**More information will be disseminated around January 2024 regarding updates to Special Day Class Programs offered for next year and the Continuum of Services

What Happens Next?

• Transition planning is a collaborative process

​

• A transition IEP will be scheduled after winter break and through the spring (between January and April 2024)

​

• The IEP team will consider present levels of performance, goals and objectives and determine the appropriate services supporting the goals and allowing the student to access the curriculum in the least restrictive environment

​

Where will my child attend?

Transitional Kindergarten students recommended for General Education, General Education with Resource and/or Speech Therapy are placed by student support services. The location may or may not be the student’s home school.

Kindergarten students recommended for General Education, General Education with Resource and/or Speech Therapy will attend their home school (unless “over-loaded” by Student Support Services)

Where will My child attend (continued)

Students recommended to receive their services in a Special Day Class program are placed in classes located throughout the district by the special education department.

Every attempt is made to place the student at their home school or within their home school attendance area.

Not all programs are available in every attendance area.

When will I know where my student will go?

The special education department begins to project placements for over 4000 students in the spring with recommendations from each child’s IEP team.

Class placement locations are finalized in June and provided to the Glankler staff.

FUSD special education department will notify parents of proposed class placements via email and/or mail by the end of the school year. Class placements are subject to change.

*Be sure to check your junk folder for updates

Questions?

Please Contact:

Courtney Lynn Caviggia, Program Specialist

(510)657-2350 ext. 12417, Email: CCaviggia@fusdk12.net

Ran Li,RN, School Nurse

510-386-7052, Email: rli@fusdk12.net