District to count some T2K students as kindergarten and tighten early-learning alignment

District administrators gave an update on the transition-to-kindergarten (T2K) program and described planned operational and funding changes ahead of next school year.

Dr. Hawk said staff provided board members with background materials and recommended aligning T2K more closely with kindergarten. "By moving, by counting those students the way that we will as kindergarten students, it allows us to draw down full funding from the state for each one of those students," he said, adding that the change will also free Title funds for targeted interventions.

Implementation and placement: staff said the district will continue to use screening tools (including the Brigance and Ages and Stages questionnaires) and teacher input to decide whether a child qualifies for T2K or kindergarten; exceptions are possible on a case-by-case basis. The district also noted it is piloting full-day preschool and will coordinate messaging to families and partner preschools about enrollment deadlines and options.

Enrollment mechanics: staff clarified the open-enrollment and counting timelines: kindergarten enrollment deadlines differ from other grades (staff cited a Sept. 15 kindergarten enrollment reference), and the district will update enrollment materials and communications for families.

Board members asked about how often T2K students later accelerate to first grade; staff said historically that has been rare (one or two students over the program's history) and any acceleration would be handled case by case with family input and assessment data.

Administration said it will provide more detailed numeric guidance (exact activity-minute requirements, precise screening thresholds and any state guidance that affects preschool partners) in follow-up materials to the board and on the district website.