Transition to Kindergarten (TK)

Who

To be eligible for Transition to Kindergarten, children must:

1. Be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 of the year the program starts (meaning they will be kindergartners in the upcoming fall)
2. Live within the Tahoma School District boundaries
3. Not be currently enrolled in an early learning program (preschool or daycare)
4. Demonstrate academic and/or social-emotional needs through a screening process

Some examples of a child needing additional support to be ready for kindergarten:

• Doesn’t attend daycare or preschool and therefore doesn’t have experiences with following directions and listening to other adults, following routines/procedures and separating from their parents
• Doesn’t have opportunities to interact with peers and practice sharing/taking turns and problem solving
• Doesn’t know how to hold a pencil/crayon or use scissors
• Doesn’t know the letters in their name or how to write it
• Doesn’t speak English at home and doesn’t participate in a program outside the home where English is spoken
• Priority is given to children most in need who have had little to no access to an early learning experience and families with financial needs

 

When

The 2025-26 school year Transition to Kindergarten program will begin January 14, 2026 and run through the end of the school year on June 17, 2026. Applications for the upcoming year's TK program will be accepted starting early September. Interviews will be scheduled for November.

Where

There will be two TK classrooms in 2025-26: one at Cedar River Elementary and one at Lake Wilderness Elementary. Transportation* will be offered to all participating TK students.

TK students attend 5 full days per week (Monday-Friday), mirroring the elementary school day and they follow the district calendar for holidays/breaks.  

How to apply

The application window for the 2025-26 school year has now closed. We will accept new applications in September 2026.

Transportation

Students who opt-in for district provided transportation will ride a transfer bus from their designated home school to the school where the program is located. Future Glacier Park, Lake Wilderness and Shadow Lake students will attend the Lake Wilderness class. Future Cedar River, Rock Creek and Tahoma Elementary students will attend the Cedar River class.