Facilities

Learn about the new TK facilities requirements

The requirements for new Transitional Kindergarten (TK) facilities mirror the new Kindergarten requirements.

The requirements for what should be offered in Kindergarten are outlined in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations (Article 4, § 14030):

Planning for TK Expansion

Given the addition of newly eligible TK students and the reduced class sizes required by Assembly Bill (AB) 130, many school districts will need to dedicate additional classroom space to TK over the course of the implementation period. Planning now can help avoid challenges later.1

Step One: Projecting Enrollment

Districts should first conduct an enrollment analysis to determine their likely need for facilities during each year of implementation and ongoing need at full implementation. By conducting an analysis of each grade level and at each elementary school, districts can identify where they may have existing capacity that can be shifted to TK. For this analysis, it is recommended that districts utilize an aggressive enrollment projection method, such as the cohort survival model.

Step Two: Determining Existing Capacity

In addition to student enrollment, other factors can influence how many classrooms districts may have available to transition to TK.

Facilities Funding - Planning For TK Expansion - TKCalifornia Facilities Funding - TK Facilities Requirements - TKCalifornia

Facilities Funding

Currently, there are few state funding sources to help districts expand facilities to serve TK. Historically, the largest source of facilities funding has come through statewide bonds. Proposition 51 in 2016 was the last bond that California voters approved, and the Office of Public School Construction has already received applications that exceed existing bond funds. It is anticipated that there will be an additional bond measure on the November 2022 ballot.2

Preschool, TK, and Full-Day Kindergarten Facilities Grant Program

The 2021-22 state budget included $448 million in one-time funding to help schools fund facilities projects for preschool, TK, and full-day Kindergarten programs. Half of the funds will be allocated in March 2022 with the remainder in March 2023. Funds may be used to retrofit existing facilities or construct new facilities. Funds may not be used for the purchase of portable classrooms. These funds require a local match, unless the district can demonstrate financial hardship.

The 2022-23 State Budget included an additional $650 million in one-time funds to support the California Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten and Full-Day Kindergarten Facilities Grant Program. $100 million will be dispersed in 2022-23, and $550 million will be dispersed in 2023-24. The budget also clarified that community colleges that operate preschool programs on behalf of county offices of education or school districts can apply for funds in this program.

Pre-Kindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program

The $200 million Pre-Kindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant program funding can be used for costs associated with expanding TK enrollment, including for retrofitting or constructing facilities. Funding will be broken into three allocations:

  1. County Office of Education (COE): $15,000 for each Local Educational Agency (LEA) under COE jurisdiction.
  2. Base Grant: $25,000-$100,000 to districts based on 2019-20 Kindergarten enrollment (excluding TK).
  3. Supplemental Grant: Based on 2019-20 Kindergarten enrollment multiplied by Local Control Funding Formula Unduplicated Pupil Percentage (LCFF UPP).

The 2022-23 State Budget included an additional $300 million one-time for the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program.

Local Funding

Given the dearth of state facilities resources, LEAs may need to consider local funding options. Some options may include Bond Anticipation Notes (backed by anticipated proceeds from sale of local bonds or receipt of state bond funds), developer fees, or philanthropy. Work with your business services officer or department in order to determine possible local sources of funding.

Note: Information on this page was provided by School Services of California Inc.

1 Information retrieved from: School Services of California Inc. Implementing Universal TK–The Nuts and Bolts. Webinar (November 9, 2021).
2 Information retrieved from: School Services of California Inc. Implementing Universal TK–The Nuts and Bolts. Webinar (November 9, 2021).