California Districts Prepare To Implement Transitional Kindergarten

The San Jose Mercury News (11/28, Murphy) reports that California's Kindergarten Readiness Act mandates that districts "gradually...move the birthday cutoff date for new kindergartners from December to September. The law also requires districts -- beginning next year -- to offer a new grade level for children with fall birthdays who are too young to start kindergarten. Researchers and advocates say transitional kindergarten, as it's called, will better prepare children to be successful in school." The piece reports this story within the context of sweeping state education funding cuts, and explains that only children with autumn birthdays will be included in the new grade.