DOWNEY — In June 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that requires school districts across the state to gradually phase in universal transitional kindergarten over the next five years, until it includes all the state’s 4-year-olds by the 2025-26 school year.

Transitional kindergarten (TK) previously served those who turn 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2.

Through this bill, these dates were expanded from December to February for the 2022-23 school year, allowing more students the ability to enroll in TK. Although the bill’s plan is to add children in two- or three-month increments over the next few years, Downey Unified has announced that they will surpass this next phase by further expanding the age eligibility until the end of June opposed to the bill’s April 2nd date for the 2023-24 school year.

This means that children who would have had to wait another full school year before starting their academic journey can now begin in the fall depending on their birth date.
For the 2023-24 school year, 4-year-olds whose 5th birthday occurs between Sept. 2, 2023, and June 30, 2024, are now eligible to enroll in TK within Downey Unified. Full-day TK, as well as Kindergarten, is offered at 12 of the 13 elementary schools within the district.

The first day of the 2023-24 school year is set for Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, and new student enrollment is now open for the upcoming school year. Visit web.dusd.net for additional information.