Kindergarten Readiness Program
- Our Mission
- About Kindergarten Readiness
- Admission Information
- Enrollment Information
- Kinder Readiness Office Staff
- Kinder Readiness Teaching Staff
Our Mission
The mission of the Kindergarten Readiness Academy is to provide developmentally appropriate activities to enhance each child’s intellectual, language, social-emotional, academic, and physical development and to prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills needed to be successful. The Kindergarten Readiness classes strive to provide each child with a program that is developmentally, linguistically and culturally appropriate, while giving them the academic skills they need to be successful in kindergarten.
About Kindergarten Readiness
The Kindergarten Readiness program operates ten (10) months a year and generally follows the district calendar. Classes are conducted five (5) days a week, Monday through Friday. Sessions are held from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and 12:15 pm to 3:15 pm in the half-day programs.
Through grants from First Five Orange County and the California Department of Education, Tustin Unified School District offers a half-day Kindergarten Readiness program for preschool children living within the Tustin Unified School District Boundaries. The Kindergarten Readiness Academy classes, located on the campuses of Beswick, Estock, Guin Foss, Heideman, Heritage (STEAM preschool program), Nelson, Thorman, and Tustin Ranch Elementary schools are the only preschools in the Tustin area that are run and operated by Tustin Unified School District.
In addition, TUSD is excited to offer a fee-based preschool option for families that do not qualify for State subsidized services. A half-day program is available at Heritage Elementary from 8:30 am - 11:30 pm. A full-day program is available at Hicks Canyon Elementary from 7:00 am - 4:30 pm.
If you have questions that are not answered on this page, please call Lauralee Cabibi, School Readiness Coordinator, at (714) 730-7592.
Admission Information
Children who turn three or four years old by September 1 of the current school year and live within the District boundaries have priority for enrollment for the 2019-20 school year. Classes for students are free for those families who meet the State's income guidelines. There are no fees for state preschool services.
Priority for admission is given to families that income qualify for the program and live within the attendance boundaries of Tustin Unified School District. Families living outside of TUSD boundaries will be enrolled after all priority families have been served. ***NOTE: Children with IEPs may be accepted into our program, regardless of income, after all qualified children are accepted.
The Kindergarten Readiness office staff will assist families in determining if they qualify for State subsidized services. However, if you do not qualify, Tustin Unified School District will offer two fee-based classes for the 2019-20 school year. Heritage Elementary school will offer a half-day preschool class and Hicks Canyon Elementary will offer a full-day preschool class. These classes will give families whose income is over the state guidelines for State Preschool the opportunity to participate in a quality 5-star preschool program that is run and operated by TUSD. If you are interested in this program, please call the Kindergarten Readiness office for more information at (714) 730-7592.
Enrollment Information
- Children must be four (4) years old by September 1 of the current school year to participate in the preschool classes for 2018-19. After serving all eligible four-year old students, children who will turn three years old by September 1 may be enrolled.
- Preschool sessions for 2019-20 will begin Thursday, August 15, 2019 and continue through Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
- Enrollment packets are available at the Kindergarten Readiness Program office located at Veeh Elementary School, 1151 San Juan St., (west of Red Hill Avenue) in Room 18. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Enrollment applications for the 2019-20 school year will be available starting February 11.
For more information, call (714) 730-7592.
Required Immunizations-All Students
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Vaccination Law Update and Personal Beliefs Waiver
- On June 30, 2015, Governor Brown signed a new vaccine bill (SB277). The law took effect on January 1, 2016. This new law requires that all children in California be fully vaccinated to attend public or private school.
- California law requires certain immunizations for children under 18 years of age to enter or transfer into public elementary and secondary schools (grades K-12). Parents must provide health immunization records at the time of enrollment. Students may enroll but may not begin school unless immunizations are current. Full information about vaccinations required for preschool and grades TK/K-12 school attendance.
- For all students entering Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten, and first graders not previously enrolled in kindergarten, California law requires proof of an oral health assessment by a licensed dentist or other licensed or registered dental health professional that was performed no earlier than 12 months prior to the date of initial enrollment.
- For all students entering Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten, and first graders not previously enrolled in kindergarten, California law requires proof of an oral health assessment by a licensed dentist or other licensed or registered dental health professional that was performed no earlier than 12 months prior to the date of initial enrollment.
THE FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENROLLMENT in TK, kindergarten and new students entering grades 1-5.) Parents MUST present proof of immunizations to school staff prior to admission.
| Vaccine | Required Doses |
|---|---|
| Polio | 4 doses at any age, but 3 doses meet requirements for ages 4-6 years if at least one was given on or after the 4th birthday;. |
| Diphtheria, tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP) | Age 6 years and under: DTP, DTaP or any combination of DTP or DTaP with DT (diphtheria and tetanus) 5 doses at any age, but 4 doses meet requirements for ages 4-6 years if at least one was on or after the 4th birthday. |
| Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) | 2 doses both on or after 1st birthday |
| Hepatitis B | 3 doses at any age. |
| Vericella (chickenpox) | 1 dose for children under 13 or health care provider's documentation varicella (chickenpox disease history, or immunity meets the varicella requirement |
Required Documentation
The following documents need to be provided at the time of enrollment:
- Proof of preschool-age child 's birth date/age. (Proof of the child's birth date must be presented at the time of registration. Proof may be a certified copy of a birth record or a statement by the local registrar or a county recorder certifying the date of birth, or a baptism certificate duly attested, or a passport, or, when none of the foregoing is obtainable, an affidavit of the parent, guardian, or custodian of the minor, or any other appropriate means of proving the age of the child as prescribed by the governing board of the school district.) (CA Education Code Section 48002)
- Proof of age of all siblings.
- Immunization card
- Rental agreement
- Current gas or electric bill
- Photo ID of parent
- Proof of income: One month of recent check stubs for each working parent/guardian
- Parent volunteers must provide: TB test results and proof of the following immunizations: Measles, pertussis, & flu.
Kinder Readiness Office Staff
The Kindergarten Readiness staff is available to assist families with enrollment and to provide any information that will aid in the success of their child's education. Our office is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 am-4:30 pm. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your child's educational program or to assist you in locating resources within the community.
Kinder Readiness Teaching Staff
Diana Maldonado
Preschool Educator, Beswick Elementary
E-mail
Cathy Modicamore
Preschool Educator, Estock Elementary
E-mail
Gladys Aguilar
Preschool Educator, Heideman Elementary
E-mail
Paloma Fonseca
Preschool Educator, Heritage Elementary
E-mail
Jessica Torres
Preschool Educator, Nelson Elementary
E-mail
Alyssa Quevedo
Preschool Educator, Thorman Elementary
E-mail
Ana Torres
Preschool Educator, Veeh Elementary
E-mail
Veronica Jimenez Fernandez
Preschool Educator, Roving
Email