Kindergarten Readiness Program
- Our Mission
- About Kindergarten Readiness
- Admission Information
- Enrollment Information
- Kinder Readiness Office Staff
- Kinder Readiness Teaching Staff
- First 5 - Orange County
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, Sycamore (Spanish Dual Immersion Program), 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 and Myford 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 2022-23 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 income 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 three fee-based classes for the 2022-23 school year. Heritage Elementary school will offer a half-day preschool class. Hicks Canyon Elementary and Myford 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.
For both State subsidized classes and Fee-based classes, priority is given to four year old students. Once all four year old students have been accepted, we are able to offer services to three year old students.
Enrollment Information
- Children must be three (3) or four (4) years old by September 1, 2020 to participate in the preschool classes for 2020-21 school year.
- Preschool sessions for 2020-21 will begin Monday, August 17, 2020 and continue through Thursday, May 27, 2021.
- Enrollment packets are available at the Kindergarten Readiness Program office located at the Education Support center at 1151 San Juan St. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Enrollment applications for the 2020-21 school year will be available starting February 3, 2020.
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
Leslie Ruiz
Preschool Educator, Beswick Elementary
E-mail
Jessica Quezada
Preschool Educator, Estock Elementary
E-mail
Alyssa Quevedo
Preschool Educator, Guin Foss Elementary
E-mail
Gladys Aguilar
Preschool Educator, Heideman Elementary
E-mail
Diana Maldonado
Preschool Educator, Heideman Elementary
E-mail
Veronica Jimenez-Fernandez
Preschool Educator, Heritage Elementary
E-mail
Cathy Modicamore
Preschool Educator, Hicks Canyon Elementary
E-mail
Vandana Chauhan
Preschool Educator, Hicks Canyon Elementary
E-mail
Paloma Fonseca
Preschool Educator, Myford Elementary
Email
Xochitl Gonzalez
Preschool Educator, Myford Elementary
Email
Jessica Torres
Preschool Educator, Nelson Elementary
E-mail
Ana Torres
Preschool Educator, Sycamore Magnet Academy
E-mail
Marisela Garcia
Preschool Educator, Tustin Ranch Elementary
E-mail
First 5 - Orange County
First 5 Orange County funds initiatives and quality programs preparing children to enter kindergarten, giving them and their families the foundation of health, learning, and resiliency we know is critical for success.
To be redirected to the First 5 Orange County website, click: http://occhildrenandfamilies.com/