Differences Between Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten in California

• In Event: 46.055 - Research Topics in Early Childhood Programs

Abstract

California's new Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program is required by law to use a "modified kindergarten curriculum that is developmentally appropriate." As a part of the larger evaluation of the TK program, this paper presents differences, based on teacher report, in kindergarten and TK classrooms, and provides evidence that TK is indeed a more developmentally-appropriate experience in several ways. TK teachers reported spending more time on social-emotional development than did kindergarten teachers, and similar amounts of time on art, music, social studies and science as did kindergarten teachers nationally in 1998 (according to reports from teachers in the ECLS-K). However, teachers in TK/kindergarten combination classes reported challenges in individualizing or differentiating instruction for students in their class.

Authors

• Karen Manship, American Institutes for Research

• Diana Gabriela Mercado-Garcia, Stanford University

• Heather E. Quick, American Institutes for Research

• Aleksandra Holod, American Institutes for Research