RIPON - Current law states that schools will have Transitional Kindergarten (TK) next year, but as part of his budget proposal the governor has suggested that it be eliminated.

At this point, Ripon Unified School District is unsure whether or not the TK program will be funded by the State of California. The district needs to have a plan in place for TK and will need to have a backup plan, in case it doesn’t happen.

In order to start kindergarten in the 2012/2013 school year, children must turn five by Nov. 1. Current law would create a TK class this next year for students who turn five between Nov. 2 and Dec. 2. Eventually, the class would be for students who turn five between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2, as the date to turn five to enter kindergarten will back up one month at a time annually until reaching Sept. 1 in 2014/2015.

Ripon Unified needs to count students. It will help to plan, as the district continues to gather information from the state and county, if they know who has potential incoming TK students. Contact the district office at (209) 599-2131 and ask for Michelle Ryan or Kathy Coleman. Be ready to provide the following information: student name,  birth date, address, parent name, and phone number.

Kindergarten orientation is set for April 10 at 6 p.m. at Park View Elementary. The district hopes  to be able to provide more information on TK at this time.