(article updated on Oct 1, 2015 with K-TK-ETK breakdown and additional links added at the bottom.)
LAUSD will be expanding its Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program to assist children impacted by the shuttering of its current SRLDP preschool program, by creating an Extended Transitional Kindergarten program, now acronymed as ETK. 117 school sites will offer the program beginning in August 2015, with the remaining 173 sites opening in the 2016-17 school year.

There will now be 3 distinctions of the entry-level programs. Kindergarteners who meet the 5 by Sept 1st age cut-off will enter Kindergarten (K). Students whose birthday falls between Sept 2 and Dec 2 have the opportunity to enroll in the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program, and those children whose birthday is after Dec 2 and who quality will be placed in the Extended Transitional Kindergarten (ETK) program.  All of these programs are a tuition-free, full 6-hour day following the same schedule as other elementary school classrooms, with Breakfast In the Classroom (BIC) provided. Class size will be limited to 24 students per class.

“The LAUSD Transitional Kindergarten Expansion Plan is intended to provide an alternate program in schools with closed School Readiness Language Development Program (SRLDP) classrooms.” —LAUSD website

Priority enrollment for ETK will be offered to low income high needs children who have missed the 5 by Sept 1st Kindergarten age cut-off and have also missed TK’s current 5 by Sept 2-Dec 2 cut-off. This is a preschool program that focuses on school readiness and language acquisition with the intention of preparing children for Kindergarten.

Only those students who legitimately qualify for the Free/Reduced Lunch Meal Plan (FRLP) will be eligible for ETK and then those applicants will be taken in order of birthdate beginning in Dec and continuing through March 31 and possibly into April, May or June if space is available. Families residing in the school attendance area will also be a priority. Schools may offer a 1-year non-renewable TK/ETK transfer to non-residents after satisfying all other priorities first.

See enrollment priority list below:

List of Expansion Sites for 2015: HERE
Comparison chart of TK and ETK curriculum, framework, assessment, funding: HERE
More Detailed Info – including overview, goals, curriculum, enrollment requirements: HERE
LAUSD TK/ETK splash page to more links: HERE