The mission of the Grundy Center Elementary Transitional Kindergarten program is to provide an early grade level INTERVENTION for students most at academic risk of not being successful in the kindergarten classroom.

• A team of highly qualified early childhood staff with expertise in language and literacy development, social-emotional development, cognitive development, and best practice is assembled.  Together, they make collaborative and data-based decisions.  The team includes:

  1. Transitional Kindergarten teacher

  2. Kindergarten teachers

  3. Early Childhood Special Education teacher

  4. Preschool teachers

  5. Elementary principal

  6. Area Education Agency professionals, when needed

• Every student applying for TK is then scored on a rubric with 12 criteria including parent recommendation, preschool teacher recommendation, administrator recommendation, TK/K teacher recommendation, age/maturity, GOLD data, letter identification, rhyming, blends/syllables, counting, identifying numbers, and social emotional problem solving.  The team analyzes the data, and determines which students benefit most from early grade level retention.   Preschool teachers share their observations from the classroom and share any data that may not have been collected during round up.

• The elementary school administrator facilitates the discussion and ensures consideration of students with several at-risk indicators as provided by parents.  

• The number of students selected is based on the needs of the students as a whole. It often varies from 12-15 students.  After round up, the preschool teachers and the TK/Kindergarten teachers each suggest 12 students they believe would benefit most from the TK program based on data. Lists are compared, data is discussed, and the question is asked if this particular group of students would allow for one more based on the needs of the group as a whole.

• TK began in the 15-16 school year as a half day program.  As the program grew, we realized a half day program was not enough time to cover the kindergarten standards and benchmarks.

• In the 17-18 school year, the program went full time.

• In the 20-21 school year, the program completed the purchase of full math and literacy curriculums.

• In the 22-23 school year, the program shifted to include 1:1 play based instruction.

• All TK students are kindergarten students as determined by the Iowa Department of Education.  This means that all TK students have the same opportunities in school as kindergarteners and are required to take all state mandated kindergarten assessments.  The scores on these assessments are combined with all of the other kindergarteners.

• TK is an INTERVENTION culminating in grade level retention.  Enrolled students require the most intensive interventions to be successful.  This intervention:

  1. Uses weekly INDIVIDUAL assessment data (letter identification, letter sounds, number identification) for EVERY student to prepare play-based instruction during center time.  For example, students may receive 1:1 instruction embedded into a dramatic play center in order to receive more repetitions with specific letter sounds.

  2. Are only possible with a limited class size.

• The TK program utilizes the following curriculums:

  1. Phonics - Really Great Reading: Countdown

  2. Reading - McGraw Hill: Wonders

  3. Math - KinderMath

  4. Science/Social Studies - Hands on STEM centers

• An application to transitional kindergarten can be completed within the round up registration.  Parents should select TK and will have an opportunity to share all information that they would like considered.

• Round Up occurs in April and is a half day.  If your child attends Grundy Community Preschool in the morning, he or she will attend the morning session of round up while afternoon classes will attend the afternoon session.

• If you attend Grundy Community Preschool, information will be sent to you via the preschool teachers.

• If you do not attend Grundy Community Preschool, CLICK HERE to send an email to the elementary school office, and your name will be added to the list for further information as it becomes available.

• Sometimes parents ask about other options for students not selected into the TK program.  One option is to enroll into kindergarten at Grundy Center Elementary.  

• While the Grundy Center Community School District does not own any of the other following ideas, parents have shared some of their options with us.  These options include:

  • Repeating 4-year old preschool as a 5-year old

  • Utilizing daycare and re-enrolling the following year

  • Open enrolling into another transitional kindergarten program or kindergarten program for one year

• We are willing to support your efforts in selecting another option if needed.  With your permission, we can share your contact information with other parents of students that are not selected to help you work together in choosing another option.