All Oakland 4-year-olds are eligible for transitional kindergarten

Grass Valley Elementary School in Oakland experienced a significant enrollment increase, rising from 158 to 184 students for the 2024-2025 school year, after five years of decline. Principal Casey Beckner attributed this turnaround to the introduction of transitional kindergarten, which allows all 4-year-olds to enroll regardless of their birthday. The Oakland Unified School District added seven new transitional kindergarten classes this year, reflecting the program's growing importance. Last year, more than 1,200 students participated in transitional kindergarten, marking a 200-student increase from the previous year. Research suggests that enrolling in transitional kindergarten can improve social emotional learning outcomes for young children.

Beckner noted that many incoming students were born during the COVID-19 pandemic and thus lacked early socialization. Teacher Rosalie Ragasa highlighted the need for emotional regulation in her classroom, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe environment for students. The expansion of transitional kindergarten in Oakland is benefiting families and reshaping early childhood education dynamics in the region.