Waukee Community School District is offering Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for the 2025-26 school year! Enrollment begins on Jan. 14. Learn more below and plan to enroll as early as possible to help us prepare for our first group of little learners.
TK Program Details
- Any student who is 5 years old on Sept. 15, 2025 is eligible.
- Classes will be limited to 20 students.
- TK students are eligible for the District’s before and after school care.
- TK students will follow the same District transportation eligibility requirements as all kindergarten students.
- If a TK classroom is not available in the student’s neighborhood school building, the District will provide a shuttle to a nearby TK program.
What is Transitional Kindergarten?
TK is a program for children who are of kindergarten age, but would benefit from an additional year of school to prepare for kindergarten. It gives children additional space and time to further develop the necessary social and academic skills.
TK is not:
- A special education program or behavioral program.
- A replacement experience for kindergarten. Your child will still attend kindergarten the following school year.
What does TK look like?
TK meets five full days a week and follows the same school year calendar as our kindergarten students. Students will be introduced to kindergarten-level math, literacy, and social-emotional standards at an appropriate pace to develop their readiness skills. Students will also have “specials” (art, music, library, PE, guidance, and technology) like their K-5 peers.
How do I know if TK is a fit for my child?
There are many reasons you might choose to enroll your child in TK rather than kindergarten. Those students with summer birthdays may often benefit from additional time, but any student who is five years of age on Sept. 15 during the year of enrollment will be eligible.
We recommend you consider the academic and social-emotional development of your child, alongside their previous learning experiences. Your child’s preschool teacher may also have input for you as you consider the best option for your child.
How is TK different from Kindergarten?
Kindergarten standards, assessment, and reporting activities will be applied the same way in TK as in all other kindergarten classrooms. However, the pace, focus, and experiences will be adjusted. Additionally, TK promotes self-confidence and independence in students and spends more time on social-emotional and purposeful play activities.
2025-26 TK Enrollment
We ask that families register as soon as possible to help us determine the number of TK classrooms. If an elementary school does not have enough enrolled TK students, they will be grouped with a TK program at a nearby school.
Students who attend TK outside of their neighborhood school will be provided a shuttle from their neighborhood school to their TK school and back at the end of the day. All students will attend their board-approved neighborhood school beginning in kindergarten.
After April 15, you may still register for TK but enrollment will depend on available program space. We will communicate TK classroom locations to families in May.
Timeline
January:
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, you can begin submitting the required paper documents (see below) to the District Office.
Late March:
You will receive an email with directions to complete the online enrollment process.
April 15:
Deadline to ensure a spot in TK. After April 15, enrollment will depend on available program space.
May:
TK classroom locations will be communicated.
Spring:
Beyond the Bell Child and YMCA child care registration opens.
July/August:
Free/reduced meals: Students and families needing assistance to pay for school meals are encouraged to complete a Meal Eligibility application. Meal eligibility applications must be completed yearly.
Required Paperwork
In January, you can begin turning in the required documents to the District Office at 560 SE University Avenue. There is a black drop box in the parking lot if you drop papers off after hours. Or, you can scan and attach the documents to an email to enrollment@waukeeschools.org.
- Online Directions and Registration Cover Sheet
- Proof of Residency – Students must be residents of the Waukee Community School District or file the appropriate paperwork for open enrollment.
- Homeowner: A copy of your most recently paid property tax bill, copy of recent mortgage statement, or printout from the Dallas County Assessor’s Site.
- Renting: A copy of your signed lease agreement. The agreement must be signed by both parties and list the tenants and current terms.
- If you have made an offer on a home: A copy of the purchase agreement as well as a completed Permission to Enroll Out of District Students Application.
- If you have recently closed on a home: A copy of the settlement statement.
- Home Language Survey
- Certificate of most recent immunization record to be completed by the Physician or Medical Immunization Exemption Form to be signed by the Physician or Religious Immunization Exemption Form to be notarized
In late March, an email will be sent to the email listed on the cover sheet with a code to complete the online portion of the enrollment process. If you submit your enrollment paperwork after March, you’ll receive that code in your email roughly 48 hours later.
