Join the San Lorenzo Unified School District

Teacher Claire Nail holds up her arms to demonstrate the word 'underwater', which is displayed on a screen in front of a group of students sitting on the floor. — TK teacher Claire Nail teaches letters and sounds to her students at Hillside Elementary School.

The San Lorenzo Unified School District is welcoming new students in its transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten programs for the 2026-27 school year, continuing an emphasis on helping young children make a successful journey into first grade and beyond. Kindergarten teachers consistently say they can see the positive difference in school readiness among children who begin with TK!

Students are eligible for TK if they turn 4 by Sept. 1 in the year they begin TK. Incoming kindergarten students must have turned 5 by Sept. 1. Families do not need to live in the San Lorenzo Unified School District to attend our schools.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Enrolling Your Child

Visit the district enrollment page for step-by-step instructions on enrolling your child.

'An Extra Year of Free Education'

San Lorenzo Schools are part of a $2.7 billion statewide TK initiative, launched in 2021, which provides a new bridge into classroom learning that is available to all.

“The state essentially approved another grade level for students in California, so it’s a big move,” said Dr. Daryl Camp, SLZUSD superintendent.

Teacher Christopher Auad, a 27-year veteran teacher who teaches TK at Corvallis Elementary, said the program provides children with a structured setting where students are introduced to teacher-guided learning while developing independence and social skills that prepare them for an increasingly rigorous kindergarten experience.

Calling TK “an extra year of free education,” Auad said it is definitely more than an extension of preschool.

“I tell parents it’s not baby school; it’s real school to get them ready for kindergarten,” he said. “As an educator, it’s awesome to see them have that growth and become independent, confident students ready to learn in kindergarten.”

Kindergarten teacher Stephanie Scarper reads to her students at Bay Elementary School.