Transition to kindergarten

AN ACT Relating to supporting the implementation of transition to 1
kindergarten programs; and amending RCW 28A.300.072.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 28A.300.072 and 2025 c 342 s 1 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) The intent of the legislature is to continue and rename 6
transitional kindergarten as the transition to kindergarten program 7
and that the program be established in statute with the goal of 8
assisting eligible children in need of additional preparation to be 9
successful kindergarten students in the following school year. The 10
transition to kindergarten program is not part of the state's 11
statutory program of basic education under RCW 28A.150.200.12
(2)(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction 13
shall administer the transition to kindergarten program and shall 14
adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW for the administration of, the 15
allocation of state funding for, and minimum standards and 16
requirements for the transition to kindergarten program in accordance 17
with this section. 18
(b) School districts, charter schools as allowed by subsection 19
(7) of this section, and state-tribal education compact schools 20
operating a transition to kindergarten program shall adopt policies 21
H-2718.1
HOUSE BILL 2282
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representative Bernbaum
Prefiled 01/07/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Appropriations.
p. 1 HB 2282
regarding eligibility, recruitment, and enrollment for this program 1
that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of subsection (3) of this 2
section. 3
(3) The rules adopted under subsection (2) of this section must 4
include, at a minimum, the following requirements for school 5
districts, charter schools as allowed by subsection (7) of this 6
section, and state-tribal education compact schools operating a 7
transition to kindergarten program: 8
(a)(i) A limitation on program enrollment to eligible children. 9
Eligible children include only those who: 10
(A) Have been determined to benefit from additional preparation 11
for kindergarten; and 12
(B) Are at least four years old by August 31st of the school year 13
they enroll in the transition to kindergarten program;14
(ii) A requirement, as practicable, for school districts, charter 15
schools as allowed by subsection (7) of this section, and state-16
tribal education compact schools to prioritize families with the 17
lowest incomes and children most in need for additional preparation 18
to be successful in kindergarten when enrolling eligible children in 19
a transition to kindergarten program; 20
(iii) Access to the transition to kindergarten program does not 21
constitute an individual entitlement for any particular child.22
(b) Except for children who have been excused from participation 23
by their parents or legal guardians, a requirement that the 24
Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills as established 25
by RCW 28A.655.080 be administered to all eligible children enrolled 26
in a transition to kindergarten program at the beginning of the 27
child's enrollment in the program and at least one more time during 28
the school year. 29
(c) A requirement that all eligible children enrolled in a 30
transition to kindergarten program be assigned a statewide student 31
identifier and that the transition to kindergarten program be 32
considered a separate class or course for the purposes of data 33
reporting requirements in RCW 28A.320.175. 34
(d) A requirement that a local child care and early learning 35
needs assessment is conducted before beginning or expanding a 36
transition to kindergarten program that considers the existing 37
availability and affordability of early learning providers, such as 38
the early childhood education and assistance programs, head start 39
programs, and licensed child care centers and family home providers 40
p. 2 HB 2282
in the region. Data available through the regionalized data dashboard 1
maintained by the department of children, youth, and families or any 2
other appropriate sources may be used to inform the needs assessment 3
required by this subsection. 4
(e)(i) A requirement that school districts, charter schools as 5
allowed by subsection (7) of this section, and state-tribal education 6
compact schools adhere to guidelines, as developed by the office of 7
the superintendent of public instruction, related to:8
(A) Best practices for site readiness of facilities that are used 9
for the program; 10
(B) Developmentally appropriate curricula designed to assist in 11
maintaining high quality programs; and 12
(C) Professional development opportunities. 13
(ii) The office of the superintendent of public instruction must 14
develop a process for conducting site visits of any school district, 15
charter school as allowed by subsection (7) of this section, or 16
state-tribal education compact school operating a transition to 17
kindergarten program and provide feedback on elements listed in this 18
subsection (3)(e). 19
(f) A prohibition on charging tuition or other fees to state-20
funded eligible children for enrollment in a transition to 21
kindergarten program. 22
(g) A prohibition on establishing a policy of excluding an 23
eligible child due only to the presence of a disability.24
(4)(a) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in 25
collaboration with the department of children, youth, and families, 26
shall develop statewide coordinated eligibility, recruitment, 27
enrollment, and selection best practices and provide technical 28
assistance to those implementing a transition to kindergarten program 29
to support connections with local early learning providers.30
(b) School districts, charter schools as allowed by subsection 31
(7) of this section, and state-tribal education compact schools must 32
consider the best practices developed under this subsection (4) when 33
adopting the policies required under subsection (2)(b) of this 34
section. 35
(5) Nothing in this section prohibits school districts, charter 36
schools as allowed by subsection (7) of this section, and state-37
tribal education compact schools from blending or colocating a 38
transition to kindergarten program with other early learning 39
programs. 40
p. 3 HB 2282
(6)(a) Funding for the transition to kindergarten program must be 1
based on the following: 2
(i) The distribution formula established under RCW 28A.150.260 3
(4)(a), (5), (6), (8), and (10)(a) and (b), calculated using the 4
actual number of annual average full-time equivalent eligible 5
children enrolled in the program. A transition to kindergarten child 6
must be counted as a kindergarten student for purposes of the funding 7
calculations referenced in this subsection, but must be reported 8
separately. 9
(ii) The distribution formula developed in RCW 28A.160.150 10
through 28A.160.192, calculated using reported ridership for eligible 11
children enrolled in the program. 12
(b) Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the annual average 13
full-time equivalent eligible children enrolled in the program funded 14
in (a) of this subsection may not exceed the state-funded annual 15
average full-time equivalent specified in the omnibus appropriations 16
act. 17
(i) During the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the office of 18
the superintendent of public instruction must prioritize funding for 19
programs funded under (a) of this subsection that operated during the 20
2024-25 school year. 21
(ii) During the 2026-27 school year, the office of the 22
superintendent of public instruction must also prioritize funding for 23
programs funded under (a) of this subsection that:24
(A) Did not operate in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years; and25
(B) Submitted a notification of intent to implement and 26
administer a transition to kindergarten program to the office of the 27
superintendent of public instruction before June 1, 2025.28
(c) Funding provided for the transition to kindergarten program 29
is not part of the state's statutory program of basic education under 30
RCW 28A.150.200 and must be expended only for the support of 31
operating a transition to kindergarten program. 32
(7) Charter schools authorized under RCW 28A.710.080(2) are 33
immediately permitted to operate a transition to kindergarten program 34
under this section. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, any 35
charter school authorized under RCW 28A.710.080 (1) or (2) is 36
permitted to operate a transition to kindergarten program under this 37
section. 38
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