Beginning fall of 2024, the University Place School District is planning to offer a Transition Kindergarten program for a limited number of qualifying children living in UPSD school boundaries. The program will: 

• Serve qualifying children who are four years old by August 31 of the upcoming school year and not yet five years old 
• Focus primarily on students who don’t currently have access to early childhood learning services or childcare
• Qualify students based on financial, social-emotional or academic need
• Be a full day academic program operating on a modified UPSD school year calendar
• Focus on the key academic and social development skills children most need to be successful in kindergarten the following year
• Be offered at no cost to participants or their families

Find answers to frequently asked questions here.

Students qualify for Transition Kindergarten through an application and screening process during which financial, academic, and social-emotional needs are assessed. 

• The child must be 4 years old by August 31 of the upcoming school year and not yet 5 years old (5 year olds can register for traditional kindergarten on our K-12 registration page) 
• The child resides within the attendance boundaries of University Place School District 
• The child is not currently enrolled in an early learning program, such as: licensed childcare, preschool, co-op preschool, ECEAP, Head Start, etc. (full or part-time)
• The child's family qualifies for financial assistance through the Free/Reduced Lunch Standards (USDA) 
• The child demonstrates a need in areas associated with success in Kindergarten (learning, social-emotional, etc.)
• Priority will be given to children most in need who have had little or no access to an early learning experience

University Place School District is no longer accepting Transition Kindergarten applications for the 2024-2025 school year. To be added to the 2024-2025 Transition Kindergarten waitlist, please click here. 

Applications for the 2025-2026 Transition Kindergarten program will open in the Spring of 2025. 

Other resources for families in financial need searching for preschool are linked below:

(ECEAP) Early Childhood Educational Assistance Program 

(ECEAP) is a state-funded program for children from low-income families who are age three and four by August 31. The program is similar to the federally funded Head Start Program. Children qualify for this program on the basis of the family income. The program is coordinated and staffed through the Pierce County Community Action Agency. You can contact the Pierce County ECEAP at (253) 798-4400 (option 4) or visit their website.

Tacoma Community College Early Learning Center

Tacoma Community College is now running an early learning center open to the surrounding community. The program is paid for with funds from parent contributions, student fees, DCYF, EHS federal dollars and ECEAP state dollars. 

If you have questions about Transition Kindergarten, please call the University Place School District office at 253-566-5600 or email TKinfo@upsd83.org.