The summer camp is halfway through. Some of our students will move on to first grade, kindergarten, and transitional kindergarten—just a reminder: Our school offers kindergarten and TK programs. We are a thoroughly academic school and are proud that our students have moved on to successful elementary school studies in the past years. We want to take this opportunity to inform you about the current offers through School Districts versus us to make it easier for you to make decisions for the upcoming school year. The local School Districts offer TK and Kindergarten instructional programs for 3 hours only. After-school care is provided for a fee, which is based on your family’s income. These afterschool programs they offer only operate during the school year and are closed for school breaks and holidays. In addition to that, we hear that they have very limited space in their centers and very long waiting lists. As you may already know, we are open year-round with very few closure dates.
One crucial factor you should consider is the number of students in the classroom. This is very important for the safety of your child. We are required to maintain a 12:1 ratio, which means 12 students to 1 teacher. Public schools are required to maintain a 24:1 ratio, which means 24 students to 1 teacher. Please see the comparison below for more important factors.
At Tiny Tot Preschool & Kindergarten, we offer a TK program the year before kindergarten. Our TK preparation is a three-part play-based, child-centered program that consists of Early Preschool, preschool, and Transitional Kindergarten. Children attending our TK program will benefit tremendously.
Here’s a comparison of both Public vs. Private TK programs.
Private Public
| Ratio is 12:1 | The ratio is 24:1, with one assistant |
| Fully qualified teachers | If teachers are “grandfathered in,” they don’t have to meet the additional unit requirements |
| We use a themed, child-directed, play-based curriculum tailored and individualized for each child’s level. Tiny Tot Preschool & Kindergarten administration and skilled staff develop the curriculum using California Learning Foundations and California Department of Education standards for preschool, TK, and Kindergarten. In many ways, our curriculum exceeds the department’s standards. | Use a standardized curriculum. |
| Tiny Tot Preschool & Kindergarten is regulated by the Department of Social Services for Health and Safety. Annual inspections are conducted, and strict supervision regulations apply. | Overseen by the California Department of Education and the school district. |
| Children are required by law to have nap time or resting time. If not, an alternative quiet activity is offered after a rest period. | The public school does not offer a rest or nap time. |
| There are NO limitations to physical gross motor skills development. Children have longer outdoor playtime. | Limited amount of time children can be outside, running, jumping, climbing. Most of a public TK students’ day is spent indoors sitting. |
| Annual screenings are done in toddler and preschool classrooms to provide a fast and helpful look at how your child is improving in different areas of development. | Public school is limited to required instructional minutes. |
| Children are never left unattended or unsupervised throughout the day. | Children are only supervised during recess. |
Our children are our most precious and vital investment, and please make the correct decision. The choice is yours.
