The terms “pre-K” and “TK” are popping up a lot in K-12 education circles right now, referring to pre-kindergarten or transitional kindergarten. This grade is intended as a “transition” year between preschool and kindergarten—an opportunity to help 4-year-olds get used to the greater academic and behavioral expectations of kindergarten. In recent years, a growing number of states have pushed to make universal pre-K available to all 4-year-olds. California is the most recent to do so.
