Most school closure days are known a year ahead: districts publish staff development days, minimum days and breaks on their instructional calendar. Download your district's calendar as soon as it's released, mark every non-instruction day and early dismissal, and book care for them early. For transitional kindergarten, which follows the school day, plan regular afternoon care as well.
The days that catch families out
| Type of day | What happens | How far ahead you'll know |
|---|---|---|
| Staff development day | School is closed to students while teachers train | On the district calendar, usually published before the school year |
| Minimum day | Students are dismissed early | Mostly on the calendar; some are added during the year |
| Holiday and break | School is closed for a day or a week or more | On the district calendar |
| Transitional kindergarten afternoons | TK follows the school day, which ends before most working days | Every school day |
Transitional kindergarten
California's transitional kindergarten is free and open to all children who turn four by September 1 of the school year. TK runs on the school calendar and school day, so families who used a full-day preschool before often need care for the afternoon hours and for every school closure day.
A simple plan for the year
- Get the calendar. Find your district's instructional calendar on its website as soon as it's adopted.
- Mark every gap. Staff development days, minimum days, holidays and breaks.
- Book early. Licensed programs with drop-in space fill up on the days every family needs.
- Have your child's records ready. Any licensed program will need a complete enrollment file before the first day.
- Plan your backup to the backup. Keep a second option for days when your first choice is full.
EnrollPass plans to publish local district calendars and let families book licensed care for those days in advance. Join the waitlist to hear when it opens in your area.
Common questions
Who is eligible for transitional kindergarten?
From the 2025–26 school year, all California children who turn four by September 1 of the school year.
When are staff development days announced?
Most are on the district's instructional calendar, which is usually adopted before the school year starts.