ACADEMICS
Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten Academics
Set your little one up for a bright future at California Virtual Academies (CAVA) powered by K12! Our nine tuition-free online public schools make learning fun with their award-winning transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten curriculum.1 Engaging, interactive lessons introduce your child to core subjects and help build lifelong learners.
Award-Winning Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Curriculum
Created by a team of developmental psychologists and academics, the Embark curriculum follows guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice. High-quality online and offline learning experiences align with TK standards and expectations for kindergarten readiness. Activities are highly interactive, with audio and visuals to help children follow along, and can be taken at a pace that suits each child’s learning style!
A Smart Start for Young Learners
CAVA’s transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten programs introduce students to developmentally appropriate concepts — the essential building blocks for the younger years — in a fun, engaging way!
CAVA students at the transitional kindergarten and kindergarten levels take courses in the subjects listed below.
Language Arts
Your child will develop listening and early reading skills by learning to associate letters with sounds and reading simple stories that emphasize those sounds.
Math
Your child will learn to count, order, and sort numbers in a playful way. They’ll also dive into shapes, patterns, and basic addition.
Science
Your child will start to develop observation skills, explore the five senses, and learn how we talk about how things look, sound, taste, smell, and feel. They’ll enjoy fun activities like discussing the weather, the human heart, and animals.
Social Studies
Your child will start to understand communities and how people interact. They’ll even begin to learn simple map reading and geography.
Art
Art time is all about creativity and developing fine motor skills. Your child will love finger painting, coloring, making collages, and playing with soft clay.
Music
Music plays a big role in your child’s growth. They’ll sing nursery rhymes and use simple instruments like tambourines to develop rhythm and boost language skills.
Prep your child for kindergarten with CAVA’s online TK program!
At CAVA, our transitional kindergarten (TK) program prepares your child for kindergarten and beyond while nurturing social skills through hands-on learning and play.
Focusing on literacy and joyful exploration, our approach blends care with innovative technology to create a supportive learning environment.
Discover how CAVA’s online TK program can help your child!
Learn how CAVA’s TK program can help set your child up for success in kindergarten and beyond. Listen in as our Director of Elementary Grades TK–2, Suzanne McCarty, discusses the engaging curriculum and advantages of CAVA’s TK program.
Online Kindergarten at CAVA
Our Kindergarten Curriculum
Our curriculum is rooted in how children learn, while our online platform harnesses the power of technology to bring learning to life. All courses are designed to spark your child’s joy of learning — a joy that’s sure to grow with each academic year.
What does the online kindergarten experience look like at CAVA?
Our online platform delivers engaging classes, supports students, and keeps things organized for parents. Young learners can access tools to help them become stronger readers, build skills through games, and recharge with their learning companion, Strider the Fox. Watch this demo video to see how it works.
Meet Demonty
Demonty is a kindergarten student building his confidence and growing academically with online school. His mom, Janell, wanted an option that let her be more involved and provide extra support to keep him on track. Demonty loves exploring outside, reading books, and making friends while playing sports.
Check Out Sample Courses and Lessons
For younger learners, it’s especially important to develop skills that prepare them for success — in and out of the classroom. View sample video lessons below:
Why choose CAVA for online TK and kindergarten programs in California?
At CAVA, your child has the flexibility to learn from home with personalized, teacher-led support tailored to their grade level.
Start your child’s educational journey with us, where every day is filled with growth, discovery, and excitement! And if you’re thinking ahead, CAVA online schools serve students in grades TK–12. See how CAVA can help your student keep learning and growing through elementary, middle, and high school — and prepare them for life after graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten Programs in California
Your involvement and support are key to your child’s success! At California Virtual Academies, each student has a Learning Coach — a parent, guardian, or designated trusted adult — who helps keep students on track, encourages them to engage in lessons, and partners with teachers to support academic progress.
Your involvement as a parent or Learning Coach will vary by grade level and your child’s needs. On average:
- Grades K–2: Approximately 4 to 5 hours per day of school time, with 30–40% of learning completed online. You’ll spend about 1 to 2 hours actively supporting lessons and guiding activities, with the rest being more supervisory.
Our flexible program allows you to adjust your involvement based on your child’s needs and your family’s schedule. As your child becomes more comfortable with online learning, they’ll develop greater independence, giving you more flexibility.
Yes, California Virtual Academies are tuition-free public schools that ensure all students can access high-quality education without cost barriers. Families benefit from the complete K12 curriculum at no cost. Common household items and office supplies, like printer ink and paper, are not provided. Students enrolled in CAVA’s TK and kindergarten programs receive a loaned tablet, shipped directly from K12, which must be returned when the student leaves the school. Families need to secure their own internet service provider.
Questions? Call Toll-Free: 866.339.6787
1California Virtual Academies (CAVA) are nine independent public charter schools: CAVA@Fresno, CAVA@Kings, CAVA@Los Angeles, CAVA@Maricopa, CAVA@San Diego, CAVA@San Joaquin, CAVA@San Mateo, CAVA@Sonoma, and CAVA@Sutter. This public school option is not available in all California counties; view a complete list of counties here.
2The K12 K–5 course descriptions are a complete list of the K–5 courses that K12 provides. While CAVA offers a comprehensive selection of courses, not every K12 course is available to CAVA students.