A junior kindergarten program slated to begin in the fall has already brought 10 new students into Simi Valley Unified School District.

The program is aimed at children who are eligible for kindergarten but are on the younger end of the spectrum, turning 5 between July 1 and Dec. 2.

District staff held an informational meeting June 15 to gauge parent interest for a program at Berylwood Elementary. Superintendent Kathryn Scroggin said between 40 and 50 parents showed up and 24 kids were signed up on the spot. Among them, 10 were not enrolled in the district before coming to the meeting, she said.

"This is exciting," said board member Rob Collins. "Some kids just aren't ready. I was born Nov. 28, and my mom shoved me out the door too early. I think how great I could have been had I gotten another year," he said with a laugh.

The program won't cost the district any money because the students who will enroll in junior kindergarten would have been entering traditional kindergarten in SVUSD.

According to Simi school district staff, if 20 new students came to the district because of junior kindergarten, the district would have a net gain of about $57,000 based on government funding.

"It's for younger students who may not be ready for traditional kindergarten," said Lynn Friedman, the district's director of curriculum. "It will be kindergarten curriculum taught in a more experiential and developmental way."

The class would meet during the same time as Berylwood's traditional extendedday kindergarten, from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Transportation will be provided by the parents.

Junior kindergarten students typically move to traditional kindergarten the following year, but some may be recommended for placement into first grade.

A teacher is ready to lead the class, Scroggin said, and a waiting list has developed. The school board unanimously approved the junior kindergarten program at its June 30 meeting and urged Scroggin to consider adding a second class.

"I guess you could say, if you build it, they will come," said board president Eric Lundstrom.