Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) for Parents

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is the first year in a two-year kindergarten program. Designed especially for four-year-olds, it will help prepare children to succeed in school, while also giving them an opportunity to meet new friends and provide care while parents work. TK is offered through the public school system. Classes take place at neighborhood elementary schools and are free to all students regardless of income, like kindergarten. To learn about TK opportunities, contact your local school district.

Currently, children in California can enroll in kindergarten if they turn 5 on or before September 1st. Younger children born after that date will be eligible to enroll in TK. Enrollment eligibility will increase over a four-year period. The eligibility schedule is:

• 2022-23: Kids who turn 5 between September 2nd and February 2nd can enroll
• 2023-24: Kids who turn 5 between September 2nd and April 2nd can enroll
• 2024-25: Kids who turn 5 between September 2nd and June 2nd can enroll
• 2025-26: All kids who turn 4 by September 1st

For information on how to enroll your child in TK, contact your local school or district office. You can find a list of local schools and your school district by using the California Department of Education’s California School Directory.

No, like Kindergarten, TK is optional in California. Parents may choose to enroll their child if they think the program will benefit their child and family. Families who are involved in other state-funded preschool or child care programs, such as Head Start, California State Preschool Program (CSPP), and child care voucher recipients, will be able to choose if they wish to send their child to TK or keep their child in another subsidized program.

Yes, with some exceptions. All districts that receive state funding are required to offer TK. However, districts are not required to offer TK at every elementary school in their district. This means that the TK program in your district may not be at the elementary school that is closest to your home.

There are some districts in California, known as “basic aid districts,” that are not required to offer TK. The reason for this is that basic aid districts are funded solely through local rather than state funds and are not required to abide by the state mandate to provide TK. Most basic aid districts do offer TK, but some have chosen not to offer this service in favor of other spending. You can find a list of “basic aid” districts here.

Starting in 2022, TK classes will have a maximum size of 24 children with two adults, for a 12:1 adult to child ratio. This ratio may be reduced further to 10:1 in 2023, if funding permits.

TK teachers are highly prepared to help our youngest learners succeed! All TK classes must be staffed by at least one teacher who has both a multi subject teaching credential (required for elementary school teaching) along with a specialized teaching credential in early childhood education.

Like Kindergarten, schools can choose to offer TK as a half-day (3 hour) program or as a full-day (6 hour) program. Contact your local school to learn about how TK is being offered in your district!

TK is based on a developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum that allows children to be active and have fun while learning important skills for reading, writing, mathematics, and social-emotional skills such as learning to listen to directions and take turns. TK classrooms follow the guidance provided in the California Preschool Learning Foundations, which will be updated to reflect the addition of younger children to TK over the next several years. You can check out our Teachers page to get an idea of what teachers do in a typical TK class.