What is Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?

Transitional kindergarten, sometimes referred to as TK, is California’s TK-12 public school system’s program for 4-year-olds. During the 2022-23 school year, children are eligible for TK if they turn 5 between September 2 and February 2. Each school year, the birthdate for 4 year olds eligible to enroll will change a couple of months until all 4 year olds will become eligible for TK by 2026. Transitional kindergarten is designed to be a bridge between preschool and kindergarten and is taught by credentialed teachers. Children are enrolled at no cost to families.

To sign your child up for preschool, transitional kindergarten or kindergarten, call your local school district office or visit the school district website for more information.

To learn more about Transitional Kindergarten visit, TKCalifornia. Learn about Early Childhood Education  Essentials Framework here.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)

Universal Pre-Kindergarten brings together programs across early learning and the K-12 systems, including Transitional Kindergarten (TK), HeadStart, State Preschool and community based organizations for 3-4 year olds. Although TK is just for 4 year olds, other early learning opportunities are available for younger children.