Verified state guidance
California Preschool & TK
California offers free Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to all four-year-olds under the TK-for-all expansion, phased in through the 2025-26 school year.
Transitional Kindergarten in California
Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Key early-childhood facts for California
- Kindergarten entrance cutoff
- Children must turn 5 on or before September 1 to start kindergarten.
- Minimum age
- 4 years old by September 1
- Enrollment age
- 4 years old by September 1
- Eligibility
- Children who turn 4 years old by September 1 are eligible for the 2025-26 school year.
- Start date
- The school year in which the child turns 5
- Free pre-K options
- Public TK is free. California also funds subsidized preschool and early learning services for income-eligible families through the California Department of Social Services and local agencies.
- Notes
- TK is optional, free, and taught by credentialed teachers in public school districts. California phased in universal eligibility annually; by 2025-26, all four-year-olds are eligible.
Head Start and early learning resources
Find local Head Start and state pre-K programs: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/
State early education website
Last updated 6/21/2026. Always confirm current rules with your state education department or local school district.