California now offers universal pre-K for four-year-olds through transitional kindergarten (TK). The state completed its universal TK rollout in 2025-26, so every child who turns 4 by September 1 can attend free TK at a public school district. TK is the largest piece of California's broader Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) system, which also includes the California State Preschool Program and Head Start.
This guide explains how TK, UPK, the California State Preschool Program, and Head Start fit together, what each costs, and what private preschool runs for families who do not use a free option. Plain language, current state structure, and a worked example for a typical California family. It sits alongside our pillar on what daycare costs.
Yes, for four-year-olds, through transitional kindergarten. California completed its universal TK expansion in the 2025-26 school year, so every child who turns 4 by September 1 is eligible for free TK at a public school district, per the California Department of Education. Enrollment is optional, but every district with kindergarten must offer TK and provide an eligible child a spot.
TK is part of a larger plan. Assembly Bill 130, passed in 2021, created Universal Prekindergarten (UPK), a mixed-delivery system that combines TK with the California State Preschool Program, Head Start, and community-based providers. The goal is a free pre-K option for every four-year-old, delivered through whichever setting fits the family.
Transitional kindergarten is a specific free grade for four-year-olds, run by public school districts under the California Department of Education. Universal Prekindergarten is the umbrella system that ties TK together with the California State Preschool Program, Head Start, and other providers. In short, TK is a program; UPK is the system that includes it.
For families, the practical takeaway is that TK is the default free path for a four-year-old, while UPK gives three-year-olds and families needing full-day care other routes, chiefly the California State Preschool Program and Head Start. The table below lays out the main options.
| Program | Ages | Cost | Administered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transitional kindergarten (TK) | 4 by Sept 1 | Free | School districts / CDE |
| California State Preschool Program (CSPP) | Mainly 3–4, income-eligible | Free if eligible | CDE |
| Head Start / Early Head Start | Birth–5, income-eligible | Free if eligible | Federal Office of Head Start |
| Private preschool | Roughly 2–5 | $1,100–$1,900 / month | Private providers |
The program structure is from the California Department of Education and the federal Office of Head Start. The private cost range is drawn from the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices and Child Care Aware of America data for California, and is discussed below.
Transitional kindergarten is a free, full school-day program offered at public elementary schools, taught by credentialed teachers. By 2025-26, the California Department of Education requires TK classrooms to maintain a 10-to-1 student-to-adult ratio and requires TK teachers to hold a credential plus early-childhood coursework or equivalent experience. It functions as a first, gentler year of school.
TK enrollment has grown quickly as eligibility widened, with statewide TK enrollment expected to reach roughly 229,000 children in 2025-26, per state data reported by the California Department of Education. Families enroll through their local school district, usually in the spring before the fall start. Before- and after-care around the TK day may carry a separate fee, which is worth asking about.
Three-year-olds are generally too young for TK, so the main free routes are the California State Preschool Program and Head Start. The California State Preschool Program (CSPP), run by the California Department of Education, serves primarily income-eligible three- and four-year-olds at no cost and offers part-day and full-day options. It is the workhorse free program for younger preschoolers.
Head Start, the federal program, serves income-eligible children from birth to age five, with Early Head Start covering pregnancy through age three. Many California families qualify on income without realizing it, especially larger households and single-parent families. Both programs prioritize children with the highest need, so apply early and to more than one option.
For families who do not use a free option, private preschool tuition in California commonly runs about $1,100 to $1,900 per month in 2026, with the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area markets at the top of that range, per the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices and Child Care Aware of America data. Costs fall as children age out of the higher infant and toddler ratios.
A Los Angeles family paying for full-time private preschool for a four-year-old typically spends roughly $1,400 to $1,900 per month, or about $16,800 to $22,800 per year, per the National Database of Childcare Prices for Los Angeles County.
If the same child enrolls in free transitional kindergarten, the core program cost drops to $0, with the family potentially paying only for before- or after-care around the school day. That is the single largest saving available to a California four-year-old.
A family that is income-eligible for the California State Preschool Program or Head Start can reach a free full-day program even for a three-year-old. A Dependent Care FSA and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit can further offset any remaining private cost.
The honest tradeoff. Free TK is a major saving, but it is not the same as full-day child care. The TK day follows a school schedule with shorter hours, holidays, and summer breaks, so working parents often still need wraparound care that costs extra. TK is excellent and free, but budget for the gap between the school day and your workday before you assume childcare is solved.
Does California have universal pre-K?
Yes, through transitional kindergarten. California completed its universal transitional kindergarten (TK) expansion in 2025-26, so every child who turns 4 by September 1 is eligible for free TK at a public school district. TK is one part of California's broader Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) system, which also includes the California State Preschool Program and Head Start.
What is the difference between TK and UPK in California?
Transitional kindergarten (TK) is a free public-school grade for four-year-olds run by school districts. Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) is the umbrella system created by AB 130 in 2021, which combines TK, the California State Preschool Program, Head Start, and community providers into a mixed-delivery system. TK is the largest piece of UPK.
Is transitional kindergarten free in California?
Yes. Transitional kindergarten is free and offered by public school districts under the California Department of Education. Enrollment is optional for families, but every district with kindergarten must offer TK and provide an age-eligible child a spot. Before- and after-care around the TK day may carry a separate fee.
Who qualifies for the California State Preschool Program?
The California State Preschool Program (CSPP), administered by the California Department of Education, serves primarily income-eligible three- and four-year-olds and is free to qualifying families. It is a key UPK option for three-year-olds, who are generally too young for transitional kindergarten, and for families who want a full-day early learning program.
What does private preschool cost in California?
Full-time private preschool in California commonly runs about $1,100 to $1,900 per month in 2026, with the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area markets at the high end, per the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices and Child Care Aware of America data. Free TK, CSPP, and Head Start can remove that cost for eligible families.
If you are weighing options, walk through our comparison checklist and tour questions list, and model your year with the cost calculator. For broader context, see the California state daycare guide, the preschool cost guide, and the DaycareSquare cost pillar.
Licensing, city-level costs, subsidies, and the full California early-learning landscape.
Read → PillarThe big-picture explainer on what daycare actually costs in 2026 and what drives the range.
Read → ToolModel your California preschool year with TK, CSPP, or Head Start factored in.
Open →Get our free daycare starter kit — the 27-question tour checklist, a cost-comparison worksheet, and what to ask about waitlists. One email, no spam.
Or jump in: tour questions · cost calculator · comparison checklist