Los Angeles has universal pre-K for four-year-olds through transitional kindergarten (TK). California fully phased in universal TK by the 2025-26 school year, so every four-year-old is eligible for a free seat regardless of income or immigration status, per the California Department of Education. A free TK seat replaces private preschool that commonly runs $1,100 to $1,900 per month in 2026.
This guide explains how universal transitional kindergarten works in Los Angeles, who qualifies, how Los Angeles Unified enrollment runs, what the options are for three-year-olds, and what private preschool costs for families who want full-day, year-round care. Plain language and a worked example for an Los Angeles family. It sits alongside our pillar on what daycare costs.
Yes, for four-year-olds, through transitional kindergarten. California fully phased in universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) by the 2025-26 school year, so every four-year-old is eligible for a free TK seat, per the California Department of Education. Los Angeles Unified rolled out universal TK ahead of the state deadline.
TK is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program, taught in public elementary schools, and it is open regardless of family income or immigration status. California's TK expansion is one of the largest universal pre-K efforts in the country, per the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) State of Preschool Yearbook.
As of the 2025-26 school year, every child whose fourth birthday falls on or before September 1 is eligible for free transitional kindergarten, per the California Department of Education. There is no income test for TK. Los Angeles Unified offers TK at elementary schools across the district, open to eligible families in the attendance area.
Because TK follows the school day and calendar, many working families pair it with before- and after-school care. The table below lays out the main pre-K routes Los Angeles families choose between.
| Program | Ages | Cost | Administered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten (TK) | 4 by Sep 1 | Free, all incomes | California Dept. of Education / Los Angeles Unified |
| California State Preschool Program | 3–4, income-eligible | Free if eligible | California Dept. of Education |
| 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, Los Angeles Unified, and the federal Office of Head Start. The private cost range is drawn from Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices for Los Angeles, and is discussed below.
Sometimes, mainly through income-based programs. Transitional kindergarten in Los Angeles is for four-year-olds, but the California State Preschool Program and the federal Head Start program offer free preschool to income-eligible three-year-olds, per the California Department of Education and the federal Office of Head Start. Free three-year-old options are not universal the way TK is for four-year-olds.
Los Angeles County has also expanded publicly funded preschool through local initiatives, so availability for three-year-olds is better than in many places, though still tied to income or location. For a three-year-old in a family above the income line, private preschool is usually the route until TK eligibility.
For families who want full-day, year-round care or a three-year-old seat, private preschool tuition in Los Angeles commonly runs about $1,100 to $1,900 per month in 2026, per Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. 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 can spend roughly $1,300 to $1,800 per month, or about $15,600 to $21,600 per year, per Child Care Aware of America data for the Los Angeles area.
If the same child enrolls in free transitional kindergarten through Los Angeles Unified, the core program cost drops to $0, with the family potentially paying only for wraparound care before and after the school day.
A Dependent Care FSA and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit can further offset wraparound care or any private tuition for a younger child.
The honest tradeoff. Universal TK in Los Angeles is genuinely free and genuinely open to every four-year-old, but it is a school-day program, not full-day child care. Working families often still pay for wraparound hours, and three-year-old options remain income-gated. TK also starts the year a child turns four, so the costly infant and toddler years are still on the family.
Does Los Angeles have universal pre-K?
Yes, for four-year-olds, through transitional kindergarten. California fully phased in universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) by the 2025-26 school year, so every four-year-old is eligible for a free TK seat, per the California Department of Education. Los Angeles Unified rolled out universal TK ahead of the state deadline, and TK is open regardless of family income or immigration status.
Who is eligible for transitional kindergarten in Los Angeles?
As of the 2025-26 school year, every child whose fourth birthday falls on or before September 1 is eligible for free transitional kindergarten, per the California Department of Education. There is no income test for TK. Los Angeles Unified offers TK at elementary schools across the district, and enrollment is open to all eligible families in the attendance area.
Is there free pre-K for three-year-olds in Los Angeles?
Sometimes, mainly through income-based programs. Transitional kindergarten in Los Angeles is for four-year-olds, but the California State Preschool Program and the federal Head Start program offer free preschool to income-eligible three-year-olds, per the California Department of Education and the federal Office of Head Start. Free three-year-old options are not universal in the way TK is for four-year-olds.
How do I enroll in TK at LAUSD?
Families enroll through the Los Angeles Unified enrollment system, generally at their neighborhood school or through the district's online enroll portal, per Los Angeles Unified. Enrollment typically opens in the spring for the following school year. Because seats and locations vary, enroll early and confirm which nearby schools offer transitional kindergarten.
What does private preschool cost in Los Angeles?
Full-time private preschool in Los Angeles commonly runs about $1,100 to $1,900 per month in 2026, per Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. California is among the more expensive states for child care, so a free transitional kindergarten seat is a major saving for a four-year-old.
If you are weighing options, walk through our comparison checklist and tour questions list, and model your year with the cost calculator. For more, see the Los Angeles daycare guide, the preschool versus pre-K explainer, and the DaycareSquare cost pillar.
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