Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

Early Edge California advocated for Universal Preschool for all four-year-olds through expanded Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in California. In 2021, we celebrated the monumental achievement of the inclusion of Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) in the CA state budget. The state’s new $2.7 billion program will be phased in over a four-year period, between the 2022-23 to 2025-26 school years, until all 4-year-olds have the opportunity to attend a high-quality, developmentally appropriate TK program and enter Kindergarten prepared to learn and thrive.

Early Edge will continue partnering with Early Learning stakeholders across the state to support the successful implementation of this Universal Preschool option for all 4-year-olds in California.

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Transitional Kindergarten: The Case for TK for All

Early Edge's History with TK

2005–2006

Put Proposition 82, the Preschool For All Initiative, on the ballot to give all California 4-year-olds a constitutional right to free preschool. Though the initiative was defeated, we built a network of support that could be aimed at future advocacy efforts.

2010

TK was created in California as a result of our advocacy efforts. This new grade level bridges preschool and Kindergarten. It was adopted through the Kindergarten Readiness Act (Senate Bill 1381), which we co-sponsored with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

2010-2012

Supported more than 900 school districts as they implemented TK. We provided technical information, connected experts to districts, held conferences and webinars, and worked with experts to develop TKCalifornia.org.

2014–2015

The California budget language stated the intent of the Legislature was for TK to be aligned with the California Preschool Learning Foundations. The budget required newly assigned TK teachers to have early childhood education coursework, experience, or a Child Development Permit. It also directed the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to review and update requirements for Child Development Permits.

We advocated for the largest increase to child development in more than a decade. The result: more than $250 million in new, ongoing state investments including 11,500 additional preschool spaces.

2015–2016

We sponsored the Preschool for All Act (Assembly Bill 47), which aimed to set a firm deadline for California to provide quality preschool to all low-income 4-year-olds. Though vetoed by Governor Brown, AB 47 led to an additional $300 million in child care and development funding.

2016

We defended the rights of 80,000 children to TK. We continue to support TK implementation in partnership with the New Teacher Center through our annual TK Conference.

2017

TK is shown to give children an academic advantage when they enter Kindergarten, according to a five-year study. It also improves language, literacy, and math skills for English Learner (EL) students.

2020

The Master Plan for Early Learning and Care (MPELC): Making California for All Kids was released by the California Health and Human Services Agency in December 2020.

2021

We advocated for Universal Preschool for all four-year-olds through expanded TK in California and celebrated the monumental achievement of the inclusion of Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) in the CA state budget. The state’s new $2.7 billion program will be phased in over 4 years, beginning in 2022.

Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Progress and Opportunities

Milestones

What we’ve achieved together

Passage of Universal Transitional Kindergarten: In the 2021-22 State Budget, California committed to providing universal access to TK, which means all California 4-year-olds will have access to a free preschool option by the 2025-26 school year.

Lower student-adult ratios: Starting in the 2022-23 school year, the student-teacher ratios in TK were lowered to 12:1. The Legislature has also committed to further lowering the ratio to 10:1 starting in the 2025-26 school year.

Teacher requirements embedded in ECE: By the 2025-26 school year, all lead TK teachers will be required to have a Multiple Subject Credential AND at least 24 units of Early Childhood Education and/or a Child Development Permit or PK-3 Specialist Credential. 

Before- and after-care access provided through the creation of the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP): ELOP provides before- and after-care opportunities for families enrolled in TK-Grade 6 and offers up to 9 hours of care a day. This is critical to supporting working families.

Roadblocks

Some current challenges

Staffing challenges: A teacher shortage due to both lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with low-compensation for educators, impacts school districts’ ability to fully staff and expand classrooms.

Professional development: As the number of TK classrooms grows, it’s important that teachers and aides have professional development to support them in teaching and working with younger children, as well as children who may speak a language other than English at home, or have special needs. Additionally, site administrators also need professional development on ECE and Child Development to ensure they have an understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and are fostering that environment on campus.

Curriculum: TK does not have a required and recommended curriculum and therefore alignment across preschool and TK programs can vary greatly.

Developmentally appropriate assessments: Since TK originally served older children with birthdays between September 2 and December 2, as TK is expanding to include younger children, there are some requirements and practices that have been implemented in TK that are not developmentally appropriate for 4-year-olds.

Facilities: As school districts work to expand TK, they also need to ensure that they have the proper facilities needed to support serving younger students with different needs than older elementary school students. This means building new classrooms and/or retrofitting existing classrooms and including small and easily accessible toilets to support young learners who may still be acclimating to toilet training.

State Budget deficit: California is currently experiencing a budget deficit that is leading to program cuts across sectors and may resume for several years. Additional funding needed to support TK implementation quality elements, such as 10:1 ratios, professional development, and compensation, may not be available for several years.

Solutions

Some priorities for action

Staffing solutions: Secure funding in the state budget to support lowering the student-teacher ratios to 10:1.

Professional development solutions: Require school districts to provide annual professional development to teachers, aides, and site school leadership to ensure that all educators are grounded in Early Childhood Development and best practices that create a developmentally appropriate environment for 4-year-olds and support Dual Language Learners.

Curriculum solutions: California recently released the new Preschool TK Learning Foundations and it is the intent of the Legislature that school districts align their TK programs to these Learning Foundations. We need to ensure  school districts adopt, receive and provide training and  professional development to educators on the new Preschool TK Learning Foundations to ensure more alignment across TK programs.

Developmentally appropriate assessment solutions: With AB 2268 (Muratsuchi) signed into law in June 2024 to exempt TK students from completing the English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC), the next step is identifying and supporting  4-year-old Dual Language Learners into TK classrooms.

Facilities solutions: To support school districts with TK facilities, TK Facilities were included in the K-12 Facilities Bond which will be voted on in the general election this November 2024.

Working towards full-day care: Address stability of ELOP and strengthen implementation efforts to ensure that school districts are providing access to high-quality after-school programs that are developmentally appropriate for 4-year-olds. Develop partnerships between LEAs and other community-based programs to provide before- and after-care.

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TKCalifornia is an online hub for finding easy-to-use resources for administrators, teachers, and parents as California expands Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to serve all 4-year-olds. Download our TKCalifornia website flyer to learn more or to share this resource electronically or via print.

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