California is expanding transitional kindergarten (TK) this 2025-26 school year to all children who turn 4 years old by Sept. 1. The free, play-based TK programs are offered through public schools and are part of the state’s Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) initiative that provides high-quality learning opportunities to all families with young children, including TK, the California State Preschool Program, as well as private early care and education providers.

 

The state’s PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential is designed and intended to help meet the demand for qualified teachers to support statewide TK. The credential focuses on the development and unique needs of young children and aims to expand a diverse workforce of educators who have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide developmentally appropriate learning.

 

To date, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing has approved the following PK-3 ECE teaching credential programs: San Diego County Office of Education, Riverside County Office of Education, Placer County Office of Education, Fresno State University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Stanislaus, CSU Long Beach, Biola University, and Vanguard University.

 

Those interested in earning the new PK-3 ECE teaching credential must have a bachelor’s degree and complete a Commission approved teacher preparation program that includes coursework, supervised clinical practice, and completion of a performance assessment that demonstrates competence to teach early learners.

 

In the 2025-26 school year, the state budget provides a total of $2.1 billion (including all prior years’ investments) to support the full implementation of universal TK. The budget also provides an additional $1.2 billion to support lowering the average student-to-adult ratio from 12:1 to 10:1 in every TK classroom.

 

Updated August 13, 2025