Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo
California Department of Education
Official Letter
California Department of Education
Official Letter
March 21, 2025

Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Celebrating Universal Transitional Kindergarten and Reminder of Expectations

As we approach the 2025–26 school year, the California Department of Education (CDE) is excited to celebrate a significant milestone in early childhood education: the final stage in expansion toward Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) to include all four-year-old children across California. This ambitious initiative marks a historic moment for our state’s commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities from an early age.

By the start of the 2025–26 school year, every four-year-old child will have access to Transitional Kindergarten (TK), regardless of background, race, zip code, immigration status, or income level. Under California Education Code Section 48000, any school district that offers kindergarten is required to also offer TK and comply with the TK requirements, such as adult-to-student ratio, class size, and teacher credentialing. This requirement includes basic aid districts, which primarily rely on local property tax revenue to fund their Local Control Funding Formula entitlement.

The vast majority of school districts and charter schools have embraced TK and are working hard on implementation of UTK, because early learning is the most effective strategy to close the socioeconomic achievement gap and helps build a strong school community by connecting families to their local schools, starting with four-year-olds.

As you prepare for this expansion, the CDE encourages you to focus on ensuring that your facilities are appropriate to accommodate the developmental needs of four-year-olds. Additionally, districts should engage with local communities to raise awareness about the availability and benefits of UTK. To support the successful implementation of UTK, the CDE will continue to provide resources and guidance, including assistance with fostering equity-grounded emotional relationships with students and families, incorporating playful learning across the preschool through third grade continuum, workforce development, and community outreach. We are committed to working closely with all districts to ensure that every child has access to high-quality early learning opportunities.

Thank you for your dedication to providing exceptional educational experiences for California’s children. Together, we can make a lasting impact on their future success.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Recently Posted in Letters

  • 2025 Fall Digital Citizenship Week (added 30-Sep-2025)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding Fall Digital Citizenship Week.
  • Immigration Enforcement Rapid Response Toolkit (added 20-Sep-2025)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators regarding New Legislation and Guidance: Immigration Enforcement Rapid Response Toolkit
  • Cultural Observances, Fall 2025 (added 19-Sep-2025)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding inclusive practices to support all students’ cultural observances, Fall 2025.
  • Steps to College 2026 Event and Scholarship (added 18-Sep-2025)
    Joint letter with the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle and High School Principals regarding the Steps to College 2026 event and scholarship opportunity.
  • Evento y oportunidad de beca Steps to College 2026 (added 18-Sep-2025)
    Spanish version of the joint letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle and High School Principals regarding the Steps to College 2026 event and scholarship opportunity.

  • Schools as Voting Locations, Student Poll Workers (added 12-Sep-2025)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and High School Principals regarding schools as voting locations and student poll workers.
  • 2026 CA Schools to Watch Program (added 28-Aug-2025)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle School Principals regarding an invitation to apply for the 2026 California Schools to Watch program.
  • Announcement of the CA AI in Education Workgroup (added 20-Aug-2025)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, Principals, and Education Partners regarding an announcement of the California Artificial Intelligence in Education Workgroup.
  • Safe Storage of Firearms, School Safety, Security (added 14-Aug-2025)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding safe storage of firearms, school safety, and security.