California families can save nearly $14,000 as free transitional kindergarten reaches every 4-year-old
Sacramento, California – For California families sending a 4-year-old to school this fall, the first day can also mean something much more practical: one less major child care bill. Universal Transitional Kindergarten is now available to every 4-year-old statewide, with the state estimating families can save nearly $14,000 per child.
And the support does not stop at the classroom door. As millions of students return to school, California is pairing universal TK with free meals for every public school student, expanded after-school care, mental health services, literacy programs and additional resources for children with disabilities.
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Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom marked the new school year by highlighting the second year of full statewide implementation of Universal TK. California enrolled 213,313 children in transitional kindergarten during the 2024–25 school year and has invested $12.5 billion since 2019 to fully build out the program.
“California is proving what’s possible with historic investments in the next generation. Free TK for every 4-year-old. Free meals at school. Expanded after school programs. More child care, mental health support, more help learning to read,” Newsom said.
Early results cited by the state show California TK students entered kindergarten about six months ahead in letter-word skills and three months ahead in applied mathematics.
Families are also receiving more support outside regular class hours. The state’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program provides before-school, after-school and summer programs for TK through sixth-grade students, backed by $4.6 billion in ongoing 2025–26 funding.
Food has become another major part of California’s school strategy. The state became the first in the nation to guarantee two free school meals each day to every public school student regardless of family income. Nearly 3.5 billion free meals have been served through the Universal Meals Program. California has also secured permanent funding for its Farm to School Program, while 375 farm-to-school projects now benefit 49% of public school students.
Mental health and literacy investments have grown alongside those programs. California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health is backed by $4.7 billion, and more than 4,000 trained professionals have been placed in schools and community organizations. Free services have reached more than 500,000 children, youth and families.
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Meanwhile, literacy programs now reach 2.6 million TK–5 students, with more than 800 high-need elementary schools receiving support from reading specialists and literacy coaches.
The state says academic results are also moving upward, with gains across tested subjects and grade levels. Officials acknowledge more work remains, but the broader goal is increasingly clear: make school not simply a place where children attend class, but a system that supports them before, during and after the bell.
