• Learn more about UPK and family choice from the California Department of Education.
• Visit the Early Edge California website for a list of questions to consider when discussing TK with your local school district. 

If a child turns five years old before September 1 of a given year, they are eligible for kindergarten. With Universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK), some four-year-old children may be eligible for TK.

Some districts will be offering early admittance beyond the dates above. Be sure to check with your district of residence.

If you have children under the age of four, contact Tulare County Office of Education Childcare Resource and Referral to learn more about the child care delivery system and choosing high-quality child care.

With the expansion of Transitional Kindergarten, parents and families of four-year-olds across California are being presented with a unique range of educational options for their children.

Attending a high-quality early education program prepares children to develop critical social-emotional, cognitive, and early academic skills to be ready for kindergarten and beyond.

Finding the best option for your child takes time and research, and this section can provide a first step to learning more about the mixed-delivery system for California's four-year-olds. Remember - you know your child best!

Questions to consider:

• How many children will be in the classroom? How many adults/teachers?
• Does the schedule include an appropriate amount of play time, rest time, and learning activities?
• How does the program support children's home language, individualized needs, and/or extended learning opportunities?
• How does the program offer the opportunity for large group, small group, and individualized learning?
• How does the program engage families?
• How does the program support emerging communication and social-emotional skills?