New data shows California’s TK enrollment has doubled in size

July 9, 2024, SACRAMENTO  – New state enrollment data shows that the number of students in transitional kindergarten (TK) has doubled in size over the last two years, following unprecedented early learning investments. TK enrollment went from 75,465 in the 2021-22 school year to 151,491 in the 2023-24 year. In 2021, Governor Newsom signed legislation providing free and high-quality TK for all four-year-olds.

“California is investing in students’ early education and increasing access to TK across the state. Through the state’s efforts to add a whole new grade, we have created more opportunities for kids to begin learning at an earlier age.”

“The first few years of a child’s life are so important to their development and as parents, what’s most important is giving our children the very best we can, starting with early education. That’s why I am so proud of California’s expansion of transitional kindergarten and happy to see more and more California families accessing this incredible opportunity to provide their children with a solid, accessible foundation for learning.”

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

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Over the past years, California has invested unprecedented amounts in early education, from the rolling out of $500 million in Universal PreKindergarten Planning and Implementation Grants, to the statewide expansion and support for the campaign to raise awareness of free, early learning programs.

How California is transforming education:

• Universal Pre-Kindergarten: California’s children will have access to crucial high-quality instruction by age 4 – effectively adding a new grade to the traditional K-12 system – regardless of a family’s income, with full-scale implementation anticipated by 2025.
• Universal Extended-Day Learning: All elementary school students will have access to before- and after-school programs, as well as summer learning opportunities, by 2025.
• Universal Free Meals: No student will need to learn on an empty stomach, with all students having the choice of two free, nutritious meals per day – regardless of income or family status.
• Youth Behavioral Health: Youth ages 0-25 will have access to a revamped youth behavioral health system, including an online one-stop hub and billions invested to integrate mental health services with schools.
• College Savings Accounts: Every low-income public school student will have an account opened in their name with a seed deposit of $500 to $1,500 – cultivating a college-going mindset, building generational wealth, and promoting college affordability.
• Tutoring + Literacy + Math: Schools are helping students accelerate academic progress and mitigate learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic through tutoring, increased instructional time, and other student supports.
• More Teachers, More Counselors, and More Paraeducators: Lower staff-to-student ratios is more support for students. Ratios will be lowered across settings and $1.1 billion in annual funding for high-poverty schools to hire up to 5 more staff each.
• Master Plan for Career Education: Aligning and simplifying the TK-12, university, and workforce systems in California to support greater access to education and jobs for all Californians.