If your child is turning four, their birthday is the first thing to check when deciding whether Transitional Kindergarten is an option.
California has now completed its expansion of Transitional Kindergarten, commonly called TK. Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, children who turn four on or before September 1 are eligible for public-school TK. The same cutoff applies for the 2026–2027 school year and future years under current California law.
For parents in Chino and elsewhere in California, that makes the basic eligibility rule much simpler than it was during the state’s earlier TK expansion.
Who Is Eligible for TK in California?
Under current California’s law, a child is age-eligible for Transitional Kindergarten if they will have their fourth birthday on or before September 1 of that school year.
For the 2026–2027 school year, this means:
| Child’s Birthday | 2026–2027 Status |
|---|---|
| September 2, 2021 – September 1, 2022 | Generally TK age-eligible |
| September 1, 2021 or earlier | Generally kindergarten age-eligible |
| September 2, 2022 or later | Not yet age-eligible for public TK |
The September 1 date is included.
For example, if your child turns four on:
- August 20, 2026: Eligible for TK
- September 1, 2026: Eligible for TK
- September 2, 2026: Not age-eligible for public TK for the 2026–2027 school year
That one-day difference can determine which public-school option is available.
California TK Eligibility Is Now Easier to Understand
Parents searching online may still find older TK charts showing birthday ranges that end in February, April, or June. Those dates came from California’s gradual expansion of TK and no longer represent the current statewide rule.
California expanded eligibility in stages before reaching universal age eligibility for four-year-olds who meet the September 1 cutoff. The current Education Code states that from 2025–2026 onward, children who turn four by September 1 must be admitted to a TK program maintained by a school district or charter school.
So if you are planning ahead, the rule is now straightforward:
| School Year | Child Must Turn 4 By |
|---|---|
| 2026–2027 | September 1, 2026 |
| 2027–2028 | September 1, 2027 |
| 2028–2029 | September 1, 2028 |
Instead of relying on an older TK eligibility chart, check your child’s fourth birthday against September 1 of the school year you are considering.
What Is TK?
Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program, followed by kindergarten. California law requires TK to use curriculum and teaching practices appropriate for children’s age and developmental stage.
That basic definition is enough to understand eligibility. TK itself is a much broader topic, including curriculum, schedules, differences from preschool, and how families choose between available programs. Those questions belong in a broader Transitional Kindergarten guide rather than an eligibility checklist.
For now, the important distinction is simple:
TK eligibility is mainly about age.
What If My Child Turns Four After September 1?
If your child turns four after September 1, they do not meet the standard statewide TK age requirement for that school year.
For example, a child born on September 15, 2022 would not fall within the standard TK eligibility window for 2026–2027. Under the statewide cutoff, that child would reach TK age eligibility for the following school year.
That does not mean the child cannot attend an early-learning program during the year.
California law specifically states that TK eligibility does not remove a family’s eligibility for other preschool or childcare programs for which they otherwise qualify. These can include preschool, childcare assistance programs, Head Start, and California State Preschool, depending on the family’s circumstances and each program’s requirements.
Families can also explore private preschool options. EverBright Montessori Academy’s Montessori preschool program in Chino serves children ages 3 to 5, according to the school’s current program information.
What If My Child Is Already Five by September 1?
If your child turns five on or before September 1, they generally meet California’s age requirement for kindergarten rather than the standard TK age range.
California Education Code states that a child who will have their fifth birthday on or before September 1 must be admitted to kindergarten at the beginning of the school year.
This is why TK and kindergarten eligibility should not be confused:
Turning 4 by September 1 → TK age eligibility
Turning 5 by September 1 → Kindergarten age eligibility
Age eligibility is also different from developmental readiness. A child’s birthday determines which public-school grade they are eligible to enter, while kindergarten readiness looks at areas such as independence, communication, social-emotional development, early literacy, math, and learning habits.
That distinction is worth keeping in mind if you are also thinking about whether your child feels prepared for the next stage of school.
Is TK Mandatory in California?
TK is an available public education option for eligible children, but parents should not interpret age eligibility as meaning that every four-year-old must attend TK.
California’s Universal PreKindergarten system includes TK alongside other early-learning options, and state law specifically protects children’s eligibility for preschool and childcare programs even when they qualify for TK.
For families, that means confirming eligibility is only the first step.
You may still want to compare your available options based on your child’s needs, the program’s schedule, teaching approach, location, and your family’s daily routine.
Can My Child Start TK Early in Chino?
If your child misses the September 1 cutoff, do not assume they can simply enter TK a few weeks or months later.
Chino Valley Unified School District specifically states that it does not offer early entry into TK for the 2026–2027 school year.
For example, a child whose fourth birthday is September 5, 2026 would miss CVUSD’s TK cutoff for that school year even though the birthday is only a few days after September 1.
In that situation, parents can look at preschool or other early-learning options until the child reaches the appropriate age for the following school year.
This is one reason families with birthdays close to the cutoff may want to check eligibility well before making childcare or preschool plans.
Does Being Eligible Mean TK Is Automatically the Best Choice?
No. Eligibility tells you whether TK is available based on age. It does not tell you which learning environment will work best for your child or family.
Once you know your child qualifies, it can help to compare practical factors such as:
- School-day length
- Before- and after-school care needs
- Classroom environment
- Teaching approach
- Your child’s current preschool experience
- Location and transportation
- Opportunities for hands-on learning
- How your child responds to transitions
- Your family’s plans for kindergarten the following year
A public TK program may make sense for one family, while another may prefer to continue with preschool or choose a private TK environment.
Families considering Montessori can review EverBright Montessori Academy’s TK & Kindergarten program in Chino. The school’s current program page describes an individualized, mixed-age Montessori approach in which learning is adjusted according to students’ abilities and interests.
This is a separate decision from eligibility itself. First determine whether your child qualifies, then compare the environments available to your family.
How to Check Your Child’s TK Eligibility
For most California families, you can start with three simple steps:
- Find your child’s fourth birthday.
- Compare it with September 1 of the school year you are considering.
- Check your local school district’s current enrollment information.
If the birthday is on or before September 1, your child meets California’s standard TK age requirement. If it is after September 1, check other preschool or early-learning options for that year.
Eligibility Is the Starting Point
California TK eligibility is now much easier to understand than it was during the state’s gradual expansion.
For the 2026–2027 school year, the key question is:
Will your child turn four on or before September 1, 2026?
If yes, they meet California’s standard TK age requirement. If their fourth birthday comes after September 1, they will generally need to wait until the following school year for public TK and can consider preschool or another early-learning option in the meantime.
Once you know where your child’s birthday falls, the next decision is about the learning environment itself. If Montessori is one of the options you’re considering in Chino, visiting EverBright Montessori Academy can give you a chance to see the classroom setting and ask questions about the school’s preschool, TK, and kindergarten programs before deciding what fits your family.
