# California transitional kindergarten expansion and education > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/california-transitional-kindergarten-expansion-and-education > Updated: 2026-08-26T12:00:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. California has expanded its transitional kindergarten (TK) program to include all 4-year-olds through taxpayer funding. The initiative, which has seen over $12 billion in investment since 2019, aims to provide an affordable alternative to private care, potentially saving families approximately $14,000 per child annually. While the TK program has seen significant growth—with enrollment increasing by 20.1% to reach 213,313 students—it has introduced new complexities to the state's educational landscape. A UC Berkeley study indicates the program may be destabilizing the private child-care ecosystem as providers struggle to maintain enrollment. Simultaneously, the state is facing a crisis in student stability. Research shows that nearly 300,000 K-12 students experienced homelessness during the 2024-25 school year, a 10% increase from previous records. This homelessness is particularly concentrated in Southern California counties and is linked to lower academic performance in math and reading compared to housed peers. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-26: California education sees rising student homelessness and TK growth California reports rising student homelessness, reaching nearly 300,000 K-12 students, even as the state's transitional kindergarten initiative sees a 20% increase in enrollment. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-education-sees-rising-student-homelessness-and-tk-growth ### 2026-08-21: California implements universal transitional kindergarten for 4-year-olds California has launched universal transitional kindergarten for all 4-year-olds, a move intended to save families money but one that researchers say is destabilizing the state's private child-care sector. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-implements-universal-transitional-kindergarten-for-4-year-olds --- Cite as: California transitional kindergarten expansion and education. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/california-transitional-kindergarten-expansion-and-education