What does the change in age eligibility for State Preschool mean for me and my child?

What is the California State Preschool Program (CSPP)? 

• CSPP is a state-funded program that offers full-day or part-day preschool instruction for eligible three- and four-year-old children. 
• Families at or below 70% of state median income are eligible to apply (however, families are not currently guaranteed a spot if they fill out the application). 

What has changed? 

• Families in the public school system will have more choices for their 4-year-old, allowing you to choose which school setting is appropriate for your child’s developmental stage. We encourage you to talk to your preschool teachers to decide what might be the best choice for your child.  
• As of July 1, 2021, CSPP has expanded eligibility for transitional kindergarten (TK) by changing the definition of “eligible 4-year-old.”  
  • “Eligible 4-year-old children” are now defined as children who will have their fourth birthday on or before December 1 of the calendar year in which they are enrolled in a California state preschool program, or a child whose fifth birthday occurs after September 1 of the calendar year in which they are enrolled in a California state preschool program and whose parent or guardian has opted to retain or enroll them in a California state preschool program.