By fall 2025, every 4-year-old will be eligible for a free preschool program at California public schools, but charter schools are exempt from the mandate.

For close to a decade, transitional kindergarten was only available to students with birthdays in certain months. Charter schools have never been required to offer the early learning program, but hundreds have opted to enroll younger students.

“A lot of those who offer kindergarten already see it as an opportunity to get students into school earlier,” said Ricardo Soto, chief advocacy officer and general counsel at the California Charter Schools Association.

As part of California’s push to create free, universal preschool, school districts must expand their transitional kindergarten program to every 4-year-old in the state by the 2025-2026 school year. In the academic year that starts this fall, students who turn 5 between Sept. 2 and April 2 can enroll, although some districts are offering the program to more kids ahead of schedule.

A CCSA analysis found that 11% of students