Our Vision for San Francisco Universal Prekindergarten (UPK)
San Francisco’s Universal Prekindergarten initiative ensures that every child in our city enters kindergarten ready to learn and thrive. We believe that all families—regardless of background, income, or neighborhood—deserve access to high-quality early learning options that work for them.
Our Commitment
- Kindergarten Readiness for All: Every child deserves a strong start. UPK prepares children to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
- Mixed-Delivery System: Families can choose from a variety of early education settings through the Department of Early Childhood, SFUSD preschool and TK, Head Start, center-based programs, and licensed family child care homes.
- No Cost Barrier: We aim to remove cost as a barrier so every family can access a high-quality preschool program that meets their needs.
Building a More Inclusive, Equitable Early Learning System
San Francisco is well on its way to ensuring that families have universal access to high-quality early learning that will prepare their children for kindergarten. When fully implemented, SF UPK will be inclusive by:
- Supporting Early Educators: All educators will have access to training and tools to support every child—especially those with disabilities and children from historically underserved communities, including Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander children.
- Aligning Teaching and Learning: We’re creating consistent, developmentally appropriate practices across the city’s early education programs.
- Helping Families Navigate Choices: Families will have the support they need to choose the preschool or TK program that works best for them.
- Providing Financial Support: So cost never stands in the way of a quality early education.
A Strong Start for Every San Francisco Child
UPK gives families options:
- Most families in SF qualify for free or reduced tuition through the Early Learning For All network.
- The network includes over 500 early care and education sites, from family childcare homes to SFUSD early education schools.
- 4-year-olds can also attend Transitional Kindergarten (TK) at no cost in SFUSD.
Together, Early Learning For All + Transitional Kindergarten form the foundation of San Francisco’s UPK system.
San Francisco’s Universal Prekindergarten works to ensure that all children are ready for kindergarten – no matter where they live, learn, or grow.