In 2021, California made historic investments in early learning to expand transitional kindergarten (TK) to serve all of California's 4-year-olds. Transitional kindergarten began in California in 2012 as a free public school program for 4-year-olds who were not yet eligible for kindergarten (a non-compulsory grade). Yet by 2019, just 28 percent of Black and 31 percent of Latinx 3- and 4-year-olds were enrolled in high-quality early learning programs in California. Universal TK can be a considerable step toward leveling the playing field for young children, however, it has to be done in a way that centers equity. In this equity alert, we share the investments that the budget includes to expand TK and provide seven recommendations for state leaders, local education agencies (LEAs), and community members and advocates to ensure that implementation of universal TK leads to equitable outcomes. It is essential that early learning and care providers, parents (including parents who do not speak English as a primary language), community partners, and advocates are all involved as LEAs build their plans to scale up TK. State and local leaders have a responsibility to leverage this additional funding to bolster stakeholder engagement, partnerships, and data utilization, to strengthen professional development and career opportunities for educators, and to intentionally expand access in evidence-backed ways that support communities that have been the most underinvested.