Child Care Subsidized Slots [EdBudget]

January 2026

Child Care Subsidized Slots

	2021-22 Revised	2022-23 Revised	2023-24 Revised	2024-25 Revised	2025-26 Revised	2026-27 Proposed	Change from 2025-26
	2021-22 Revised	2022-23 Revised	2023-24 Revised	2024-25 Revised	2025-26 Revised	2026-27 Proposed	Amount	Percent
CalWORKs Child Care
Stage 1	32,745	48,095	52,322	51,688	51,988	53,241	1,243	2%
Stage 2	25,767	26,771	36,380	48,103	51,131	53,097	1,966	4
Stage 3	62,532	56,274	50,219	48,322	51,573	54,076	2,503	5
Subtotals	(121,044)	(131,140)	(138,824)	(148,113)	(154,702)	(160,414)	(5,712)	(4%)
Non-CalWORKs Programs
Alternative Payment Program	129,332	161,332	161,332	161,332	161,332	170,495^a	9,163	6%
General Child Care	40,995	53,385	53,385	65,365	65,365	64,448^b	-917	-1
Migrant Child Care	5,262	5,262	5,262	5,029	5,029	5,054^a	25	—
Care for Children with Severe Disabilities	111	111	111	111	111	80^a	-31	-28
Subtotals	(175,700)	(220,090)	(220,090)	(231,837)	(231,837)	(240,077)	(8,240)	(4%)
Totals	296,744	351,230	358,914	379,950	386,539	400,491	13,952	4%

Note: Slots for non-CalWORKS programs reflect the amount budgeted for each program. CalWORKS Stage 2 does not include certain community college child care slots (less than 1,000 slots annually).
^a Changes in slot totals reflect changes to the methodology for how slots are estimated, not changes in funding.
^b Change in General Child Care slots reflects an updated methodology for how slots are estimated, as well as reductions in federal and Proposition 64 funding.