January 2025

Child Care and Preschool

Child Care Budget

(Dollars In Millions)

  2023-24 Reviseda 2024-25 Revisedb 2025-26 Proposedb Change from 2024-25
Amount Percent
Expenditures            
CalWORKs Child Care            
Stage 1 $550 $588 $602 $14 2%  
Stage 2c 420 546 599 53 10  
Stage 3 559 541 524 -17 -3  
Subtotals ($1,530) ($1,675) ($1,725) ($51) (3%)  
Non-CalWORKs Child Care            
Alternative Payment Program $2,028 $1,990 $2,052 $61 3%  
General Child Cared 1,255 1,495 1,594 99 7  
Bridge program for foster children 94 107 94 -14 -13  
Migrant Child Care 70 79 80 2 2  
Care for Children With Severe Disabilities 2 2 2 — 6  
Subtotals ($3,449) ($3,673) ($3,822) ($149) (4%)  
Support Programs $1,578e $1,929f $1,523g -$407 -21%  
Totals $6,557 $7,276 $7,070 ($207) -3%  
Funding            
Proposition 98 General Fundh $3 $2 $1 -$1 -37%  
Non-Proposition 98 General Fund 3,173 4189 4,609 420 10  
Proposition 64 Special Fund 270 642 202 -440 -69  
Federal 3,111 2,443 2,257 -186 -8  
             
a Reflects 2024-25 May Revision estimates with LAO adjustments.
b Reflects 2025-26 Governor's Budget.
c Does not include $11.2 million provided to community colleges for certain child care services.
d Includes funding for family child care home education networks.
e Includes cost estimates for quality programs, child care infrastructure, Child and Adult Care Food Program, CCPU Retirement Benefit Trust, accounts payable, whole child community equity, court cases, and costs associated with 2023-24 MOU and parity agreement.
f Includes cost estimates for quality programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, accounts payable, whole child community equity, and costs associated with 2023-24 MOU and parity agreement.
g Includes cost estimates for quality programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, accounts payable, and whole child community equity.
h Reflects Proposition 98 funds for Child and Adult Care Food Program.
CCPU = Child Care Providers United.