The 2025-26 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 28, 2025 - In this brief, we assess the Governor’s 2025-26 child care and State Preschool budget proposals and provide associated recommendations. We also revisit three related policies that may no longer align with the Legislature’s key priorities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5024

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Child Care and State Preschool

Nov 14, 2025 - AP = Alternative Payment; COLA = cost ‑of ‑living adjustment; and ELOP = Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. Suspends Statutory Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The budget package suspends the statutory COLA for child care and State Preschool in 2025-26.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5088

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - We understand that while the administration indicates it will provide this payment in the future—after the final calculation of the minimum funding requirement—it also has not scored this future obligation in its multiyear budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2023-24 Budget: Child Care Proposals

Feb 9, 2023 - Forgo the COLA and Score General Fund Savings in Light of Broader Budget Problem. To the extent the projected budget problem is worse in the May Revision, the Legislature could forgo using the $303  million in COLA ‑related funds to reduce total program  expenditures.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4672

A Review of Child Care and Preschool Program Flexibilities in Certain Counties

May 13, 2021 - If the direct contract provider remains in good standing, its contract is renewed annually. Many providers have held a direct contract with th e state for decades. If a Provider Does Not Earn Its Full Contract, Funds Are Returned to the State.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4431

The 2019-20 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 14, 2019 - Over the past several years, the Legislature has focused on certain financial aid goals, including: ( 1)  i ncreasing living assistance (especially for students enrolled full time); ( 2)  e xpanding the number of Cal Grant competitive awards, as demand currently greatly exceeds supply; and ( 3)  s implifying the state ’s financial aid system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3916

The 2015-16 Budget: Major Features of the Adopted Plan (Child Care and Preschool)

Jun 19, 2015 - COLA = cost-of-living adjustment and LEA = local educational agency. Reimbursement Rates Standard Reimbursement Rate Increases by 5 Percent. The budget provides $61 million for a 5 percent increase to the Standard Reimbursement Rate (SRR) starting July 1, 2015.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3276

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Child Care and Preschool

Oct 27, 2022 - Figure 2 2022 ‑23 Changes in Preschool Spending (In Millions) TK attendance and rate changes $1,128 State Preschool rate increase for three ‑year olds 240 Annualization of State Preschool rate increases initiated January 1, 2022 166 State Preschool rate increase for students with disabilities and dual language learners 73 State Preschool COLA (6.56 percent) 67 Prior year one ‑time
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4643

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2023 - Our estimates suggest that there is a good chance that revenues will be lower than the administration ’s projections for the budget window, particularly in 2022 ‑23 and 2023 ‑24. Given this risk, we recommend the Legislature: (1)  plan for a larger budget problem and (2)  address that larger problem by reducing more one ‑time and temporary spending.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4662

The 2019-20 Budget: Governor's Proposals for Infants and Toddlers With Special Needs

Feb 28, 2019 - Although we are uncertain how many additional children would end up receiving early intervention services because of the administration ’s proposal (since we do not have good provider data about the number of screenings already occurring), we caution that any effort to serve more children may be complicated by a shortage of qualified providers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3954