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

Nov 14, 2025 - This shift is motivated by a change in federal regulations requiring states to pay providers in advance of providing services, rather than the past requirement to pay providers within 21 days of submitting attendance records.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5088

The 2025-26 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 28, 2025 - Current Law Requires Annual COLA for SRR. The state provides a statutorily required annual COLA —the same rate provided to K ‑12 education programs —to the SRR. (The RMR does not have a statutory COLA and is adjusted at the Legislature ’s discretion.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5024

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

Jan 13, 2025 - The state constitution has a balanced budget requirement, which means the balance of the SFEU must be set above zero for the upcoming fiscal year. Any level above zero is up to the discretion of the Legislature.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Child Care and State Preschool

Nov 17, 2023 - We understand that the cost study and model would consider costs to comp ly with program requirements (such as health and safety standards, staffing requirements, and licensing requirements), provide high-quality care, and provide higher compensation to staff relative to current levels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4817

The 2024-25 Budget: State Preschool

Apr 16, 2024 - The requirement was initially set to increase to 7.5  percent in 2023 ‑24 and 10  percent in 2024 ‑25 and future years. The 2023 ‑24 budget package delayed these requirements for two years and redirected the associated funding increases in 2023 ‑24 and 2024 ‑25 to the collective bargaining set-aside.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4894

The 2023-24 Budget: Transitional Kindergarten and State Preschool Proposals

Feb 14, 2023 - Notably, the Governor ’s budget does not include funding to require that TK classrooms, on average, have one adult for every ten students. Creates Additional Requirements for TK Staff. The Governor ’s budget proposes additional requirements for adults assigned to TK classrooms.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4682

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

Oct 27, 2022 - Figure 3 Changes in Preschool Adjustment Factors Previous Adjustment Receiving mental health consultation services 1.05 1.10 Requires State Preschool Providers Serve Children With Disabilities. In addition to increasing rates, the budget package includes several new requirements for State Preschool programs to serve children with disabilities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4643

The 2022-23 Budget: State Preschool

Feb 22, 2022 - Given Head Start already has a similar requirement, and given the lower rates in State Preschool, we think the 10  percent requirement proposed by the Governor is a reasonable starting place for setting expectations for providers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4555

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

Jan 13, 2023 - Reflecting these higher revenue estimates, the administration ’s estimates of constitutionally required General Fund spending on K ‑14 education is about $2.6  billion higher than our November estimates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4662

The 2023-24 Budget: Child Care Proposals

Feb 9, 2023 - While some options would maximize the number of child care providers receiving some form of a funding increase, they would require forgoing the $80  million to $100  million in possible General Fund savings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4672