The 2025-26 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 28, 2025 - Under our recommendation, the budget would still provide a total of $1.6  billion Proposition  98 General Fund and $939  million non ‑Proposition  98 General Fund for State Preschool —enough to cover estimated contracted costs and provide funding equivalent to the monthly cost of care plus payments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5024

The 2018-19 Budget: Child Care Programs—Analysis of Governor’s Hold Harmless Rate Proposal

Mar 19, 2018 - These rate increases primarily entailed moving to more recent market surveys. The state still was using the 2005 market survey to set rates up to January 1, 2015. By January 1, 2018, the state had begun using the 2016 survey to set rates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3787

The 2025-26 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool [Publication Details]

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/Detail/5024

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

Jun 19, 2015 - Regional Market Rates (RMR) Increase by 4.5 Percent. The 2014-15 Budget Act increased the RMR to the greater of the 85 th percentile of the 2005 regional market rate survey or the 85 th percentile of the 2009 regional market rate survey deficited by 10.11 percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3276

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

Jan 13, 2025 - Instead, the gains appear largely tied to the booming stock market, a situation which can change rapidly and without warning. The  administration appears to share some of these concerns, noting recent job losses among high ‑wage workers and the risks posed by the inherent volatility of tax receipts tied to stock market gains.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2016-17 Budget: Analysis of Child Care and Preschool Proposals

Feb 24, 2016 - Understanding the new system therefore would be much easier yet the rates still would remain connected to the child care market and accurately reflect notable cost differences among counties. To Start, Set Reimbursements at the 65 th   Percentile of Most Recent Survey.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3367

The 2019-20 Budget: Early Education Analysis

Mar 4, 2019 - CalWORKs Child Care Providers Are Reimbursed Based on Regional Market Rates (RMR). Reimbursement rates for CalWORKs child care providers vary by county. The rates are based on a regional market survey of a sample of licensed child care providers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3956

The 2019-20 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget [Publication Details]

Jan 14, 2019 - Recent financial market volatility indicates revenues could be somewhat lower than either we or the administration estimated. Reports by Policy Area
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/3916

The 2023-24 Budget: Child Care Proposals

Feb 9, 2023 - DSS Still in the Process of Finalizing Contracts for About 8,800 New Slots. As  a part of the 2021 ‑22 RFA process, DSS awarded $257  million ongoing annual slot funding to 114 GCC providers in the spring of 2022.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4672

The 2020-21 Budget: CalWORKs Child Care Outlook

Nov 21, 2019 - Providers Are Reimbursed Based on Regional Market Rates (RMR). Reimbursement rates for CalWORKs child care providers vary by county. The rates are based on a regional market survey of a sample of licensed child care providers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4115