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 - Since 2020 ‑21, the state has provided reimbursement flexibility for child care and State Preschool direct contractors. This flexibility was initially intended to minimize the fiscal effects of pandemic ‑related attendance declines and temporary requirements for smaller group sizes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5024

The 2021-22 Budget: Child Care Proposals

Feb 11, 2021 - The 2020 ‑ 21 b udget provided DSS with $ 2  m illion one ‑time General Fund to plan for the transition. Trailer legislation requires DSS to submit a transition plan to the Legislature by March  31, 2021.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4363

The 2024-25 Budget: State Preschool

Apr 16, 2024 - Since 2020 ‑21, the state has allowed State Preschool providers to receive the lesser of reimbursable program costs or the contract amount, but did not take attendance into consideration. This allows providers to receive their full contract amount regardless of how many children are enrolled in the program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4894

Overview of Federal Relief for K-12 Education and Child Care

Apr 29, 2021 - Secretary of Education may waive this requirement, however, for states that experience a “precipitous decline in financial resources. ” State Appropriated Flexible CARES Act Funds in 2020 ‑21 Budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4419

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

May 13, 2021 - Figure  4 shows the 2020 ‑21 rates of the seven pilot counties using this flexibility. The PRRs range from 2  percent to 7  percent higher than a provider operating the same services and receiving the SRR.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4431