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

Nov 14, 2025 - (The per-child rate for three-year olds is 80  percent higher than the rate for four-year olds.) The costs associated with these increases are covered with unallocated State Preschool funds. Reduces Emergency Child Care Bridge Program Funding.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5088

The 2023-24 Budget: Child Care Proposals

Feb 9, 2023 - The Governor’s proposal to delay the slot expansion plan by not adding additional child care slots in 2023‑24 would save $134 million General Fund. The proposed delay in the slot expansion plan seems reasonable given state’s budget problem.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4672

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

Nov 17, 2023 - Since 2021 ‑22, the state has added about 146,000 new slots, which more than doubled the number of subsidized child care slots in the state. As of April 2023, about 30  percent of the recently added slots have been filled.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4817

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

May 13, 2021 - The policy also reduces administrative burden without adding cost pressure, as three-year olds enrolled in State Preschool are very likely to continue to be eligible as four-year olds. Generally, income eligible four-year olds receive priority enrollment in State Preschool.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4431

The 2021-22 Budget: Child Care Proposals

Feb 11, 2021 - Of open providers, 80  p ercent reported higher costs for cleaning, sanitation, and personal protective equipment. Families receiving child care also have been affected, particularly due to school and child care closures that have required families to find new child care arrangements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4363

The 2022-23 Budget: State Preschool

Feb 22, 2022 - The change also reduces some administrative burden without adding cost pressure to the program. Applying this policy statewide also would create consistency for children and families. Subscribe | California State Legislature | Online Voter Registration | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Legislative Analyst's Office | The California Legislature's Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor 925 L Street, Suite 1000 Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 445-4656
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4555