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 - In particular, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties expressed concern that using the st ate median income to determine eligibility made it difficult for families in these counties —which have higher wages and a higher cost of living —to qualify for subsidized care.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4431

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 2021-22 Budget: Transitional Kindergarten Expansion Package

Feb 5, 2021 - Based on the administration ’s multiyear outlook and associated projections of the Proposition   98 m inimum guarantee —and accounting for changes in attendance and cost of living —we think the state would be able to cover the costs of TK expansion within growth in the minimum guarantee.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4350

The 2022-23 Budget: State Preschool

Feb 22, 2022 - The program is targeted to families living below the poverty line. Grantees contract directly with the federal government, with specific funding plans and services varying by grantee. The Head Start program requires that 10  percent of children enrolled be children with disabilities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4555