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

Nov 14, 2025 - Beginning 2026-27, the budget package sets a new policy to fund direct contrac t providers based on the lesser of (1)  the maximum reimbursable amount in their contract, (2)  the contractor ’s reimbursable program costs, or (3)  the contract rate per child day of enrollment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5088

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

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 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Child Care and Preschool

Oct 27, 2022 - Funds can be used for a variety of purposes including assessing parental preferences for preschool and engaging in community-level coordination to implemen t preschool options. Extends Family Fee Waivers and Reimbursement Flexibilities for an Additional Year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4643

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: Transitional Kindergarten Expansion Package

Feb 5, 2021 - In 2018 ‑19, 143, 000 t hree ‑ and four ‑year olds were enrolled in State Preschool. Figure 1 o n the next page shows the key characteristics of TK and State Preschool. Figure 1 Key Characteristics of Preschool Programs Transitional Kindergarten State Preschool Age Four ‑year  olds with birthdays between September 2 and December 2, with option to serve some younger students.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4350

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