Page 3 - Child Care Resource Center

Government Relations
For the first time since 2016, California lawmakers have agreed to give child care providers receive a pay increase. Though the timing of the pay increases is still being determined, the 2021 budget package includes major investments in early care and education and the transition of early learning and care programs to the California Department of Social Services. Other highlights include additional child care slots, facilities and workforce development grants, Family Child Care provider stipends, and an increased allotment of non-operational days.
Early Care & Education (ECE)
The legislature voted to add 200,000 child care slots, starting with 120,000 child care slots and an additional 80,000 over four years. These slots will be for Alternative Payment (AP), General Child Care, Migrant Child Care, and the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children. Vouchers will be prioritized for essential workers currently enrolled in short-term child care.
Reimbursement Rate Reform
All child care and preschool program, including school-based, will be aligned to the Regional Market Rate and rate reform
will be adopted for all child care programs and implemented in 2023. For contracts already above their county RMR, a 4.05% COLA increase is approved for General Child Care and California State Preschool Programs. More information regarding rates, timing of payments, and payment delivery methods will be shared as we receive it.
Universal Transitional Kindergarten
The legislature supports Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) by 2025-26. Under the agreement, adoption of the program requires full school-day instructional minutes, limits the ratio of students to staff, includes after and summer school care for TK/K, and allows for parent choice for entering or retaining children in state preschool programs, child care, or Head Start programs that are age-eligible for TK.
Other Investments
• LEA-based preschool, TK and full-day kindergarten facilities.
• Early learning and care infrastructure, work force development, and Resource & Referral agencies.
• Stabilize providers and the child care industry through
rate increases; one time stipends of $600/child enrolled in
a subsidized child care or state preschool program, $3,500 to all licensed family child care home providers, and up
to $6,000 for licensed centers (based on capacity). This includes those temporarily closed that have a current license on June 25, 2021. Stipends will most likely go out later this calendar year and the rate increases will not take effect until January 1, 2022.
• Total of 16 paid non-operational days.
• One-time funding to establish Joint CCPU/State of California
Training and Education Partnership Fund to address the
workforce needs of all family child care providers.
• Mental health supports through the CA Inclusion and
Behavior Consultation (CIBC) project.
• Incentives for FCCs who become and remain licensed on
or after June, 28 2021 and maintain an active license for 12
consecutive months.
• Modernize provider payment options and support the
implementation of direct deposit electronic fund transfers and payments.
For up-to-the-minute child care information from our government relations team, follow CCRC@ccrc4kids on Twitter.
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