California State Budget, Legislature & The Capitol

CALIFORNIA BUDGET UPDATES

To help support you staying on top of the 2024-25 budget process and materials connected to the budget, TFC is hosting everything in one place on its Budget Page.

Upcoming Committee Hearings for this week below. All upcoming calendared budget hearings noted here:

• Tuesday, April 30 - ASM Budget Sub 3 @ 9:00 - PreK-12 Education & Learning Recovery - State Capitol, Room 447
• Wednesday, May 1 - ASM Budget Sub 2 @ 1:30 - Governor's proposed use of safety nmet reserve; CDSS Health & Human Services Automation Projects - State Capitol, Room 444

All of the above information can be found on TFC's Budget Page. Be sure to reach out to TFC staff with any questions.

Last week, the California Legislative Women's Caucus prioritized the legislation below. Thriving Families CA is pleased to share that our sponsored AB 2476 (Bonta) to pay upfront for child care is on this list.

BILL OF THE WEEK

AB 2774 (Grayson) Childcare for Working Families Act.

Author: Assemblymember Tim Grayson

Assemblymember Tim Grayson was first elected to serve in the California Assembly in November 2016 and represents the 15th Assembly District, which encompasses portions of Contra Costa county. He is the son of a Teamster father and his mother was a public transit worker. He is the first in his family to earn a college degree. In 2010, Grayson was elected to serve on the Concord City Council, winning reelection in 2014 and serving on the Council until his election to the Assembly. He also served as Concord’s Mayor from 2014 – 2015.

Since being elected to the Assembly, Grayson has focused on issues related to addressing California’s housing and transportation crises, increasing our budget reserves and access to higher education, mitigating human trafficking, minimizing the risk of wildfires and helping individuals with special needs. Forty of the bills Grayson authored have been signed into law.

Click here to view the bill.

To submit a support letter, click here.

HOW TO SUPPORT A BILL

As bills move through California’s legislative process, they are presented to and heard by several committees who may recommend amendments and vote on whether or not the bill should continue through the legislative process.

As legislators decide how to vote, they consider public opinion as expressed through position letters. To support a bill and submit a position letter, you must first register here for an account. You only need to do this once. After you register, you will log in, and then you click on submit a letter. From there, you simply click on either AB (Assembly Bill) or SB (Senate Bill) and then the bill number. If you need any support, please email TFC.

IMPORTANT DATES, DEADLINES & BILLS

May 3 - Last day for policy committees to hear and report to the floor non-fiscal bills introduced in their house (J.R. 61(b)(6)).

May 10 - Last day for policy committees to meet prior to May 28 (J.R. 61(b)(7)).

Upcoming Legislative Hearings:

• Senate Appropriations - April 29th @ 10 am - 1021 O Street, Room 2200
• ASM Appropriations - May 1 @ 9:30 am - 1021 O Street, Room 1100

Bills to Watch:

• AB 1808 (Nguyen) Childcare and development services: eligibility. Extends 24-month eligibility to CalWORKs child care. TFC SPONSORED.
• AB 2476 (Bonta) Childcare services: alternative payment programs. TFC SPONSORED.
• AB 2774 (Grayson) Childcare for Working Families Act

Resources:

• See the full 2023-24 Legislative Calendar here.
• Visit TFC's legislation page to find a comprehensive list of bills of interest.
• Visit TFC's Budget Page for full budget bill details, as well as budget hearing video archive links.
• Visit TFC's dedicated page to find a full list of Senate and Assembly Committee chairs and contact information.
• Click here to view all the bills that the Assembly and Senate introduced this legislative year.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE INFO, RULES & POSITION LETTER DEADLINES

All changes to committee assignments have been reflected on TFC's Committee Information, Rules & Position Letter Deadlines page. This page has been tailored to only include those committees relevant to the field. However, you can find the full, comprehensive and updated list of all committees on this site.

Please reach out to TFC staff if you have any questions.

Did you know?

Child Care Q&As

Question: When will child care centers receive their one-time transitional payments?

Answer: Child care centers that provided services in April 2023. These payments shall be payable to child care centers serving children enrolled in the following child care and development programs based on services provided in the month of April 2023:

• California Alternative Payment Programs (CAPP)

• Migrant Alternative Payment Programs (CMAP)

• California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Stages One, Two (C2AP) and Three (C3AP)

• The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program)

• General Child Care and Development Programs (CCTR)

• Migrant Child Care and Development Programs (CMIG)

• Child Care and Development Programs for Children with Severe Disabilities (CHAN)

Federal Update

Federal Government Update

From the First Five Years Fund (FFYF):

The federal funding process is underway for Fiscal Year 2025. President Biden released his budget proposal last month, and Congressional offices are currently accepting and reviewing funding requests from organizations and constituents for specific programs. Appropriations is a primary source of investment in federal programs for ECE.

This week, the House Appropriations Committee has announced that the FY25 Member Sign-on Letters deadline is May 1st, which means we only have a few days left to get as many signatures as possible by Monday, April 29th. More: FY25 Member Request Guidance | House Committee on Appropriations

***

Child Tax Credit

Improvements to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) remain at a standstill following pushback from key Republican Senators despite bipartisan support. 

⇒ Please urge your Senators to pass the expanded CTC now.

We know how to end child poverty. That is why we are fighting for this expansion right now, and why we will keep fighting to improve the CTC further.   

More: 

• Child Tax Credit 2024 Resources & Social Media (Coalition on Human Needs)

Supplemental Federal Child Care Funding 

We are focused on ensuring that any future domestic supplemental that is considered includes $16 billion for child care and early learning.

⇒ Please urge your Members of Congress to support the $16 billion proposal supported by President Biden and many congressional Democrats. 

As previously shared,

• State-by-State Map on Local Impact of Child Care Funding Cliff - National Women's Law Center (nwlc.org)
• The-Child-Care-Stabilization-Act-One-Pager.pdf (senate.gov)

Administration Update - 2024 CCDF Final Rule Transitional Waiver Flexibilities Guidance

From the Office of Child Care:

The 2024 Final Rule makes important changes to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program for families and providers. For families, changes include lowering child care costs, increasing child care options, and enabling easier and faster enrollment. The 2024 Final Rule also includes changes for Lead Agency payment practices to providers, including more stabilizing payment practices, making payment more aligned to costs, and making it easier for providers to participate in CCDF. 

The 2024 Final Rule goes into effect on April 30, 2024, but OCC recognizes that it may take Lead Agencies some additional time to fully implement these changes. The CCDBG Act allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) the option to temporarily waive requirements, and OCC is using this authority to allow Lead Agencies to apply for temporary waivers from provisions in the 2024 Final Rule in certain circumstances. For transitional and legislative waivers, Lead Agencies may apply for waivers for no more than 2 years, as updated by the 2024 Final Rule and specified at § 98.19(b)(1)(i).[2] There are specific administrative requirements at § 98.19 for the temporary waiver requests; the types of waivers allowed (including transitional and legislative waivers); the contents of the waiver requests; and the restrictions on what can be waived.

Lead Agencies can apply for transitional and legislative waivers May 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024, for certain required provisions related to the 2024 Final Rule. When approved, these waivers temporarily exempt Lead Agencies from meeting certain CCDF requirements.

This document provides guidance to Lead Agencies for requesting transitional and legislative waivers. OCC recommends that Lead Agencies communicate with their Regional Office to discuss questions and timeframes about these waiver flexibilities.

2024 CCDF Final Rule Transitional Waiver Flexibilities Guidance | The Administration for Children and Families (hhs.gov)

Additional Resources:

• Federal resources on the CCDBG Final Rule and Final Rule Impact on Tribal Lead Agencies from the Office of Child Care
• FAQ & Summary by Community Change
• Child Care and Development Fund New Rule Final - Child Care Aware® of America

Take Action - Day Without Child Care is May 13th

From Community Change Changemakers:

For generations, early childhood educators, parents, families, and caregivers have been fighting for equitable access to affordable child care, better pay, and working conditions for providers. So on May 13, we’re taking action: some childcare providers, with the support of the families they serve, are shutting their doors, some are calling out sick or closing down early, and all of us are standing in solidarity to draw attention to the national crisis that our childcare system is in.

Check out our event page to sign up for a local action or to host an action in your hometown!  

On a “Day Without Child Care,” we pledge to spotlight the true cost of care and demand the funding we need for a 21st-century childcare system.

Our demands include:

• An equitable childcare system built on racial and gender justice
• Thriving wages for childcare providers
• Affordable and accessible child care for all families.

Learn more about #DWOCC24!

Updated Resource - The Costs of Deregulating Child Care: Decreased Supply, Increased Turnover, and Compromised Safety

From the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):

Upon request from educators and advocates grappling with issues of child care deregulation around the country, NAEYC has updated our deregulation resource for 2024, which you can now find here.

This version brings in some new quotes, suggestions for “right-sizing regulations,” and touches upon the issue of increasing liability insurance costs as an unintended consequence of risky deregulation. (Please stay tuned for more information on what the ECE community needs to know about liability insurance coming your way soon).

Read more here.

Videos - Understanding Home-based Child Care and Who The Providers Are

From Home Grown:

Home Grown has been working to build a more inclusive child care system that values and supports home-based child care, including care provided by friends, family and neighbors (FFN), as a quality option for families and children. In the United States, nearly 6.4 million children ages 0-5 receive care in a home-based child care setting. With home-based child care being the most prevalent child care placement for infants and toddlers, (30% of infants and toddlers attend home-based child care as their primary care arrangement compared to just 12% in centers), it is vital to ensure this care type is recognized for all of its strengths and value and supported widely in the early childhood education sector.

In an effort to continue the work of uplifting and spreading awareness for the contributions and value that home-based child care providers bring to the young children, families and communities they serve across the country, Home Grown is excited to officially debut two videos: “What is Home-based Child Care?” and “Faces of Care.”

• What is Home-based Child Care? | Video: A third of all young children receive their early education in home-based child care (HBCC)! We honor home-based child care providers who provide the quality and developmentally important care that parents want and need so their children can thrive. In this short video, learn how we define home-based child care and hear from parents and providers why this care type is an important option for our children, families and communities.

• Faces of Care | Video: Whether they are licensed, licensed-exempt, or family, friend and neighbor caregivers, what do all home-based child care providers have in common? Their focus is on providing children with everything they need to reach their full potential. In “Faces of Care,” home-based child care providers share who they are and why they are so invested in the young children they care for in their homes. 

Join us in sharing these videos and help us emphasize the importance of an equitable, high-quality early childhood education for millions of young children and families. We’ve created this Digital and Social Media Kit to assist with sharing the videos. The toolkit contains ready-to-use social media content, accompanying visuals, and an email template to help spread the word. 

We are grateful for your support of home-based child care providers and the families who choose this care.

Report & Webinar - Compensating Care—How U.S. Policy Can Support Unpaid Family Caregivers

From the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP):

Today, 53 million people provide uncompensated care for a person with disabilities or older adult, and unpaid caregiving of young children, especially by mothers and other family members, is ubiquitous. But many who do this essential work experience severe economic hardship and insecurity because policymakers have ignored and deprecated this vital work without which society could not function.

Join CSSP and Global Women’s Strike and Women of Color/GWS on Thursday, May 2, 2:00-3:00PM ET for a webinar bringing together grassroots campaigners, policy analysts, and caregivers. Join CSSP Senior Policy Analysts Elisa Minoff and Alex Coccia, along with Margaret Prescod (mother and member of Global Women’s Strike and Women of Color/GWS); Jane Welford (grandmother and member of Global Women’s Strike); and Philipa Laster (mother, homecare worker, and member of Global Women’s Strike and Women of Color/GWS) to discuss policy options for compensating caregivers to ensure their essential labor is respected and rewarded.

For more information about how policy can compensate care, see CSSP’s March 2024 report, Strategies to Compensate Unpaid Caregivers: A Policy Scan.  

Investigative Article & Webinar - When Private Equity Enters the Child Care Sector

From Early Learning Nation:

Over the past two years, more stories have focused on the growing role of investors, especially private equity firms, in child care. I eagerly agreed when Elliot Haspel approached me about doing a long-form look at investor-backed child care chains. Haspel is a well-regarded child care policy expert and author, as well as a freelance journalist and opinion writer who has published stories with The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Washington Post (among others), and he’s a longtime Early Learning Nation contributor and columnist. For this story, he employed investigative journalism techniques to provide a deep look into the workings and implications of growing investor and private equity influence. The resulting long-form, investigative article is eye-opening.

Want to know more? Register now for this one-on-one conversation: How Private Equity and Shareholders Are Reshaping American Child Care: A Conversation with Elliot Haspel and Rebecca Gale. The conversation—designed to illuminate Haspel's new investigative article—is scheduled for Monday, April 29 at Noon ET. Registration is free and required.

Most Viewed Bills of the Week:

1. H.R.8035 [118th] Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
2. H.R.8038 [118th] 21st Century Peace through Strength Act
3. H.R.7888 [118th] Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act
4. H.R.7024 [118th] Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024
5. H.R.82 [118th] Social Security Fairness Act of 2023
6. H.R.8034 [118th] Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
7. H.Res.1160 [118th] Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8034) making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Israel and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8035) making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Ukraine and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8036) making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the Indo-Pacific region and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8038) to authorize the President to impose certain sanctions with respect to Russia and Iran, and for other purposes; and providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 815, with an amendment.
8. H.R.8036 [118th] Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
9. H.R.4639 [118th] Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act
10. H.R.3602 [118th] Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

Social Media Spotlight

Field Highlights

California is rolling out free preschool. That hasn't solved challenges around child care

A year before I-Ting Quinn's son was old enough for kindergarten, she and her husband had the option to enroll him in “transitional kindergarten,” a program offered for free by California elementary schools for some 4-year-olds.

Instead, they kept their son, Ethan, in a private day care center in Concord, California, at a cost of $400 a week.

Transitional kindergarten's academic emphasis was appealing, but Ethan would have been in a half-day program, and options for afterschool child care were limited. And for two parents with hectic work schedules in the hospitality industry, there was the convenience of having Ethan and his younger brother at the same day care, with a single stop for morning drop-off and evening pickup...

Click here to view the full article.

America’s child care crisis is holding back moms without college degrees

After a series of lower-paying jobs, Nicole Slemp finally landed one she loved. She was a secretary for Washington’s child services department, a job that came with her own cubicle, and she had a knack for working with families in difficult situations.

Slemp expected to return to work after having her son in August. But then she and her husband started looking for child care – and doing the math. The best option would cost about $2,000 a month, with a long wait list, and even the least expensive option would cost around $1,600, still eating up most of Slemp’s salary. Her husband earns about $35 an hour at a hose distribution company. Between them, they earned too much to qualify for government help...

Click here to view the full article.

Legislative Analyst's Office

On April 15, 2024 the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) released the following report:

The 2024-25 Budget: Child Care. This report analyzes the Governor’s budget proposals related to child care programs administered by DSS. (None of the child care and development proposals were addressed in early action.) It provides background on child care programs and an overview of total expenditures and budgeted slots included in the Governor’s budget. It then analyzes key Governor’s budget proposals related to:

• Ramp‑up assumptions and costs associated with the multiyear child care slot expansion plan.
• Proposition 64 funding levels.
• Federal fund expenditures, and implementation of the current collectively bargained child care Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and parity agreement.
• Identifies potential budget solutions the Legislature could consider beyond what is include in the Governor’s budget.

Click here to read the report.

CDSS & CDE Information & Updates

Upcoming Webinars

CCDD Monthly Contractor Meeting

The California Department will host the training webinar Written Program Policies for Center Based Programs on May 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The webinar is one of the series that the CCDD will host as part of its overall goal of working collaboratively with child care and development contractors to reinforce their understanding of contract requirements, ensure their proficiency in accessing current information about program requirements and staying informed, reduce errors in documenting and certifying families, and support continuous improvement and program integrity. The webinar topics were generated from a recently completed survey of contractors and from findings of past contract monitoring reviews.

The training webinars are appropriate for new and veteran staff. The webinar presentations will be free on Zoom and will be recorded and made available on the CDSS’ website for continuing educational purposes.

Click here to register in advance for this webinar.

Using the ex-Files Transfer System for California State Preschool Program Monitoring Reviews 

The California Department of Education (CDE), Early Education Division (EED), Eligibility and Support Services Office (ESSO) will be presenting an informational webinar regarding Using the Ex-Files Transfer Data System for California State Preschool Program Monitoring Reviews, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. This webinar is intended for California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractors that offer full-day/full-year CSPP services. 

If you wish to attend this webinar, please register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KXLkTzeSSPqI3E1C-GNRIA.  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about

joining the webinar. 

Infant and Toddler Desired Results (2025) Updates and Interest Holders Feedback Sessions Announcement

The Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) assessment tool is being updated. The updates aim to align more closely to the California Learning and Development Foundations (both Infant/Toddler and Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten), to reflect current research, and to increase ease of use.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) invites your agency to review the draft of the DRDP (2025) new tool. We are hosting interest holder sessions to gather feedback specifically related to updates to the infant/toddler levels of the DRDP measures. Representatives from your agency can attend one or more of the following sessions focused on the following DRDP domains:

• Tuesday, April 30, 9:00 to 10:30am PT (Approaches to Learning (ATL))
• Wednesday, May 1, 3:00 to 4:30pm PT (Cognitive Development/MATH/SCI)
• Friday, May 3, 10:00 to 11:30am PT (Physical Development/Health)

Webinar - Family Eligibility for Services and the Notice of Action Requirements for the California State Preschool Program 

Attention: All CSPP Executive Directors, Program Directors, Enrollment Staff and Other Interested Parties 

The California Department of Education (CDE), Early Education

Division (EED), Eligibility and Support Services Office (ESSO) will be

presenting an informational webinar regarding Family Eligibility for Services and the Notice of Action for the California State Preschool Program, on Thursday, May 3, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. This webinar is intended for all California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractors that offer either part-day/part-year and/or full-day/full-year CSPP services. 

If you wish to attend this webinar, please register in advance at 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cQR_ivTSTd6IlyjPu_UcWA 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 

Beginning Together Webinar: What About the Other Children? The Benefits of Using Inclusive Practices for All Children.  

The California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, in partnership with WestEd, is offering another inclusion webinar opportunity! Join us virtually on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the Beginning Together webinar, What About the Other Children? The Benefits of Using Inclusive Practices for All Children.

Have you ever wondered, 'I’d love to include more children with disabilities in my setting, but what about the other children?'. Join us for a transformative training session, What About the Other Children? The Benefits of Using Inclusive Practices for All Children. Discover valuable insights, backed by research, and gain practical strategies to ensure the holistic fulfillment of ALL children's needs within inclusive environments. Explore the myriad of benefits that inclusive experiences bring not only to children with disabilities but also to those who are typically developing. Let's pave the way for a more inclusive and enriching learning environment for every child.

Technical assistance sessions will be offered regionally in late May and June.

To register, visit What about the other children? Registration page.

RELEASED April 10, 2024: Child Development Virtual Permit Training

The Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC) is now offering virtual trainings on how to process and submit a Child Development Permit Stipend application.

We will be reviewing the Permit Matrix and the benefits of applying for a permit through CDTC. 

Registration spaces will be limited and are first come, first served. Additional information along with the registration link will be available on our CDTC website two weeks prior to each Permit training. For any questions, please reach out to us at CDTC-Permit@yosemite.edu.

Upcoming Dates:

May 16th, 2024 10:00 A.M-12:00 P.M.

June 13, 2024 10:00 A.M-12:00 P.M.

Information & Updates

RELEASED April 16, 2024: Enrolling Families Into CalWORKs Stage 2

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) has recently posted the following document on its Internet website: CCB 24-06 ENROLLING FAMILIES INTO CALWORKS STAGE 2.

The purpose of this CCB is to provide clarification to Child Care and Development Contractors who administer CalWORKs Stage 2 (C2AP) and CalWORKs Stage 3 (C3AP) contracts regarding the additional eligibility requirements for children and families enrolling in these programs.

Read the entire CCB here.

Happening This Week, April 29th- May 3rd:

Tuesday, April 30th:

TFC Weekly Member Connections Meeting @ 1:00pm. Email to register.

Wednesday, May 1st:

-CDSS Webinar: Written Program Policies for Center Based Programs, 10:00am-12:00pm. Register Here.

-CDE Webinar: Using the ex-Files Transfer System for California State Preschool Program Monitoring Reviews. 1:00pm-2:00pm. Register Here.

-TFC Public Policy Committee Meeting @ 2:00pm

Thursday, May 2nd:

TFC and CDSS Quarterly Meeting @ 10:00am

Friday, May 3rd: Webinar - Family Eligibility for Services and the Notice of Action Requirements for the California State Preschool Program. 1:00pm-2:00pm. Register Here.

Thriving Families California (formerly CAPPA) is committed to supporting our field with a coordinated calendar. Click here to see current calendar of events. If you have an event to add, email us and it will be added.

The Weekly Good

An uplifting way to start the week, for those of us who need a break from the chaos that is our lives.

During this time where we are all stressed, it would be great to celebrate the positive. Each week we will celebrate everyday heroes, inspiring movements and great things happening in our field. 

Become a Monday 

Morning Update Partner! 

Our Monday Morning Update supports our Early Learning & Child Care field with timely information about what is going on in California and nationally; as well as dates to be aware and upcoming events. 

Our weekly Monday morning distribution is to nearly 10,000 federal and state local agencies, resource and referrals, contractors, legislators and their staffs', centers, parents, providers, state departments and advocates. 

To help support the continuation of this resource and or advertise in the Monday Morning Update, click HERE.

To advertise in the update, click here.

You can also make a donation to TFC and The CAPPA Children's Foundation HERE.

The Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization (501(c)3), Taxpayer Identification Number is 03-0521444. Your generous donation is tax deductible.