Governor Gavin Newsom signed the 2020-2021 California state budget on June 30th. The budget maintains most current spending on early education programs and postpones spending for any of the new programs that had initially been included in the Governor’s January budget proposal. Thank you to everyone who sent letters and emails to their assembly members and state senators communicating how critical it was to avoid ECE budget cuts!
EveryChild California posted specific details about budget spending categories, listed below. Regulations and requirements are still being determined, so you can expect a series of clarifying Management Bulletins from Licensing in the coming weeks. Here’s the list from EveryChild California, updated on July 1, 2020:
The 1% (0.63%) differential between full-day CCTR and full-day CSPP programs, was NOT eliminated as part of the final budget. Full-day CCTR will remain $49.54, and Full-day CSPP will remain $49.85.
CCTR expansion funds as part of the Budget Act 2019-2020, for CCTR expansion services from April 1 to June 30, 2020 were swept. However, the funding for these spaces starting July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 were not eliminated and are part of the final budget. As such, this funding will be released shortly.
Full-Day CSPP and Part-Day CSPP will remain at the California Department of Education (CDE). All other early care and child development programs will move over to the Department of Social Services (DSS) July 1, 2021.
The Early Childhood Policy Council (ECPC) will remain under the Health and Human Services Department and will not be moved over to DSS.
*See below for the other details of the budget.
A number of Management Bulletins have expired and are rescinded as of July 1, 2020.
MB 20-04A: COVID-19 Guidance on Apportionment, Attendance, and Reporting Requirements
MB 20-05: COVID-19 Guidance: Temporary Waiver of Family Fees
MB 20-07: COVID-19 Guidance to California Resource and Referral Programs and Local Planning Councils
MB 20-08A: COVID-19 Guidance on Procurement and Audits – Amendment
MB 20-09: COVID-19 Guidance on Program Self-Evaluation, Contract Monitoring, and Program Quality Requirements
MB 20-10: COVID-19 Guidance regarding Family Child Care Home Education Networks
MB 20-11: COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency Closures
(Note: MB 20-06a will be in effect through August 28, 2020)
Click here for the state’s Budget Summary (early education and child care begins on page 39). The Education Budget Trailer Bill is SB 98.
Highlights of the enacted budget for include:
Rejects the 10% rate cuts to the RMR and SRR
Rejects the 2.31% statutory COLA for all child care programs
Rejects the 2.01% negative growth to child care programs, and adopts language to permanently remove the negative growth factor in child development programs
Adopts a “Child Care Trigger” assuming additional federal money coming in, to fund additional child care access, reopening grants for centers and family child care homes, and provider stipends
Adopts hold harmless for Title 5 programs from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021
Programs will be reimbursed 100% of MRA or net reimbursable program costs, whichever is less
Programs must be open by September 8, 2020, or within 21 calendar days from the start date of the programs CDE approved calendar, whichever is sooner, and remains open and offering services through the 2020-2021 year
If the program is physically closed due to local or state public health order due to COVID-19, they shall provide distance learning, and submit a distance learning plan to CDE
Moves child development programs to the Department of Social Services effective July 1, 2021
Adopts slots addition of $53.3 Million in CCDBG Funds for an additional 5,600 APP spaces
Adopts $144 Million in Federal CARES Act funds to provide emergency vouchers and supplies and provides an extension of $50 Million Emergency Vouchers to align with Federal expenditure Period (9/30/21).
Adopts $73 Million in Federal CARES Act funds for 20/21 Emergency Vouchers
Adopts reduction of $257 Million in Preschool slots (10,000 allocated, $130 Million unspent and budget year)
Adopts TBL to target $125 Million in Federal Cares Act funding to voucher providers including exempt providers (Stages 1,2,3 and AP)
Eliminates one-time funding from the 2019-20 budget act for infrastructure and workforce grants
EveryChild California is pleased to announce that their newest publication, Opening and Re-Opening: A Practitioner Support Guide, is now available for download. To best support the field with the most up-to-date information around opening and re-opening programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, EveryChild has gathered resources from across the state and nation and formatted them into an expanded checklist to help ensure you are serving your community in the safest way possible.
Download the free guide here.
