California COVID-19 Policy Resources

(Updated January 18, 2024)

View COVID-19 Federal Resources and Updates. 

Summary of California County Child Care COVID-19 Initiatives 
Early Edge California has compiled a summary of how California is providing resources to families and providers at the county level.

COVID-19 Updates from the State of California

(Update February 21, 2021) CDC-California K-12 Schools Guidance Crosswalk | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under President Biden issued guidance on safely resuming in-person instruction in K-12 schools. The CDC guidance is a set of non-mandatory recommendations and does not supersede existing state or local guidance. As state and local officials study the CDC approach and recommendations, this document is intended to serve as an initial crosswalk between the new CDC guidance and existing California guidance. The CDC guidance is highly aligned with California’s approach. Where there are differences, California’s health and safety standards for school staff and students are generally more cautious. Learn more by reading the full CDC-California K-12 Schools Guidance Crosswalk and visiting California’s Safe Schools For All Hub.

(Update June 5, 2020) California Department of Public Health, California Department of Social Services, and Cal/OSHA released guidance for childcare programs and providers. The guidelines are based on the available data that currently exists and will be updated as new data and practices emerge.

(Update April 30, 2020) Governor Newsom announced the establishment of a new Child Care Portal which helps parents to find safe and licensed child care providers in California. The Child Care Portal at CA.gov is a new resource for families working in essential fields (such as health care, postal services, grocery and agriculture, police, and emergency services) who are looking for child care services. By typing in your zip code, you will be able to see child care centers and homes that are currently open, their capacity, licensing history, and other useful information for choosing care. This new portal provides information on family care homes and centers throughout the state. Find child care options in your community.

During his daily press conference today, Governor Newsom also shared another new resource that launched today called Carina, a multi-state effort to provide quality, licensed child care to working families. Local child care providers regularly post when they have open slots so that families in need of child care can search and contact them quickly. The SEIU, AFSCME, and the SEIU Education and Support Fund, along with Carina, are sponsoring this joint effort to bring together families and care providers. Learn more.

Governor Newsom’s Executive Order to Provide Expanded Access to Child Care for Essential Workers During COVID-19
Governor Newsom signed an executive order on April 4, 2020 describing the need for state-subsidized child care among workers in essential industries, including workers who may previously not have required child care or who now require more child care due to their work responsibilities during COVID-19. We applaud Governor Newsom’s leadership and continued support for families and their children during the COVID-19 crisis. Early Edge California has compiled a summary outlining key points from this executive order.

New Guidance Documents from CDE/CHHS

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020 the California Department of Education (CDE), in conjunction with the California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Agency released guidance measures for schools amid the COVID-19 crisis. The resources provide guidance regarding distance learning, school meals, and child care and student supervision. The guidance for child care and student supervision includes those for:

  • Families
  • Local Educational Agencies
  • Temporary Emergency Child Care Facilities
  • Subsidized Child Care Providers

The Governor’s Office and CDE are deeply committed to the state’s students and, although this is a dynamic and fluid situation, there are dedicated officials who are focused on providing guidance and resources for the state’s students and families. Additional guidance will be released from the California Department of Education each Friday and updated guidance will be issued as necessary.

CDE Management Bulletins

Child Care and Development Bulletins

CDE Updates

Note: This section is organized with the most recent on top of the list.

CDSS Updates

Additional CDE Guidances

CDE Messages

CDE’s COVID-19 Guidance: Temporary Waiver of Family Fees

The CDE’s latest Management Bulletin notifies and provides guidance to state-subsidized Early Learning programs that they must waive family fees following the enactment of Senate Bill 117. The bulletin makes clear that contractors must not impose or collect family fees for the months of April through June 2020. The waiver of family fees for parents will not affect the amounts paid to providers, as contractors will reimburse providers for the full amount of the certificate or voucher without deducting family fees.

It is important to note that the fee waiver is not a permanent change to statute or regulation. Each requirement will apply until June 30, 2020, unless nullified or changed by the Legislature. As the situation evolves and more information is available, the California Department of Education (CDE) will issue additional guidance.
Read the full bulletin to learn more.

CDE’s Webinar Regarding Guidance on COVID-19 School Closures

On Wednesday, March 18, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, led a webinar regarding the newly-released guidance on COVID-19 school closures. The purpose of the webinar was to discuss the guidance and provide an opportunity for engagement and questions from participants. Presenters on the webinar included Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Linda Darling Hammond, Board of Education President, Ben Chida, Office of Governor Newsom, Kris Perry, Deputy Secretary of Early Childhood Development of the Health and Human Services Agency,  Wesley Smith, ACSA and CDE staff Shanine Coats, Sarah Neville Morgan, and Kim Frinzell.  

Presenters discussed the three areas of the released guidance: Distance Learning, School Meals, and Childcare and Student Supervision.

CDE’s guidance for schools on how to arrange supervision and childcare included the following:

  • Consider the age of the students when providing group supervision.
  • Partner with community based organizations who may be operating childcare.
  • Allow sites for pop up childcare within the appropriate licensing and health requirements.
  • Use school campuses to provide childcare for parents who are first responders and health care professionals.

Additional highlights from the discussion:

  • California’s communities are distinct and unique, and as such, there is no “one size fits all” solution for students or families. 
  • Districts are urged to be innovative, not only in their delivery of distance learning resources and materials, but also in the delivery and distribution of meals. CDE stressed their intent to provide continuity of care for the state’s neediest families.  
  • Sarah Neville Morgan announced that CDE will be releasing a management bulletin by the end of the day to provide clarification and guidance regarding SB 117 which was signed by Governor Newsom on March 17, 2020.  

The webinar, as well as the slides covered during the webinar, will be posted to the California Department of Education’s (CDE) website by the end of the day March 18, 2020. 

Check the CDE site for this information and other updates.

New Legislation – SB 117

(3/31/20 Update) COVID-19 CDE Guidance: Temporary Waiver of Family Fees
The California Department of Education’s (CDE) latest Management Bulletin notifies and provides guidance to state-subsidized Early Learning programs that they must waive family fees following the enactment of Senate Bill 117. The bulletin makes clear that contractors must not impose or collect family fees for the months of April through June 2020. The waiver of family fees for parents will not affect the amounts paid to providers, as contractors will reimburse providers for the full amount of the certificate or voucher without deducting family fees.

It is important to note that the fee waiver is not a permanent change to statute or regulation. Each requirement will apply until June 30, 2020, unless nullified or changed by the Legislature. As the situation evolves and more information is available, the California Department of Education (CDE) will issue additional guidance.

(03/19/20 Update) California Department of Education (CDE) sent a Management Bulletin to notify and provide guidance to state-subsidized early learning and care programs about updated apportionment, attendance, and reporting requirements after the enactment of Senate Bill, SB 117.

Please note: this is not a permanent change to statute or regulations. These requirements will apply until June 30, 2020, unless nullified or changed by the Legislature. As the situation evolves and more information is available, the California Department of Education (CDE) will issue additional guidance.

(03/18/20 Update) California’s Legislature pursued emergency legislation to respond rapidly to the COVID-19 crisis, passing SB 117 in order to provide relief and assurance for school districts across a host of issues impacted by the current health pandemic. The bill includes a provision to provide relief for state-subsidized child development programs that states:

“To ensure continuity of payments to state-subsidized childcare and development programs, the attendance and reporting requirements imposed on childcare and development programs are waived for programs that comply with an Executive Order, subject to guidance from the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to this section. Pursuant to guidance and direction from the Superintendent, childcare and development programs shall be reimbursed using the most recent certified record or invoice available.”

Governor Newsom signed SB 117 into law on March 17, 2020. The provision cross-references the following programs in California that are intended to be covered by SB 117:

8221.5: Monthly attendance records for AP providers
8230: Migrant Child Care
8235: State Preschool Program
8240: General Child Care
8245: Family Child Care Home Networks
8250: Child Care for Children with Disabilities
8351: CalWORKS, Stage 1
8353: CalWORKS, Stage 2
8354: CalWORKS, Stage 3

Read SB 117 here.

COVID-19 National, State, and Local Resources on Business and Paid Family Leave

National Resources

State Resources

Local Resources