Joint Statement from Early Edge California & Kidango on CA Legislature’s Passage of State Budget
Early Edge California and Kidango Praise California’s Legislature for Adopting a Budget that Preserves Early Learning Programs
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the California Legislature passed a budget that recognizes childcare and Early Learning programs as the backbone of the state and the economy.
To meet its constitutional obligation to pass a budget by June 15, the Assembly and Senate adopted a budget agreement with critical protections for children and families. The budget bill they are presenting to Governor Gavin Newsom, along with a trailer bill that would generate roughly $4.4 billion in state revenues from changes to tax laws, ensures that California’s Early Learning infrastructure is preserved for the state’s neediest children and their families.
“We appreciate the Legislature for passing a budget that averts harmful cuts to provider reimbursement rates so that all providers across our mixed-delivery system can continue to serve children and families in their communities,” said Patricia Lozano, Executive Director of Early Edge California. Lozano also praised the budget for continuing to provide access to high-quality childcare for eligible children and children of essential workers as the state continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
“Right now, childcare needs to be serving children and families so parents can get back to work and children ready for school,” said Scott Moore, CEO of Kidango. “We thank the Legislature for crafting a budget that averts draconian cuts and we urge Governor Newsom to sign this budget.”
The budget adopted by the Legislature includes the following key features:
- Provides a cost-of-living adjustment to reimbursement rates and protects them from a 10% across-the-board cut.
- Holds direct-contract Early Learning providers harmless if they are open and serving children.
- Provides an additional 5,600 Alternative Payment childcare vouchers using $53.3 million in new federal funds.
- Provides $123 million in one-time childcare vouchers for essential workers, including extending the $50 million provided earlier this spring.
- Provides $125 million in one-time childcare provider stipends for Alternative Payment and CalWORKS providers.
Legislative leaders continue to negotiate with Governor Newsom and his budget team to reach a final compromise. “We hope California will get a budget that continues to protect children and families so that working parents can feel assured their children are in safe, healthy, and nurturing environments. This is key not just for families, but for California’s economic recovery,” Lozano said.
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Early Edge California is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to improving access to high-quality Early Learning experiences for all California children so they can have a strong foundation for future success.
Kidango is an Early Learning nonprofit committed to setting every child on a path to thrive in Kindergarten and in life. As the largest childcare provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, we provide thousands of children, especially those from low-income families, with safe, healthy, nurturing environments and relationships. Our goal is to make sure all children have the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to learn, grow and realize their potential.