January 2026

Child Care and Preschool

Preschool Budget

(Dollars in Millions)

  2024-25 Revised 2025-26 Revised 2026-27 Proposed Change from 2025-26
  Amount Percent
Expenditures          
Preschool Programs          
Transitional Kindergartena $2,615 $3,899 $4,307 $408 10.5%
State Preschoolb 2,173 2,806 2,942 136 4.9
Preschool QRIS Grant 50 50 50 — —
Subtotals ($4,838) ($6,755) ($7,300) ($545) 8.1%
Other Support $19 $1 $1 — —
Totals $4,857 $6,756 $7,301 $545 8.1%
Funding          
Proposition 98 General Fund $3,992 $5,734 $6,270 $536 9.3%
Non-Proposition 98 General Fund 865 1,022 1,031 9 0.9
           
a Reflects LAO estimates.          
b Includes up to $5 million each year used for a family literacy program offered at certain State Preschool sites.
QRIS = Quality Rating and Improvement System.