July 2026

Child Care and Preschool

Child Care Subsidized Slots

            Change from 2025-26
  2022-23 Revised 2023-24 Revised 2024-25 Revised 2025-26 Revised 2026-27 Projected Amount Percent
CalWORKs Child Care              
Stage 1 48,095 52,322 51,718 53,658 55,370 1,712 3%
Stage 2 26,771 36,380 48,036 50,566 51,537 971 2
Stage 3 56,274 50,219 48,237 50,913 52,652 1,739 3
Subtotals (131,140) (138,921) (147,991) (155,137) (159,559) (4,422) (3%)
Non-CalWORKs Programs              
Alternative Payment Programa 161,332 161,332 161,332 161,332 189,736 28,404 18%
General Child Carea 53,385 53,385 65,365 65,365 68,993 3,628 6
Migrant Child Care 5,262 5,262 5,029 5,029 5,001 -28 -1
Care for Children with Severe Disabilities 111 111 111 111 82 -29 -26
Subtotals (220,090) (220,090) (231,837) (231,837) (263,812) (31,975) (14%)
Totals 351,230 359,011 379,828 386,974 423,371 36,397 9%
               
Note: Slots for non-CalWORKS programs reflects the amount budgeted for each program. CalWORKS Stage 2 does not include certain community college child care slots (less than 1,000 slots annually).
a For 2026-27, 20,700 Alternative Payment Program slots will be added starting October 1, 2026, and 2,070 General Child Care slots will be added April 1, 2027.