High-quality, affordable child care and preschool is essential for many families and their children. Child care and preschool programs help children to learn and explore, while allowing parents to find and keep jobs knowing their children are in good hands. The Budget Center examines state funding and related policies for child care and early education, including opportunities to broaden low- and middle-income families’ access to quality programs.
Child Care & Preschool
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Fact Sheet
Subsidized Child Care Can Help Reduce Barriers to Success for Children of Color, but Few Receive It in California
This Fact Sheet shows eligibility for subsidized child care in California by race and ethnicity. This analysis highlights the fact that children of color are more likely to live in families with low incomes and are therefore disproportionately eligible for subsidized child care and development programs.
Fact Sheet
The High Cost of Child Care Underscores the Need for Supporting Families With Children of All Ages
This Fact Sheet shows that the cost of child care in California is prohibitively high for families with children of all ages and that across all age groups, only a small share of eligible children are enrolled in a subsidized child care program.
Fact Sheet
Targeted Funding for Early Care and Education Could Provide a Path Out of Poverty for More California Children
This Fact Sheet shows eligibility for subsidized child care by California county while highlighting the significant unmet need that remains for these programs. Because eligibility is concentrated in certain areas of the state, state policymakers can reach those with the greatest need by targeting funding for early care and education.