GOOD MORNING. WE WILL GET GOING
HERE. I KNOW WE HAVE A LONG
AGENDA. WE DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY
HERE YET, BUT CERTAINLY NEED TO
GET STARTED AND RESPECT
EVERYONE'S TIME. TODAY IS OUR
SUB TO BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
EDUCATION FINANCE HEARING ON
EARLY EDUCATION. ALWAYS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT HEARINGS THAT
WE FOCUS ON IN THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE IN THE ASSEMBLY EARLY.
IT IS SO MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE
MAKER FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR
FAMILIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
AND ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY OF
OUR STATE BUDGET PROCESS, SO
WE'VE HAD SOME MAJOR SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS THE LAST FEW YEARS
ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON
TODAY. UM WE HAVE COURSE,
LAUNCHED UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
THIS YEAR WITH UNIVERSAL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, WHICH
WILL BE FOCUSING ON
IMPLEMENTATION. WE ALSO SHIFTED
FUNDING TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF
LOW INCOME ZERO THROUGH THREE
YEAR OLDS TO SERVING IN OUR
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND
CHILDCARE. UM THE WIN WIN.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME OF SO
MANY OF OUR KIDS HAVING MULTIPLE
YEARS OF EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS
IN CALIFORNIA. WE DOUBLED THE
SIZE OF OUR CHILDCARE CAPACITY
WITH OUR SUBSIDIES WITH 200,000
MORE SLOTS THROUGH 2025 26.
FINALLY WE'VE MADE PROGRESS ON
RATE REFORM, AND I'LL NOTICE
PROGRESS BECAUSE WE ARE
CERTAINLY NOT DONE, AND THAT
PROBABLY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
IMPEDIMENTS IF WE LOOK AT HOW
MUCH YOU LOST IN OUR FORGOTTEN
COLA'S THE LAST 67 YEARS. IF WE
JUST HAD THAT THAT WOULD BE RATE
REFORM IN AND OF ITSELF. AND
LASTLY, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT
CALIFORNIA AND OUR CHILDCARE
FIELD HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE
FACE OF COVID AND THE PANDEMIC,
AND WE KNOW THAT OUR WORK IS NOT
DONE. SO WE HAVE A VERY LONG
AGENDA. TODAY WE MAY HAVE TO
TAKE A BREAK AT NOON, GO TO
CAUCUS AND COME BACK FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AFTER WE'LL START ISSUED
WITH ISSUE NUMBER ONE UNIVERSAL
TRADITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
IMPLEMENTATION AND THE
GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET
PROPOSALS WILL HAVE A PANEL WITH
LEARNING POLICY ALLIANCE FINANCE
L A O C D E OFFICE OF SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION IN SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED.
OKAY LET'S START WITH OUR
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LEARNING
POLICY INSTITUTE. YOUR P I
MELNIK, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR.
TO UM AND YOU HAVE SOME SLIDES
IN YOUR PACKETS. UM SO I AM
GOING TO BE TALKING TODAY ABOUT
UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
IMPLEMENTATION IN ELIA'S PLANS.
THIS IS THEIR FINDINGS FROM A
FORTHCOMING REPORT FROM L P I
AND A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT ON
THE REPORT IN AUGUST OF 2022,
THE CD ADMINISTERED A SURVEY TO
ELIA'S SERVING, UM TK STUDENTS
THROUGH WITH THEIR UNIVERSAL
PREKINDERGARTEN PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FUNDS. NLP.
I PARTNERED WITH CD TO ANALYZE
DATA FROM OVER 1100 ELIA'S,
INCLUDING 429 CHARTERS, WHO
SUBMITTED THEIR RESPONSES
BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF
2022. SO THE SENSE ELIA'S, UM
VERY GREAT LAND SIZE. WE LOOKED
AT ALL THE DATA FOR ELIA'S, BUT
THEN DISAGGREGATED RESULTS FROM
THE FOUR LARGEST SCHOOL
DISTRICTS L, A SAN DIEGO FRESNO
AND, UM, LONG BEACH. UM AND SO
THERE'S MORE INFORMATION IN YOUR
HANDOUT THAT WHILE PRESENT TODAY
AND YOU CAN FIND MORE IN OUR
REPORT AS WELL. THE FIRST ISSUE
THAT WE LOOKED AT IS, UM E. T K.
HOW MANY ELIA'S PLAN TO OFFER
EARLY ADMITTANCE ON TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN. UM WE KNOW THAT,
UM, THE SURVEY ASKED OF THIS
DISTRICTS HOW MANY PLANNED TO
OFFER E T K AND 2022 23, MEANING
HOW MANY STUDENTS WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE OR ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
IN TK EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T YET
AGE ELIGIBLE, AND WE FOUND THAT
39% OF ELIA'S PLAN TO OFFER E T
K THIS YEAR? EXPANDING
ELIGIBILITY MORE RAPIDLY THAN
REQUIRED AND THAT INCLUDED UM
LOS ANGELES, FRESNO AND LONG
BEACH. WITH SAN DIEGO PLANNING
TO START TK IN 23 24. SO THIS IS
MUCH MORE RAPID EXPANSION THAN
WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING ALL THAT
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CHILDREN
WILL BE ADMITTED EARLY INTO TK
IF THEY'RE DOING IT BY, UM
EVERYONE WHO'S FOR OR CERTAIN
CHILDREN. WE ALSO LOOKED AT
PLANS TO OFFER FULL DAY TK. UM
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THE LONGER SCHOOL DAY BENEFITS
CHILDREN AND ALSO FAMILIES. WE
WERE, UM, PLEASED TO SEE THAT
ABOUT 79% OF DISTRICTS WILL BE
OFFERING AT LEAST SOME FULL DAY
OPTIONS. 68% ONLY FULL DAY 11%
BOTH FULL AND PART DAY AND 21%
OF ELLIE IS OFFERING PART DAY TK
ONLY. UM WE ALSO LOOKED AT HOW
THEY PLAN TO OFFER TK CLASSES
AND SPECIFICALLY COMBINATIONS.
THE DATA ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE
MIXED HERE. 20% OF ELIA'S PLAN
OFFERS STANDALONE TK ONLY ABOUT
THE SAME PERCENTAGE PLAN OFFER T
K K COMBINATION CLASSES ONLY,
WHICH IS CONCERNING BECAUSE
THESE CLASSES HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO
BE LESS DEVELOPMENTALLY
APPROPRIATE. THEN STAND ALONE TK
CLASSES AND THEN 23% PLAN TO
OFFER BOTH UM, THE REMAINING
DISTRICTS JUST DID NOT ANSWER
THE QUESTION BECAUSE OF THE WAY
THE SURVEY WAS IMPLEMENTED. SO
DO ELLIOT'S HAVE ENOUGH
QUALIFIED TEACHERS. OBVIOUSLY,
THIS IS A CRITICAL QUESTION. UM
THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT ASKED
WHAT STRATEGIES ELIA'S WERE
PLANNING TO USE TO EXPAND THEIR
WORKFORCE. 23% OF ELEAZAR, PART
OF THEY HAD ENOUGH MULTIPLE
SUBJECT CREDENTIAL TEACHERS, UM
AND 21% REPORTED HAVING ENOUGH
TEACHERS WHO MET TK
APPORTIONMENT REQUIREMENTS. NOW
THIS IS MEANS THAT ESSENTIALLY
FOUR OUT OF FIVE DISTRICTS DO
NOT HAVE ENOUGH QUALIFIED TK
TEACHERS, MEANING THAT WE REALLY
NEED TO CONTINUE WITH WORKFORCE
EXPANSION AND NONE OF THE FOUR
LARGEST DISTRICTS REPORTING
HAVING ENOUGH TEACHERS. UM WE
ALSO LOOKED AT EXPANDED
LEARNING. SO WHERE WILL ELIA'S
OFFER EXPANDED LEARNING? UM THEY
MAJORITY PLAN TO OFFER. UM T K
STUDENTS EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES ON THEIR ELIA SITE
THROUGH ACES OR 21ST. CENTURY
LEARNING CENTERS. MOST ELIA'S
ONLY OVER HALF SAID THIS IS THE
ONLY OPTION THEY'RE GOING TO BE
USING FOR EXPANDED LEARNING,
WHEREAS 21% PLAN TO USE THE CSP
P PROGRAM AND A SMALLER
PROPORTION PLAN TO USE EXPANDED
LEARNING AT A COMMUNITY SITE OR
WITH LOCALLY FUNDED PRESCHOOL
AND THE LARGEST DISTRICTS WERE
KIND OF ALL OVER THE MAP ON THE
OPTIONS THAT THEY WERE OFFERING.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT FACILITIES.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS REALLY KEY
RIGHT NOW TO BE CONSIDERING AND
OVER HALF OF ELIA'S DO EXPECT TO
BE UPDATING THEIR BUILDINGS OR
STRUCTURES FOR YOUNG LEARNERS.
UM WE WERE SOMEWHAT SURPRISED
THAT ONLY 27% SAID THEY DO NOT
HAVE ADEQUATE CLASSROOM SPACE
FOR TK THERE FOR THEIR PROJECTED
ENROLLMENT, AND 27% ON A
SEPARATE ITEM SAID THEY DON'T
HAVE FACILITIES THAT MEET TK
STANDARD OR KINDERGARTEN
STANDARDS. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE
ANY OF THE LARGEST FOR L E. A S
, HOWEVER, IN THE OPEN RESPONSE
QUESTION, THAT WAS OPTIONAL. UM
THIS WAS ONE FACILITIES WAS THE
BIGGEST ISSUE THAT GOT RAISED,
NOT HAVING ENOUGH FUNDING AND
EATING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. WE
LOOKED AT SEA SPP PLANS BECAUSE
THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT IS TK
EXPERIENCE THAT, UM ELIA'S ARE
GOING TO REDUCE THE SPP
OFFERINGS, WHICH WOULD REDUCE
ACCESS FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. WE
WERE HAPPILY SURPRISED TO SEE
ONLY 2% OF LIAISE PLAN TO REDUCE
THE SPP SERVICES MOST PLANNED TO
JUST MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. UM
BUT 11% HAVE APPLIED TO START OR
INCREASE THEIR C SPP OFFERINGS,
AND 17% SAID THEY WOULD IF MORE
FUNDING WERE APPROPRIATED. AND
FINALLY MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS.
THERE WAS ONE QUESTION THAT
ASKED HOW LEAH'S ARE GOING TO BE
SUPPORTING THEIR MULTI LINGUAL
LEARNERS. THIS IS CRITICAL FOR
SINCE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN
THEIR EARLY YEARS IS SO
IMPORTANT. MOST DISTRICTS PLAN
TO USE ENGLISH ONLY INSTRUCTION
WITH THE HOMELAND LANGUAGE
SUPPORT. UM 12% PLAN TO USE DUAL
LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. UM AND 7%
PLAN TO USE BOTH, AND ALL OF THE
FOUR LARGEST DISTRICTS DO PLAN
TO OFFER DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS.
HOWEVER DO YOU WANT TO POINT TO
THE FACT THAT 17% HAD NO PLANS
TO SUPPORT ENGLISH LEARNERS? AND
IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE DISTRICTS
MORE CLOSELY OVER HALF OF THEM
HAVE, UH, ENGLISH LEARNERS
MAKING UP A THIRD OR MORE OF
THEIR POPULATION, SO THIS IS
DEFINITELY AN AREA FOR FURTHER
SUPPORT. UM, SO JUST TO BRIEFLY
SUM UP BASICALLY, WE FOUND THAT
, UM MANY ELIA'S ARE PLANNING TO
IMPLEMENT TK MORE RAPIDLY THAN
IS REQUIRED, INCLUDING THE
LARGEST FOUR DISTRICTS. BUT
THERE IS SIGNIFICANT VARIATION
ACROSS L E A S AND THEN ELIA'S
NEEDS, UH, SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT
WHEN IT COMES TO FACILITIES,
STAFFING AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT. SO I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS IN THE
PANEL. THANK YOU. WE'LL
CERTAINLY COME BACK TO YOU.
NEXT. WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. GOOD
MORNING, JODI LIEBERMAN WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I WILL BE
GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET REVISES
ESTIMATES FOR THE FIRST YEAR
INVESTMENT OF EXPANDING
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN FROM
614 MILLION APPROXIMATELY
APPROXIMATELY 604 MILLION TO
EXPAND ACCESS TO ALL CHILDREN
TURNING FIVE YEARS OLD BETWEEN
SEPTEMBER 2ND AND FEBRUARY 2ND.
THESE REVISIONS REFLECT UPDATED
ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE DATA.
BUILDING UPON THESE FIRST YEAR
INVESTMENTS. THE BUDGET INCLUDES
690 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT THE
SECOND YEAR OF TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN EXPANSION, WHICH
WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO THE
PROGRAM TO ALL CHILDREN TURNING
FIVE YEARS OLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER
2ND AND APRIL 2ND. WHICH WOULD
APPROXIMATELY BE 506,000
CHILDREN. THE BUDGET ALSO
PROVIDES 165 MILLION TO CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT ONE ADDITIONAL STAFF
PERSON AND IN THE TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM SERVING
THESE STUDENTS. THE PROPOSITION
98 GUARANTEE WAS RE BENCHED IN
FISCAL YEAR 2022 23 TO INCLUDE
THE UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN AND FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN IS
EXPECTED AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 26
ADDITIONALLY, THIS BUDGET
PROPOSES SEVERAL CHANGES TO
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN. THE
FIRST PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW
CHILDREN WHO DO NOT HAVE THEIR
FIFTH BIRTHDAY DURING THE SAME
SCHOOL YEAR TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
EARLY ADMITS. HUSING THANK YOU.
FOR EARLY ADMITTANCE
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN.
CURRENTLY IF A DISTRICT WANTS TO
ROLL OUT TK FASTER THAN THE
CURRENT ROLLOUT IN STATUTE LAW
CAN BE READ TO EXCLUDE BIRTHDAYS
AFTER JUNE 30TH. FROM BEING
ELIGIBLE THAT SCHOOL YEAR EVEN
IF THE STUDENT TURNS FIVE IN
JULY, WHICH WOULD BE LONG BEFORE
THE START OF THE NEXT SCHOOL
YEAR. THE CHANGE WOULD ALLOW A
CHILD WHO TURNS FIVE NOT DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR OR NOT, FROM
JULY 1ST TO JUNE 30TH TO BE
ELIGIBLE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF A
DISTRICT WANTS TO ADMIT CHILDREN
UP TO FIVE ON JULY 30TH, THEY
WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE
THEY FALL AFTER THAT, JUNE 30TH
CUT OFF ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY
. THE SURVEY RESULTS FROM THE
COUNTY WIDE PLANNING AND
CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM, 30%
OF DISTRICTS PLAN TO SERVE
STUDENTS WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS AFTER
APRIL 3RD. DURING THE 2023 2024
SCHOOL YEAR. I JUST MENTIONED
THAT 39% PLAN TO SERVE, UM E T K
STUDENTS DURING THIS SCHOOL
YEAR. THE C D E ESTIMATES THAT
78. 1000 MORE CHILDREN WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE IF CHILDREN WITH SUMMER
BIRTHDAYS WERE ABLE TO BE
ENROLLED IN THE EARLY, ADMITS
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN. WHILE
THESE CHILDREN WOULD NOT
GENERATE 80, A DISTRICTS CAN USE
THEIR PREKINDERGARTEN PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANT
PROGRAMS TO FUND THESE CHILDREN
OPERATING AS OPERATING COSTS,
AND THAT COULD INCLUDE THE COST
OF SERVING EARLY ADMITTANCE,
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
CHILDREN. THE SECOND PROPOSAL
WOULD BE TO INCREASE
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE SECOND
ADULT IN THE TK CLASSROOM
CURRENTLY THERE ARE VERY FEW
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADULT IN
THE SECOND, THE SECOND ADULT AND
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
CLASSROOM AND STATUTE DOES NOT
SPECIFY ANY QUALIFICATIONS. THEY
MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER,
FINGERPRINTED AND AN EMPLOYEE OF
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE
PROPOSAL WOULD IMPLEMENT NEW
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE SECOND
ADULTS STARTING 2028 29. AND THE
PROPOSAL ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE
BROAD PATHWAYS WITH AN ADEQUATE
TIME FRAME OF FIVE YEARS TO MEET
THE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WOULD BE
THREE YEARS AFTER THE FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN. THE
PATHWAYS WOULD INCLUDE TO BE A
CREDENTIAL TEACHER BE WORKING
TOWARDS A TEACHING CREDENTIAL
THROUGH ANY PROGRAM THAT
REQUIRES THE CLINICAL PRACTICUM.
HOLD ANY LEVEL OF A CHILD
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT OR BE A
CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISED
PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE FOR A CHILD
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. OR
PARTICIPATE IN SPECIALIZED
PROGRAMS SUCH AS REGIONAL
OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH
SUPERVISION. THAT CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU, ELLA Ó.
EXCUSE ME. YES. OKAY? UH GOOD
MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
MICHELLE KNEW IN WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I'LL I'LL
BE BRIEF WITH MY REMARKS, THOUGH
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZES
RECOGNIZES IS RECOGNIZED. EXCUSE
ME RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
EARLY EDUCATION FACILITIES. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, FACES A
DIFFERENT REVENUE OUTLOOK FROM
THE LAST COUPLE OF GOVERNORS
BUDGETS THAT WE'VE HAD AND THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSED
ROUGHLY 22.5 BILLION IN, UH,
BUDGET SOLUTION PACKAGE FOR 2023
24, WHICH INCLUDED A VARIETY OF
DELAYS, REDUCTIONS AND FUND
SHIFTS. SO WITH THAT AS A
BACKDROP, THE CALIFORNIA
PRESCHOOL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN IN FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN FACILITIES GRANT
PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND
RENOVATION OF CLASSROOMS FOR
THIS PROGRAM. WAS APPROPRIATED
490,000,001 TIME GENERAL FUND IN
THE 2021 BUDGET ACT AND THE 2022
BUDGET ACT APPROPRIATED ANOTHER
650,000,001 TIME GENERAL FUND
FOR THE PROGRAM WITH 100 MILLION
APPROPRIATED IN 22 23 550
MILLION INTENDED TO BE
APPROPRIATED. IN 2023 24. OF
THESE FUNDS, ROUGHLY 225 MILLION
WERE AWARDED TO DISTRICTS AND
FALL 2022. IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT
THE REMAINING APPROXIMATELY 360
MILLION, UH, WILL BE AWARDED TO
DISTRICTS BY THIS FALL, 2023.
GIVEN THE BUDGET AND REVENUE
OUTLOOK. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
DOES DELAY THAT PLANNED
INVESTMENT OF 550,000,001 TIME
GENERAL FUND FROM 2023 24 TO
2024 25. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET,
MAINTAINS THE OVERALL FUNDING
COMMITMENT FOR THIS FACILITIES
PROGRAM IN RECOGNITION OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING
FACILITIES FOR EARLY EDUCATION,
BUT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSES THE FUNDING DELAY FOR
THIS PROGRAM, GIVEN THE OVERALL
ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUDGET AND
THE REVENUE OUTLOOK THAT WAS
FACED AT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
SO WITH THAT, HAPPY TO ADDRESS
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE,
OKAY, THANK YOU NOW, ELIO. GOOD
MORNING, SARA CORTEZ,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE.
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET LIKELY
OVERESTIMATES TK EXPANSION BASED
ON DATA FROM THE FIRST PRINCIPLE
OF PORTION MADE SO THIS IS DATA
JUST RELEASED A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WE ESTIMATE THE STATE LOWER 88
ASSOCIATED WITH EXPANSION. BY
ASSUMING A LOWER 80. A IT WILL
LOWER THE AMOUNT THE STATE
REVENGES BY 100 AND 50 MILLION
IN 22 23 200 MILLION IN 23 24
COMPARED TO THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, SO LOWERING THE AMOUNT
AT THE STATE ROOM BENCHES,
AFFLECK EFFECTIVELY FREEZE UP
NON PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND
, A LOWER 80 A WOULD ALSO RESULT
IN PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND
SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH
MAINTAINING THE COST OF THE ONE
ADULT FOR EVERY 12 STUDENTS. WE
ESTIMATE A LOWER ADA RESULTS IN
ROUGHLY 80 MILLION IN SAVINGS IN
22 23 110 MILLION IN 23 24. WITH
REGARD TO DELAYING THE FACILITY
FUNDING AND MAINTAINING CURRENT
STAFFING RATIOS THE SAME
REASONABLE GIVEN THE STATE'S
BUDGET PROBLEM, BUT THE POLICY
RATIONALE ALSO SEEMS REASONABLE
FOR THESE PROPOSALS. WHEN WE
FIRST STARTED TK EXPANSION
CONVERSATIONS, THE MAIN BARRIERS
THAT WERE ELEVATED WERE FACILITY
ISSUES AND WORKFORCE ISSUES,
BASED ON THE REPORTS THAT
SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE
PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
THAT WERE JUST DESCRIBED TO YOU.
75% OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS REPORT
HAVING ADEQUATE SPACE TO MEET
PROJECTED ENROLLMENT OF TK
STUDENTS AND THE QUESTION WAS
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT PROJECTED
ENROLLMENT THROUGH 25 26. SO
BASED ON THESE REPORTS, FACILITY
ISSUES DO NOT APPEAR TO BE AS
LARGE AS A BARRIER TO
IMPLEMENTATION, AS WE INITIALLY
THOUGHT. HOWEVER SINCE
AUGMENTATIONS FOR THE FACILITY
PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
OVERSUBSCRIBED, THE LEGISLATURE
COULD PROVIDE SOME AMOUNT OF
FUNDS OR REEVALUATE REEVALUATE
NEXT YEAR BASED ON THE STATE'S
BUDGET CONDITION. THE STORY IS
QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT ON THE
WORKFORCE SIDE ONLY 23% OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS REPORT HAVING
ENOUGH MULTIPLE SUBJECT TEACHING
CREDENTIAL HOLDERS TO MEET THE
NEED OF TK EXPANSION, THEREFORE,
KEEPING THE TK STAFFING RATIO AT
CURRENT LEVELS HELPS AVOID
FURTHER WORKFORCE ISSUES. WE
ALSO RECOMMEND REJECTING
ADDITIONAL STAFFING REQUIREMENTS
PROPOSED IN LIGHT OF THE
STAFFING CHALLENGES, AND THAT
CONCLUDES MY REMARKS, BUT I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. OKAY THANK
YOU. NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM CD.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU CHAIR
AND MEMBERS THERE ANOTHER MORGAN
ON BEHALF OF STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION. TONY THURMOND.
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO TK ALONG
WITH TARGETED UNIVERSAL ACCESS
FOR THREE AND FOURS TO OUR
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM ARE KEY TO DELIVERING ON
THE UNIVERSAL PRE K PROMISE TO
PROVIDE ALL CHILDREN WITH A
STRONG AND EARLY START TO
EDUCATION. AND SUPPORT EQUITABLE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL
READINESS THROUGH JOYFUL,
DEVELOPMENTALLY INFORMED,
RIGOROUS AND INCLUSIVE PRE K
PROGRAMS. WE APPRECIATE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT TO
APPROPRIATING FUNDING FOR THE
NEXT YEAR OF EXPANSION, WHICH
WILL SUPPORT TIKI ENROLLMENT FOR
ANY CHILD TURNING FIVE BETWEEN
SEPTEMBER 2ND AND APRIL 2ND. THE
INCREASE IN AVAILABILITY OF TK
WILL SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS THE
STATE AND HAS ALREADY STARTED TO
HELP WITH ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY
PRE K WHEN WE LOOK AT 2021 22
DATA TK WAS SERVING OVER 75,000
CHILDREN AND ABOUT 63% OF THOSE
ELIGIBLE. WHAT KINDERGARTEN
SERVED 81% WHILE WE DON'T YET
HAVE ENROLLMENT DATA FOR THE
CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR AVERAGE
DAILY ATTENDANCE DATA SHOWS TK
INCREASED BY ABOUT 30,000
CHILDREN WITH NEARLY 92,000 AND
FALL 2022. UP FROM JUST OVER
61,000 IN FALL, 2021. TO ASSIST
WITH IMPLEMENTATION. THE CD HAS
PARTNERED WITH NUMEROUS
ORGANIZATIONS AND RELEASED
EXTENSIVE GUIDANCE AS WELL AS AN
UPDATED U P K OR UNIVERSAL
PREKINDERGARTEN PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION TEMPLATE FOR OUR
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES AND HAS
HELD NUMEROUS WEBINARS AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE DEVELOPED AND
RELEASED COMMUNICATION MATERIALS
ON U P K FOR LOCAL IMPLEMENTER.
AND MOST RECENTLY JUST RELEASED
THE ONES FOR FAMILIES SO THAT
FAMILIES CAN UNDERSTAND THE
BENEFITS OF U P K AND THE
DIFFERENT OPTIONS NOT JUST TK,
BUT THE VARIETY OUT THERE TO
MEET THEIR NEEDS. SO HOW IS THIS
ALL GOING? FROM THE 500 MILLION
YOU'VE INVESTED IN FOR THE U. P.
K PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
RP, AND I GRANTS. ELIA'S HAVE
BEEN USING THESE FUNDS TO
ASSOCIATED WITH CREATING OR
EXPANDING BOTH TK AND SEE SPP
AND TO STRENGTHEN THEIR
ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS WITH
OTHER PROVIDERS OF PRE K WITHIN
THE L E. A ADDITIONALLY, HANNAH
MELNIK FROM LP I SHARED SOME OF
THE USEFUL DATA THAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO OBTAIN FROM THE SURVEYS
THAT WE RELEASED TO R U P K, UM,
PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION GRANTEES
. I REALLY WANT TO THANK LP FOR
HELPING US ANALYZE ALL OF THAT.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT HANNAH WAS
ABLE TO SHARE, JUST HIGHLIGHTING
THAT 60% OF DISTRICTS AND
CHARTERS REPORTED THEY PLAN ON
OFFERING TK AT ALL SITES SO THAT
WILL BE ACCESSIBLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR FAMILIES AND
PARENTS TO ACCESS AS L P I
MENTIONED THE MAJORITY OF
DISTRICTS ALSO PLAN TO EXPAND
FASTER THAN REQUIRED AND WE
FOUND IT WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER FOR
SMALLER DISTRICTS, ALONG WITH
THOSE FOUR LARGEST DISTRICTS. IN
LIGHT OF THIS. WE THINK THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO EXPAND E
T. K TO INCLUDE SUMMER BIRTHDAYS
IS A REASONABLE APPROACH, SINCE
IT WILL NOT COST THE STATE ANY
ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND ALSO GIVES
DISTRICTS ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY
TO MEET THEIR IMPLEMENTATION
NEEDS. ADDITIONALLY SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS
HAVE REALLY REPORTED EXTENSIVE
PARENT ENGAGEMENT AS PART OF
THEIR U BK PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION. IN ADDITION, WE
HAVE PLANNING FOR THE WITHIN THE
18.3 MILLION YOU INVESTED LAST
YEAR IN THE U. P. K MIXED
DELIVERY GRANT. OVERALL FOR
THOSE GRANTEES, THEY'RE GOING TO
LOCAL CHILDCARE PLANNING
COUNCILS, WHICH REALLY FITS WITH
THE LPC ROLE IN THE COUNTY TO
ADDRESS THE CHILDCARE NEEDS. WE
ALSO HAVE TO RESOURCE AND
REFERRAL CHILDCARE AGENCIES
ACTING AS GRANTEES. SEVERAL OF
OUR COUNTIES HAVE CHOSEN TO
CREATE CONSORTIUMS AND WILL
SUBMIT A REGIONAL PLAN FOR
CONSIDERATION TO THOSE MULTIPLE
COUNTY OFFICES OF EDUCATION IN
THAT AREA. NEXT YEAR. WE'LL BE
ABLE TO COME BACK AND SHARE SOME
OF THE DATA THAT WE'VE RECEIVED
FROM THOSE FRIENDS. YOU MAY ALSO
HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT, UM,
WORKFORCE IS ANOTHER ONGOING
NEED. WHILE MANY OF OUR ELIA'S
HAVE BEGUN THEIR WORK TO SUPPORT
TEACHERS TO MEET REQUIREMENTS,
MANY MORE TEACHERS WILL BE
NEEDED BY THE TIME YOU TK IS
FULLY IMPLEMENTED IN 2025 26.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY L. P I
, WHICH ASSUMED A RATIO OF ONE
TEACHER FOR EVERY 10 CHILDREN,
CALIFORNIA WILL NEED MORE THAN
THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF
TEACHERS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST BY
FULL IMPLEMENTATION UP TO 15,000
MORE LEAD TEACHERS AND NEARLY
20,000 MORE ASSISTANT OR TEACHER
AIDES. IN ADDITION TO THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENTS, EXTENSIVE
EFFORTS TO SUPPORT TEACHER
RECRUITMENT AND THE PARTNERSHIP
WE HAVE WITH CALIFORNIA
VOLUNTEERS COLLEGE CORE THE CD
IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE COMMISSION ON TEACHER
CREDENTIAL E. TO ADDRESS THE
NUMBER OF TEACHERS WHO WILL BE
PREPARED TO TEACH AND T K AS
WELL AS TO SUPPORT THOSE ALREADY
TEACHING TO MEET THE NEW
REQUIREMENTS. EFFORTS HAVE
INCLUDED EXTENSIVE INVESTMENTS
BY ALL OF YOU AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT IN ANTICIPATION OF
THE NEED FOR MORE TEACHER T K
TEACHERS. 2023 BUDGET ALSO
PERMITTED THE CTC TO ISSUE AND
RENEW A ONE YEAR EMERGENCY
SPECIALIST TEACHING PERMIT. IN
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THAT
AUTHORIZES TEACHING IN 80 K
GENERAL ED CLASSROOM. THE CTC IS
ALSO WORKING ON ISSUING
REGULATIONS FOR A PK TO THIRD
SPECIALIST INSTRUCTIONAL
CREDENTIAL, WHICH IS GROUNDED IN
CHILD DEVELOPMENT, THE SCIENCE
OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND
PRESCHOOL TO THIRD GRADE
PEDAGOGY. WHILE WE KNOW WE HAVE
CHALLENGES AHEAD, WE ALSO KNOW
FROM THE RESEARCH. HOW MUCH THE
BENEFITS OF U P. K ARE ONLY
FULLY LEVERAGED WHEN THE
PROGRAMS ARE INTENTIONALLY
DESIGNED WITH QUALITY AND THE
SCIENCE OF LEARNING AND
DEVELOPMENT IN MIND. THIS
INCLUDES HAVING WELL PREPARED
TEACHERS WHO UNDERSTAND CHILD
DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS WELL
PREPARED AIDS OPERATING IN A
CLASSROOM WITH A LOW ADULT TO
CHILD RATIO. AS WELL AS LOOKING
AT INVESTMENTS IN T K THROUGH ÁP
, OR PRE K TO THIRD GRADE FRAME
TO ENSURE THAT THE INVESTMENTS
MADE IN THE EARLY YEARS
CONSECUTIVELY BUILD ON ONE
ANOTHER AND A VERY COHERENT AND
ALIGNED FASHION. WITH ALL THAT
IN MIND, WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL
TO THE 100 MILLION YOU INVESTED
AND FOR THE EARLY EDUCATION
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT GRANT FROM
2021 22. C D E RECEIVED REQUESTS
TOTALLING 152 MILLION FOR THESE
FUNDS AND AS AWARDED THESE 2 72
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES
REPRESENTING NEARLY 900 L E. A S
STATEWIDE GRANTEES HAVE SAID
THEY PLAN TO USE THEIR FUNDS TO
WORK WITH INSTITUTES OF HIGHER
ED. HELP TEACHER CANDIDATES
OBTAIN THE MULTIPLE SUBJECT
TEACHING CREDENTIAL. ASSIST
CURRENT TK TEACHERS AND MEETING
THE 24 UNITS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION NEEDED SUPPORT TEACHER
CANDIDATES IN FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE, TUITION, MENTORING,
ADVISING COHORTS AND VARIOUS
TEACHER PIPELINE SUPPORT
ACTIVITIES. IN CLOSING THE
PROMISE OF U. P. K IS THE
PROMISE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
AND A KEY PART OF OUR VISION FOR
TRANSFORMING CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
THROUGH THE CREATION OF A U P K
AND EXPANSION OF BOTH TK AND THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. CALIFORNIA HAS TAKEN
THE FIRST BIG STEPS TO ENSURE
ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO
QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS. IN THE YEAR BEFORE
KINDERGARTEN THAT SUPPORT THE
WHOLE CHILD AND THE FAMILY WHILE
ALSO SUPPORTING STEPS TOWARDS
TARGETED UNIVERSALISM FOR THREE
YEAR OLDS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR
ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT IN THIS
ISSUE, AND I HAVE WITH ME STEVEN
PROFIT ER IN VIRGINIA EARLY TO
ASSIST IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT. WE'LL HEAR FROM
OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
OFFICE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION. GOOD MORNING, UM,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I'M LISA SILVERMAN.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR
THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION. I'LL BE HALF OF
THE STATE ALLOCATION BOARD AS
WELL. THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTER
THE SCHOOL FACILITY PROGRAM, AND
THAT'S A $42 BILLION BOND
INITIATIVE THAT'S BEEN APPROVED
BY THE VOTERS. IN ADDITION, THE
PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN FUNDED
WITH ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDS,
WHICH IS $1.4 BILLION RECENTLY,
WITH GENERAL FUND PROCEEDS AGAIN
TO CONTINUE PROCESSING THE
CURRENT ROUND APPLICATIONS THAT
WE DO HAVE, IN ADDITION TO ITS
ROLE OF ADMINISTERING THE SCHOOL
FACILITIES PROGRAM, THE OFFICE
OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
ADMINISTERS A CALIFORNIA
PRESCHOOL AND TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN AND FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN FACILITIES GRANT
PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WAS
ESTABLISHED AND THE BUDGET ACT
OF JUNE 2018. UM AND THAT
PROVIDED THAT $100 MILLION FOR
THE 2018 2019 BUDGET YEAR. $100
MILLION FOCUS WAS TO PROVIDE
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS,
UM, FOR EITHER TO ESTABLISH NEW
CONSTRUCTION CLASSROOMS OR
RETROFIT EXISTING CLASSROOMS. SO
WHAT'S THE ALLOCATION BOARD
ACTUALLY PROPOSED TO FILING
ROUNDS IN WHICH THEY EXECUTED.
THE FIRST FILING ROUND WAS
ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY. 2ND OF
2019 AND CLOSED JANUARY 31ST
2019. THERE WAS 37 A HALF
MILLION DOLLARS MADE AVAILABLE
FOR THAT FUNDING ROUND. WE
ACTUALLY ACTUALLY HAD OVER $316
MILLION AND REQUESTED FUNDS FROM
OUR GRANTEES AND THE BOARD DID
ALLOCATE 12 PROJECTS FOR OVER
$37.1 MILLION. THE SECOND
FINALLY ROUND WAS ESTABLISHED,
AND THAT WAS $60 MILLION. AND
THAT STUFF STARTED IN MAY 1ST OF
2019. IT CLOSED MAY 30TH OF
2019. $60 MILLION THAT WE HAD
TWO AWARDS. THERE WAS $405
MILLION OF GRANTS THAT CAME IN
SO AGAIN, THAT PROGRAM WAS
OVERSUBSCRIBED. ALLOCATION BOARD
TOOK ACTION TO APPROVE OVER
$60.1 MILLION IN GRANT REQUEST
AND FUNDED THOSE PROJECTS ON
OCTOBER 23RD OR 2019. SO IN
TOTAL, THERE WAS $97.3 MILLION
FUNDED OUT ALREADY OUT OF THE
$100 MILLION, AND THAT
REPRESENTED 47 PROJECTS. UM WE
ACTUALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY. THE
PROGRAM WAS EXTENDED AND
EXPANDED ACTUALLY, WITH THE
BUDGET ACT OF 2021 2022 THAT
EXPANSION PROVIDED FOR $190
MILLION, A ONE TIME GRANTS AGAIN
FOR A NEW CONSTRUCTION OF NEW
CLASSROOMS AND RETROFIT IN
EXISTING CLASSROOMS, AND THE
STATE ALLOCATION BOARD AGAIN
ESTABLISHED TO FINALLY AROUNDS.
ONE OF THE FILING ROUNDS IS
ESTABLISHED BEGAN APRIL 1ST 2022
CLOSED APRIL 30TH 2022 THE
SUBSEQUENT ROUND JUST RECENTLY
CLOSED ON MARCH 2ND OF 2023.
THAT PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO
INCLUDE CALIFORNIA PRESCHOOL AND
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN AS
APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR THE
CURRENT FUNDS AS WELL. WITH THAT
, THAT FINALLY AROUND THAT
CLOSED ON APRIL 30TH 2022. WE
WERE OVERSUBSCRIBED. THERE'S
$1.5 BILLION IN INTEREST FOR
THAT 1ST $225 MILLION AGAIN. UM
VERY POPULAR PROGRAM, SO THE
BOARD DID TAKE ACTION IN THE
FALL OF 2022 NEARLY APPORTIONED
$225 MILLION THAT REPRESENTS 72
PROJECTS AND THAT THAT WAS JUST
RECENTLY FUNDED. WITH THE
ENACTMENT OF THE BUDGET ACT IN
JUNE, 2022 THERE WAS AN
ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION THAT WAS
INFUSED IN THE PROGRAM, AND IT
ALSO DID EXPAND, UM COMMUNITY
COLLEGES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO
APPLY FOR PRESCHOOL GRANT IF
THEY ACTUALLY ADMINISTER
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM ON THEIR SITE
FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR COUNTY
OFFICE OF EDUCATION. SO WITH
THEIR CURRENT FUNDING ROUND, WE
ACTUALLY HAVE $360 MILLION
AVAILABLE. AND WE ACTUALLY
RECEIVED. WE JUST CLOSED THE
FILING AROUND AS I MENTIONED,
AND WE RECEIVED NEARLY $1.48
BILLION IN FUNDING REQUEST, AND
THAT REPRESENTS 444. 446
APPLICATIONS SO AGAIN, VERY
POPULAR PROGRAM AND WE
DEFINITELY WILL BE
OVERSUBSCRIBED. THESE FUNDS WILL
BE DISPERSED BY THE PROGRAM. AND
WE ANTICIPATE THE DISBURSEMENT
OF THESE FUNDS OF 360 MILLION
CAN FALL OF 2023. UM SO WITH
THAT I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION
AND OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS, OKAY
. THANK YOU WILL CERTAINLY COME
BACK TO YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ON THE
VIDEO HERE REPRESENTATIVE FROM
THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT. UM THEY HAVE BEEN A
LEADER AND IMPLEMENTING U T K SO
WE WANT TO HAVE THEM SHARE THEIR
PERSPECTIVE. AND STEPHANIE, IF
YOU IF YOU START TALKING, THE
VIDEO WILL TURN OFF FOR US. OKAY
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
AND COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
STEPHANIE SIEMINSKI FROM SAN
DIEGO. UNIFIED. I'M THE DIRECTOR
OF EARLY LEARNING. AND SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED WAS EARLY IN
IMPLEMENTING UNIVERSAL ACCESS
FOR ALL FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN
WITHIN OUR TK CLASSROOMS. OUR
GOAL WAS TO PUT STUDENTS ON THE
DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORY TOWARDS
KINDERGARTEN READINESS. OUR
SUCCESS IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE
INTENTIONAL WAY WE APPROACH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN TO
MAKE A GREATER IMPACT. AS WE
LOOKED AT APPROACHING THIS
CHALLENGE, WE FOUND THAT THERE
WAS NO MAGIC FORMULA. AND NO
SINGLE EXPLANATION FOR SUCCESS.
EARLY IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDED
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS FOR A HIGH
QUALITY UNIVERSAL TK PROGRAM
THAT FOCUSED ON CONDITIONS FOR
EQUITY AND ACCESS, RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION OF OUR WORKFORCE
AND DESIGN CURRICULUM WITH
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO
SUPPORT NEW LEARNING. TO CREATE
EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
PROGRAMS. STUS D OPENED 189
CLASSROOMS IN 22 23, WHICH
INCLUDED A MINIMUM OF ONE U T K
AT ONE OF OUR 118 ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL SITES. THE DISTRICT IS
EXPECTED TO ADD ANOTHER 24
CLASSROOMS FOR THE 23 24 SCHOOL
YEAR DUE TO DEMAND THE DISTRICT
CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 4300
STUDENTS AND APPROXIMATELY 2300
AFTER THE FEBRUARY 2ND BIRTHDAY.
THIS MEANS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS
MADE THE INVESTMENT TO COVER
OVER 50% OF THE COST WITH THE 1
TO 12 RATIO DUE TO NOT EARNING A
D, A OUTSIDE OF THE ELIGIBILITY
TIMELINE. WE ALSO WORK TO
STRENGTHEN OUR CONTINUUM OF
PROGRAMS BY BUILDING FEEDER
PATTERNS WITH OUR PRESCHOOLS
OFFERING CHOICE WITH FOR OUR
PARENTS AND PARTNERING WITH OUR
EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
IN SCHOOL SITES OFFER WORKSHOPS
SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES WITH
APPLICATIONS AND HOLD ANSWERING
QUESTIONS. QUESTION SESSIONS
WITH FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS.
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS IN OUR
CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE FOCUSED ON
MAKING INVESTMENTS IN OUR
WORKFORCE AND STAFFING BY
HOLDING EXTENSIVE RECRUITMENT
EVENTS, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE
ALL OF OUR POSITIONS IN R U T K
CLASSROOMS FILLED WE WERE
AWARDED FUNDS WITH THE EARLY
EDUCATION TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
GRANT ARE CLASSIFIED SCHOOL
EMPLOYEE TEACHER CREDENTIALING
PROGRAM GRANT, AND WE'VE BUILT
PARTNERSHIPS WITH HIGHER
EDUCATION, COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES TO TEACH LEAD SAN
DIEGO WE WERE ALSO RECENTLY
AWARDED BY THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY
PARTNERSHIP CASE UP FOR THE
EXEMPLARY DISTRICT UNIVERSITY
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF LAVERNE. FOR HAVING OVER 70
EDUCATORS CURRENTLY ON A
WORKFORCE PIPELINE. BURNING
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATION UNITS. BEING ON AN
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
TEACHER PERMIT PIPELINE, EARNING
A MULTIPLE SUBJECT TEACHER
CREDENTIAL OR AN EDUCATION
SPECIALIST CREDENTIAL. ALSO EACH
OF OUR UNIVERSAL TK CLASSROOMS
ARE STAFFED WITH THE CO TEACHING
MODEL, WHICH INCLUDES AN SCE
TEACHER AND MULTIPLE SUBJECT
CREDENTIAL TEACHER. BY HAVING A
PRESCHOOL PERMIT HOLDER IN A
CREDENTIAL TEACHER UTILIZES
EXPERTISE OF EARLY EDUCATORS AND
CREDENTIAL TEACHERS, PROVIDING
RTK STUDENTS WITH A HIGH QUALITY
AGE APPROPRIATE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT. TO SUPPORT THE
CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING SD USD
HAS ALSO UTILIZED THE U P K
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
GRANT. THIS FUNDING HAS BEEN
ESSENTIAL SOURCE IN PROVIDING
CURRICULUM RESOURCES AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SOME
OF THE CURRICULUM AND RESOURCES
USED TO SUPPORT THE SPECIAL
ENVIRONMENT HAVE INCLUDED THE
UNIVERSAL CALIFORNIA PRESCHOOL
LEARNING FOUNDATIONS AND
FRAMEWORKS. SECOND STEP FOR
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
SPECIALIZED PHONOLOGICAL
AWARENESS PROGRAM. BENCHMARK
READY TO ADVANCE, WHICH IS A
DISTRICT ADOPTED CURRICULUM AND
THE D R D P ONGOING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDES
SUMMER INSTITUTES AFTER SCHOOL
TRAININGS, INTERACTIVE FAMILY
EVENTS, PRINCIPLE AND LEADERSHIP
SERIES RELEASED TIME AND
COLLABORATION FOR PLC.
DEMONSTRATION CLASSROOMS AND
COACHING, TAKE, MAKE AND TEACH
EVENTS AND WE HAVE ALSO UTILIZED
THE WEBINARS OFFERED BY THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. AS WITH ANY NEW
PROGRAM CHALLENGES CERTAINLY ARE
PART OF IT, AND IT'S AN
IMPORTANT PART OF IMPROVEMENT.
WITH RAPID EXPANSION, IT IS NOT
ONLY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT A HIGH
QUALITY WORKFORCE. BUT IN AN
ECONOMY WHERE THE WORKFORCE DOES
NOT EXIST, IS AN EVEN BIGGER
CHALLENGE. WE FIND TREMENDOUS
NEED FOR ONGOING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT TO CONTINUE
RECRUITMENT AND RETAIN OUR
INVESTMENTS. THE COST OF A
VISITING TEACHER IS OVER $300 A
DAY AND WITH OVER 400 EDUCATORS
. NEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
ACROSS THE DISTRICT ARE QUITE
COSTLY. ALSO WITH THE EXPANSION
OF 1 TO 10 RATIO. WHAT IMPACT
STAFFING RIGHT NOW, WITH 189
CLASSROOMS. WE WOULD NEED
APPROXIMATELY 200 CARE EDUCATORS
, ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND A CLEAR
TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION TO
MEET THIS REQUIREMENT. BREAST
USD NET CAPACITY IS NOT ALWAYS
AN ISSUE, BUT AS WE EXPAND
DEMAND IS NOT ALWAYS WEAR OPEN
CLASSROOMS EXIST. TO REACH OUR
GOAL, WHERE EVERY FAMILY HAS
ACCESS TO A NEW RENOVATED TK
CLASSROOM IN THEIR CLUSTER WILL
COST OVER $200 MILLION WE ARE
WORKING TOWARDS THIS, BUT WE
NEED SUPPORT TO GET THERE. WE
HAVE FOUND THAT WE HAVE NOT
ALWAYS QUALIFIED FOR ADDITIONAL
MONEYS THROUGH GRANTS, BUT WE
ALSO HAVE GREAT NEED. AND ONE
THING THAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THE
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF OUR
CLASSROOMS IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT AS WELL. FURNITURE
MATERIALS AND CONSUMABLES ARE
VERY COSTLY. ROUGHLY EACH
CLASSROOM RANGES FROM 5 TO
$10,000. WE HAVE WITNESSED
THROUGH THE DATA STUDENTS MAKING
PROGRESS AND GROWTH. WE HAVE
HEARD TESTIMONIALS FROM TEACHERS
, PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE THE PROGRAM
HAS MADE IN THE LIVES OF THE
CHILDREN AND WITH A PROJECTION
OF CLOSE TO 4600 STUDENTS FOR
NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW WE ARE MAKING
A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THIS
PANEL. I'LL START OFF. UM YOU
KNOW ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THAT
, UH I'VE HEARD GOING AROUND THE
STATE. VISITING TK CLASSROOMS IS
THAT ONE THE EXCITEMENT THAT
IT'S THERE FOR FAMILIES AND
EXPANDED ACCESS AND
OPPORTUNITIES AND, OF COURSE,
FAMILIES OFF TO PAY $2000 A
MONTH AND SOME JURISDICTIONS,
WHICH YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE THAN
ITS COST US AND YOUR KIDS THAT
YOU SEE SAN DIEGO èC, BERKELEY,
UM AND SO, UH, TRANSITION OF
THIS ELEMENT. IT TAKES TIME.
IT'S GONNA YOU'RE NOT BE DONE
OVERNIGHT. WE'RE ALSO
IMPLEMENTING UNIVERSAL AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS CONCURRENTLY AND
THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE A LINK.
BECAUSE WHILE LP I TALKED ABOUT
THE MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS ARE
DOING FULL DAY, WHICH IS GOOD
NEWS ONLY 21% DURING PART DAY
FULL DAY IS A FULL DAY. IT'S A
FULL SCHOOL DAY, WHICH IS
ROUGHLY THE EQUIVALENT TO WHAT
KINDERGARTEN IS AND KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH SIXTH GRADE AND MOST OF
THE SCHOOL SITES AND SO AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE ALWAYS A KEY
, SO THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
THAT'S ANOTHER DAY FOR AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS, BUT WHAT CAN WE
DO AS WE IMPLEMENT UNIVERSAL
AFTER SCHOOL THROUGH THE
EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAM AND
UNIVERSAL TK? A LOT OF IT IS
ADULTS AND PEOPLE, BUT WHAT
THINGS CAN WE THINK ABOUT DOING
TO HELP PUSH THESE OUT? UM
EFFECTIVELY AND SOONER AND HELP
KIDS AND HELP FAMILIES.
TERRANOVA MARGON, REPRESENTING
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, WE ACTUALLY
THINK A LOT ABOUT THE EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
AND T K AND C SPP ALTOGETHER,
AND IT IS REALLY HELPFUL TO
THINK OF THE COHERENCE THAT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN ACROSS THOSE
BECAUSE THEY DO SORT OF HANGING
TOGETHER TO CREATE THE SOLUTION
FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES AND
SCHOOLS, AND SO WITH THE
EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
PROGRAM AND THINKING OF TK THEY
BOTH NEED THAT WORKFORCE SUPPORT
. SO HOW WE CREATE PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING THAT INCLUDES THE
YELLOW P AND THE TK AND THE CSP
P SO THAT THEY ARE ALL GROUNDED
IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN THE
SCIENCE OF LEARNING AND
DEVELOPMENT FOR THOSE EARLY
GRADES, SO THE EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM IS NOT
JUST OBVIOUSLY TICKETS T K
THROUGH SIX, BUT AS THEY BRING
IN MORE T K AND FOUR YEAR OLDS
AND THEN KINDERGARTEN IN THOSE
FIVE YEAR OLDS, THAT WAS NOT A
TYPICAL SPACE FOR A LOT OF OUR
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SO THIS
REALLY IS A NEW AREA FOR THEM TO
DIVE INTO THE STRENGTH OF STATE
PRESCHOOL AND THE STRENGTH OF
EXPANDED LEARNING. ARE THEY
PULLED FROM THEIR COMMUNITY. SO
THOSE STAFF AND TEACHERS REALLY
REPRESENT THE CHILDREN, THE
LANGUAGES, THE RACISM, CULTURES
, AND SO HAVING THAT PIPELINE
FOR THEM IS REALLY CRITICAL IN
CREATING THOSE THAT COHERENCE.
THE OTHER PART, I WOULD SAY, AS
YOU LOOK AT EXPANDED LEARNING,
AND SOME OF THE SEA SPP IS
ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR ELIA'S
TO HAVE A LICENSE EXEMPT. STATUS
TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY OPERATE
THOSE AND BRING IN THE CHILDREN
WHERE THEY NEED TO, AND TO
ADDRESS FULL INCLUSION IN THEIR
PROGRAMS. SO AS WE LOOK ACROSS
THOSE, UM, SORT OF WHAT A SCHOOL
DISTRICT HAS TO DO IT IS ABOVE
AND BEYOND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TO DO
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MEET SCHOOL
CODE REQUIREMENTS AND LICENSING.
AND SO THAT HAS CREATED SOME
BARRIERS AND HOW THE SCHOOLS ARE
ABLE TO OPERATE OR NOT OPERATE
THOSE PROGRAMS. SO WHAT DO WE
NEED TO DO, POTENTIALLY TO HELP
SCHOOL DISTRICTS? DO THIS IN A
MORE SEAMLESS AND, UM, EXPEDITED
MANNER. SO I WOULD SAY, LOOKING
AT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AROUND,
CREATING LICENSE EXEMPT AND
MAKING SURE IT'S IN THERE FOR
THE EXPANDED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM. UM THAT
PIECE AND THEN LOOKING AT OUR
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND
HAVING THAT FOR THREE YEAR OLDS
RIGHT NOW IT'S EXEMPT FOR FOURS,
BUT NOT FOR THREE YEARS OLD
EXEMPT PROVIDERS LIKE NONPROFITS
DO AFTER SCHOOL WAS MORE THAT
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE A
LICENSE ABSENT STATUS. SO THAT
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND I WOULD SAY THE OTHER BIG
PIECE IS THAT PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING AND ONGOING WORKFORCE
SUPPORTS SO THAT IT'S IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHERE THE CHILD IS.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET QUALITY AND
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ADULT
TO UNDERSTANDS DEVELOPMENT,
CULTURE LANGUAGE, ALL OF THOSE
PIECES SO THAT FAMILIES AS
THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR
OPTIONS. AREN'T HAVING TO SAY
THIS ONE IS BETTER BECAUSE OF
QUALITY THAN THIS ONE, BUT THEY
KNOW THAT AS THEIR CHILD ANSWERS
STATE PRESCHOOL, OR TK AND THEN
MOVES INTO THE AFTER SCHOOL PART
THAT THEY HAVE SOMEBODY WHO
ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS DEVELOPMENT
AND IS ABLE TO SUPPORT SOCIAL,
EMOTIONAL AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER
PIECES. OKAY UM, AND THEN, MY
OTHER ISSUE, MAYBE FOR A FINANCE
HERE. IS AS WE IMPLEMENT TK AND
CALIFORNIA OF COURSE, WE HAVE
THE TEACHER AND THEN WE HAVE A
BUNCH OF LITTLE KIDS. AND SO
BECAUSE OF THIS, WE HAVE A
SECOND TEACHER JUST MAKING THE
CLASS, UM BETTER FOR THE KIDS,
BUT ALSO BETTER FOR THE ADULTS
AND AFTER HAVE YOU KNOW ONE
ADULT, YOU KNOW, 20 KIDS, SO
THAT'S A GODSEND FOR THE TEACHER
IN THERE. UM AND WE HAVE TO
IMPLEMENT THAT OVER A NUMBER OF
YEARS, SO THERE'S TWO THINGS
THAT WERE KIND OF CHANGING GOING
FORWARD. ONE IS WE WANT TO
CHANGE THE RATIO, WHICH I KNOW
YOU'RE DELAYING. AND TWO IS WE
WANT TO PUT IN THESE THE
STANDARDS THERE. AND SO. AND ONE
OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HERE AND
MAYBE YOU'RE PUSHING THE DELAY.
UM FOR THE RATIO IS MONEY BUT
ALSO IS ON A PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.
BUT DOESN'T THAT CHANGING THE
STANDARDS HAVE THAT SAME PROBLEM
IS THAT IF YOU IF YOU SAY YOU
HAVE TO HAVE THESE STANDARDS
WHEN YOU DAY YOU START WE MAY
JUST WEED OUT PEOPLE THAT CAN
EVEN START IN THE FIRST PLACE,
AND IT WILL BE BACK TO THE SAME
PROBLEM AS OPPOSED TO HAVING
PEOPLE. CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES
START IN THE CLASSROOM AND GIVE
THEM TIME TO ACHIEVE THOSE
STANDARDS, BASICALLY LEARNING
AND GETTING MORE EDUCATION AS
THEY GO ALONG. SO I WOULD NOTE
THAT THE NEW REQUIREMENTS THAT
ARE PROPOSED IN TBL WOULD NOT
TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 2028 29, WHICH
IS FIVE YEARS AFTER FIVE YEARS
FROM NOW AND THREE YEARS AFTER
THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN.
ADDITIONALLY I WOULD NOTE THAT
THE REAL GOAL OF THIS IS TO PUT
IN NEW QUALIFICATIONS FOR UM,
THE SECOND ADULT THAT'S
INTERACTING WITH THESE YOUNG
ONES. CURRENTLY I WOULD
REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE SECOND
ADULT THAT IS IN THAT CLASSROOM.
THEY MUST BE 18 FINGERPRINTED
AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND THAT'S ALL. UM
ADDITIONALLY, YOU COULD UNDER
THESE REQUIREMENTS GET AS LITTLE
AS SIX UNITS OF SCE AND BE
QUALIFIED FOR THE, UM. FOR THE
CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE OR
SORRY FOR THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANT PERMIT. AND THAT WOULD
MAKE YOU QUALIFIED UNDER THESE
PROVISIONS. YEAH, BUT WHAT'S THE
PROBLEM WITH HAVING SOMEBODY
START AND THEN GIVING THEM TIME
TO GET THERE AS OPPOSED TO
HAVING TO HAVE THAT BEFORE THEY
START? CURRENT CURRENTLY THEY
WOULD HAVE TIME TO GET THERE.
THEY WOULD HAVE FIVE YEARS TO
GET THERE. AND THEN, AFTER FIVE
YEARS, THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE IT.
YES OR THEY COULD BE OR THEY
COULD BE. THEY COULD BE, UM THEY
COULD BE PARTICIPATING, FOR
EXAMPLE, FOR THE, UH, FOR THE
CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. THEY
COULD BE PARTICIPATING IN A
PRACTICUM, AND THAT COULD BE
PART OF IT IN FIVE YEARS. WE'LL
PROBABLY STILL HAVE A PEOPLE
PROBLEM TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO
FIND POSITIONS. IT WILL BE THE
SAME THING. SO THE ISSUE IS
YOU'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN
THE DOOR TO START THE JOB AND
THEN GET THEM UP TO SPEED TO
KEEP THEM THERE, AS OPPOSED TO
SAYING OH, IN FIVE YEARS,
EVERYONE'S GOING TO HAVE THAT.
IT'S ALL GONNA BE DANDY. I'M NOT
SURE IF THAT IS THE REALITY.
YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD CT, SO
I'M SARAH NEVILLE MORGAN. AGAIN
WE WOULD SAY THAT IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE TEACHER AND
THE TEACHER AIDES THAT THE
PEOPLE IN THE CLASSROOM TO HAVE
SOME CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES AS PART
OF THEIR CORE UNDERSTANDING THAT
THERE IS FIVE YEARS TO GET
THERE. ALSO HEARING YOU AND THAT
THERE IS A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE
OVERALL. SO HOW DO YOU CREATE A
PIPELINE AND PATHWAY? WHAT WE DO
THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL IS THAT
WE START A GOAL AND MOVE TOWARDS
IT, BECAUSE IF WE JUST TAKE IT
OFF THE TABLE COMPLETELY AND TRY
TO BRING IT BACK LATER. IT'S
HARDER. SO REALLY SAYING HERE IS
THE GOAL. HOW ARE WE GOING TO
HELP YOU GET HERE IS IMPORTANT
AND WE WOULD ALWAYS STAND BEHIND
OUR CHILDREN NEED AND DESERVED,
REALLY Tð. I ADDRESSED THE
PROMISE OF U P K. THEY HAVE TO
BE HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS AND
THAT ADULTS MATTER THE MOST,
WHICH IS WHY WE WILL ALWAYS
STAND BEHIND, LIKE IN STATE
PRESCHOOL AND THE REST OF THE
SUBSIDIZED WORLD NEEDING HIGHER
RATES AND WAGES. THOSE ADULTS
REALLY MATTER IN THOSE SPACES. I
UNDERSTAND, BUT I JUST KIND OF
THINK ABOUT IN REGULAR
CLASSROOMS. WE'VE HAD SIX. WE
HAD A HEARING LAST WEEK. 6 TO
10,000. AS YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY
CREDENTIAL TEACHERS, FOR
INSTANCE, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN
HERE AND WE STILL HAVE IT. AND
SO WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN
AND BECOME A TEACHER. RIGHT AWAY
THE EMERGENCY CREDENTIAL AND
THEN GET THEIR CREDENTIAL AS
THEY GO ALONG, SO IT JUST SEEMS
THAT THIS IS NOT QUITE WHAT
WE'RE PROPOSING HERE, BUT WE
CAN. WE'LL SORT THAT OUT AND
ANOTHER OTHER IDEAS, HOW TO HOW
TO GET THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ON THIS SECTION?
SOMEONE MEMBER DOLLY, LET'S HAVE
A FOLLOW UP QUESTION. SO THE
15,000 MORE TEACHERS IS THAT
SPECIFIC TO T K. YES THAT IS
SPECIFIC TO TK. SO IN PREVIOUS
HEARINGS, WE'VE HEARD THAT
THAT'S PROBABLY CLOSE TO THAT
NUMBER THAT WE'RE JUST SHORT FOR
GENERAL TEACHERS IN THE STATE.
CAN YOU WHAT? SO, UM. WAS IT THE
15 HANNAH MELNICK LEARNING
POLICY INSTITUTE. WE PROJECTED
THAT FOR BY 2025 26 THE STATE
WOULD NEED, UM 11,900 TO THINK
IT WAS 15,600 NEW TK TEACHERS IN
ADDITION TO THOSE THAT WE
ESTIMATE ARE ALREADY IN THE TK
WORKFORCE UM, THAT WOULD BE IN
ADDITION TO ANY OTHER, UM,
TEACHERS THAT WERE NEEDED IN K
TO 12. OKAY SO I THINK IF I
RECALL CORRECTLY, THAT THAT
TOTAL WOULD BE AROUND 30,000. IF
WE ADDED, IF WE ADDED WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT FOR T K, PLUS OUR
PREVIOUS HEARINGS THAT WE'VE
BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL NOW AND THE
AND THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES,
SOMETHING THAT WE JUST
CONTINUOUSLY HERE, OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, AND SO, UM, I THINK TO
THE CHAIR'S POINT. WE HAVE TO
DECIDE. PRIORITIES RIGHT, LIKE
GOALS ARE GREAT TO SET. BUT I
THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WE NEED
TEACHERS AT EVERY LEVEL AND
EVERY CLASSROOM, SO IF THAT'S
WHERE WE NEED TO SPEND OUR TIME
AND RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE THE MOST CREDENTIAL
TEACHERS POSSIBLE, THE FASTEST.
I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE
SHOULD SPEND OUR TIME AND EFFORT
. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL
OF YOUR COMMENTS TODAY, AND
YOU'RE INFORMATION FOR US. THANK
YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. SUDDENLY
MEMBER TING. THANKS CHAIR. UH
QUICK QUESTION TO MS MELNICK.
YOU MENTIONED, UM FACILITIES
BEING A MAJOR ISSUE, COULD YOU
EXPAND ON THAT. I KNOW THAT IN
THE PAST, WE HAD DONE FACILITIES
GRANTS TO EXPAND KINDERGARTEN.
AND MUCH OF THE MONEY WENT
UNUSED, SO CURIOUS AS TO UM YOU
KNOW WHAT THE WHAT THE ISSUE IS
OR WHAT? WHAT SOME OF THE
HURDLES ARE RIGHT NOW. SURE I
CAN JUST SPEAK TO WHAT WAS IN
THE SURVEY DATA AND A LOT OF THE
CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED IN THE
OPEN RESPONSE WAS ABOUT BOTH THE
FUNDING LEVEL AND NEEDING
SUPPORT AND HOW TO, UM, MEET THE
NEW STANDARDS FOR EARLY LEARNERS
, ESPECIALLY FROM DISTRICTS WHO
WERE KIND OF NEW TO TINY
BATHROOMS AND ALL OF THAT, AND
THERE WAS ALSO CONCERNS FROM
BASIC AID DISTRICTS ABOUT THE
LACK OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE
FACILITIES, AND I THINK OTHERS
COULD SPEAK TO THE PRIORITY.
SYRIANS BETTER. GRAB IS GOING TO
GO TO MS SILVERMAN TO SEE IF SHE
HAD ANYTHING DONE. ADD ALSO IN
PARTICULAR, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE
MONEY AVAILABLE. MANY DISTRICTS
DID NOT TAKE US UP ON THAT
OFFER. WE IN FACT. UM SO MUCH
THOUGHT THAT AND THEN ENDED UP
NOT BEING USED SOME CURIOUS AS
TO HOW THE CONSTRUCTION PIECE
FITS IN. WHAT CURRENT PROGRAM
HAS BEEN OVERSUBSCRIBED. UM A
MULTIPLE LEVELS. SO, UM IT WAS
OVER SER PROBE, EVEN CURRENTLY
WITH THE CURRENT FILING AROUND
THE JUST CLOSED ON MARCH 2ND
2023 WE HAVE OVER 1.4 BILLION
NEARLY $1.5 BILLION IN FUNDING
REQUESTS, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE
ONLY 360 MILLION TO ALLOCATE. SO
UM, WE HAVE REPEATEDLY SHOWN AND
DEMONSTRATED OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
OVERSUBSCRIBED. AND THIS IS
SPECIFICALLY AROUND.
KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS. IT GOES
. WE HAVE DATA ON KINDERGARTEN
CLASSROOMS AND ALSO DATA ON TK
AND PRE K AND SO FOR FULL DAY
KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM. I'LL
JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF OUR
LAST FUNDING ROUND THAT WAS IN
THE FALL. WE ACTUALLY FUNDED 53
CLASSROOMS THAT WAS 48 NEW
CONSTRUCTION AND FIVE RETROFITS.
UM AND THEN THE CURRENT
APPLICATION POOL RIGHT NOW. WE
ACTUALLY HAVE. 933 TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS THAT ARE
BEING REQUESTED. AND WE ACTUALLY
HAVE EXCUSE ME. I APOLOGIZE AND
GIVE ME THE WRONG DATA AND THE
CURRENT PROJECT ARRIAGA CURRENT
APPLICATION POOL, WE ACTUALLY
HAVE 676 CLASSROOMS AS BEING
REQUESTED FOR THE PROGRAM GRANTS
THAT'S NEARLY $500 MILLION
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN WHERE
THE REQUEST HAD BEEN 1000 85
CLASSROOMS. AND THAT REPRESENTS
$820 MILLION. SO WE WERE IN THIS
EXACT COMMITTEE ROOM A COUPLE
YEARS AGO, RIGHT WHERE WE WERE,
UM, WE HAD APPROPRIATED. I THINK
IT WAS 100 OR 203 $100 MILLION
TOWARDS KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS.
TRY TO GET LIAISE TO DO IT
COULDN'T PEOPLE DIDN'T APPLY. SO
WAS THE REASON TO CHANGE
HAPPENED BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE
SHAKING YOUR HEAD LIKE I AM I
MISREMEMBERING SOMETHING OR
WANTED TO HELP HELP OUT TO
GAMBLE WITH THE L A. I THINK I
THINK YOUR MEMORY I BELIEVE IS
CORRECT SOME OF THEM. I THINK I
CAN'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS, BUT
I BELIEVE THE INITIAL GRANT THAT
YOU'RE REFERRING TO, I THINK WAS
MORE NARROW IN WHO COULD APPLY,
SO I THINK IT WAS SPECIFICALLY
FOR FULL DAY TO CONVERT FROM
PART DATA FULL DAY. SINCE THEN,
WE'VE EXPANDED THE PROGRAM. SO
NOW IT'S STATE PRESCHOOL. T K
KINDERGARTEN AND IT CAN BE SO IT
CAN BE FOR EITHER JUST MORE
EXPANSION OR TO CONVERT FROM
PART DATA FOR DAYS, SO I THINK
THAT'S THAT EXPLAINS THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE DEMAND. I
THINK ALSO WHEN WE DID THAT WE
DIDN'T WE HAVEN'T ENACTED OR
PLAN TO GO TO UNIVERSAL TK SO
THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASED INTEREST. I ASSUME,
RIGHT. I MEAN, AND I THINK WHAT
WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS TRY TO
GET AHEAD OF KNOWING THAT WE
UNIVERSAL TK UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
WAS A PRIORITY TRYING TO
ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO REALLY MOVE
THAT DIRECTION. AND I GUESS MANY
OF THEM DIDN'T UNTIL WE TOOK OUR
LEGISLATIVE ACTION, AND NOW
THEY'RE SORT OF BEHIND THE EIGHT
BALL. UM IT'S AT THIS POINT.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE'S MORE
DEMAND RIGHT NOW, THEN. UM
FUNDING. SO THEN WHAT WOULD
DELAYING THAT FUN? JUST PROPOSAL
TO DELAY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
OF THAT FUNDING. WHAT WOULD BE
THE IMPACT? WELL, IT ACTUALLY
WILL GIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
OPPORTUNITY. UM TO COME BACK
INTO THE PROGRAM AT A FUTURE
TIME POINT. UM YOU KNOW, THESE
PROJECTS HAVE TO CONVERT AND
AGAIN GO THROUGH THE
CONSTRUCTION PHASE, UM, SO AGAIN
WILL ADMINISTER ANYTHING THAT WE
DO RECEIVE, UM GRANTED IT IN A
IN A BUDGET ACT. SO AGAIN, UM
WHAT'S THE HARM AND WE'VE
DEMONSTRATED THAT WE HAVE WILL
STILL BE OVERSUBSCRIBED BY 1.1
BILLION, SO DISTRICTS WILL HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REAPPLY. ONCE
THERE IS A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED,
AN ADDITIONAL MONEY IS
AVAILABLE. SO THE HARM IS
BASICALLY THERE'LL BE JUST A FEW
MONTHS DELAYED. FEW MONTHS LATER
A FEW YEARS AGO, BUDGET WILL
DEPEND ON THE BUDGET ACT. YOU
KNOW HOW LONG THERE WILL BE AN
INFUSION OF NEW FUNDS THAT HAVE
BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PROGRAM.
BECAUSE SO OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HAD
APPLICATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE
NEED. AND WHAT'S THE DELTA RIGHT
NOW? FOR THE OVERSUBSCRIPTION?
ONE POINT 1,000,001 1.0.1
BILLION. SORRY. WHAT 1.1 BILLION
UNFUNDED, POTENTIALLY BE
UNFUNDED, CORRECT. AND THAT
WOULD MEAN POTENTIALLY, IT'S
JUST WE HAVE WE HAVE. WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND THE
ENTIRE, UH, GRANT POOL. SO WE
DON'T WE ONLY CURRENTLY HAVE
$360 MILLION TO AWARD AND THE
CURRENT FUNDING CYCLE. SO WHAT'S
THE UNFUNDED AMOUNT? THE
UNFUNDED WOULD BE 1.1 BILLION,
BUT IT'S BASICALLY WE RETURNED
THE APPLICATIONS BACK ONCE WE
HAVE AWARDED 3 $360 MILLION, SO
IT WON'T BE AN UNFUNDED. IT JUST
DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE WAS A
NEED AND WHY. WHY WOULD YOU SENT
APPLICATIONS BACK VERSUS JUST
PUTTING THEM IN A CUBE. WELL,
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT
IT'S BEING PRESCRIBED AT THIS.
POINT IN TIME, RIGHT? UM, MAKE
THEM I'M SORRY THEM REAPPLY,
THEN CORRECT. WHY IS THAT? THAT
SEEMS LIKE TO BE A LOT OF TIME
WASTED. WELL WE CURRENTLY DON'T
HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO AWARD
UM AND THEN TO STAY LOCATION
BOARD MADE PROVIDED REGULATIONS
THAT ONCE THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN
EXPANDED THAN THE APPLICATIONS
ARE RETURNED. AND THAT GIVES
DISTRICT AN OPPORTUNITY TO IF
THERE IS AN INFUSION OF MONEY
THAT COMES IN THE FUTURE, THEN
DISTRICTS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY
TO RE APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM
BECAUSE THINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED
AS WELL. BASED ON THE PRIORITY
POINTS AND PREFERENCE POINTS
THAT ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM SO
IT'S A POINT IN TIME ONCE YOU
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION OKAY? IT
JUST SEEMS TIME WHEN. PEOPLE ON
THE GROUND HAVE LIMITED TIME. IT
SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF TIME WASTE
OF THEIR TIME. I UNDERSTOOD THAT
SEEMS LIKE BUREAUCRACY
JUSTIFYING ITSELF, SO JUST MAKE
A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO ME. UM
ANY OTHER BARRIERS ON THE
FINANCING POINT THAT PEOPLE WANT
TO MAKE SORRY IN TERMS OF THE
CONSTRUCTION POINT. EXCUSE ME.
OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH MAYBE JUST
TO FOLLOW UP ON MR TING'S
QUESTION. UM SO IF WE DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO ALL THE
WAY TO REINSTATE WHERE WE HAD
PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED WHAT WE
NEED JUST TO DO THE BARE MINIMUM
OF PROJECTS ARE KIND OF IN THE
QUEUE READY TO GO. UM WELL,
BASICALLY, THESE ARE JUST
ESTIMATES AT THIS POINT IN TIME,
SO STAFF WOULD HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE ESTIMATES THAT THEY
SUBMITTED IN THE APPLICATION. SO
UM, JUST THE DEMONSTRATED NEED
WOULD BE 1.1 BILLION AND AGAIN,
WE WOULD HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE
AMOUNTS REQUESTED ACTUALLY MEETS
THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM.
IT'S 1.1 BILLION. CORRECT OKAY,
YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH US ON
THOSE DETAILS. OKAY UM, SEEING
NO OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM
WILL HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN, OF
COURSE. AND REVISIT IT LATER IN
THE BUDGET PROCESS. ISSUE NUMBER
TWO CHILD CARE SYSTEM OVERSIGHT.
PANDEMIC RELIEF POLICIES.
IT COMES THERE. OKAY WE HAVE A,
UH, EXTENSIVE PANEL HERE
IMPORTANT TOPIC, SO IF YOU COULD
PLEASE TRY TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS
CONCISE WOULD BE APPRECIATE THAT
WE CAN GET TO THE REST OF THE
AGENDA HERE FROM THE PUBLIC AS
WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
CHAIR KIM JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND
MEMBERS AND APPRECIATE YOUR
OPENING COMMENTS THIS AFTERNOON
. I AM JUST GRATEFUL OF WHAT
THIS LEGISLATURE IN HIS BODY
WITH THE GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO DO OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IN
REALLY MOVING THIS SYSTEM
FORWARD. I WANT TO MENTION AGAIN
. I KNOW THE LEGISLATIVE BODY
OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL
YEARS. PUT FORWARD A, UH,
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AMONGST THE IN HOME
FAMILY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS IN THE
STATE AND THIS GOVERNOR GOVERNOR
NEWSOM SIGNED THAT LEGISLATION
HB 3 78 TO ALLOW US TO HAVE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. WITHIN
THIS WORK, AND I WOULD JUST SAY
IT'S RIGHT ON TIME IN TERMS OF
WHAT WE THEN EXPERIENCED IN THE
PANDEMIC IN THE WAYS IN WHICH WE
COULD PARTNER WITH CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS UNITED IN INVESTING IN
THE RIGHT WAYS, I ALSO WANT TO
JUST REALLY APPRECIATE OUR WORK
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, AS WELL
AS THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES HAVE DONE TOGETHER TO
TRANSFER MANY OF THE CHILD CARE
AND DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY PROGRAMS
, EFFECTIVE JULY OF 2021 NOT
ONLY THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION FOR THEIR WORK IN THAT
COLLAPSE AERATION THAT WE DID
TOGETHER BUT ALSO AGAIN IN THE
PANDEMIC, PARTNERING. ON EFFORTS
SUCH AS WHAT YOU JUST SPOKE
ABOUT HISTORIC PRESCHOOL
EXPANSION IN ENSURING THAT WE
HAVE THE MIXED DELIVERY SYSTEM
IN THAT SPACE, ALSO PLACES LIKE
PANDEMIC ELECTRONIC BENEFITS,
WHICH WERE SUPPORTED FIVE
MILLION CHILDREN OVER THE LAST
FEW SCHOOL YEARS WITH $10.6
BILLION TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO
WEREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS SOME OF
THOSE SUPPORTS AND HOW WE'VE
KIND OF LAUNCHED AND LEVERAGE.
SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES TO NOW
HAVE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS IN
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND THEY'RE
NOW PLANNING TOWARDS A PERMANENT
SUMMER MBT PROGRAM TO ENSURE
FOOD SECURITY AND ETCETERA. SO
MANY, MANY PARTNERSHIPS IN THAT
SPACE ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF
THE STAKEHOLDERS. FAMILIES
CHILDREN PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
WHO SUPPORTED PROVIDING AND
LIFTING UP THE STRENGTH OF WHAT
HAD BEEN WORKING WELL AS WE
TRANSFER TRANSITION IN THAT
SYSTEM. I'LL JUST SAY IN YOUR
AGENDA POINTS TO IT THE EFFORTS
DURING THE PANDEMIC OR SIMPLY
EXTRAORDINARY, UH AND WE DID
CONTINUE TO LEAD FIRST AND
FOREMOST WITH EQUITY. SO WHEN WE
COLLECTIVELY MADE THE
TREMENDOUSLY HARD DECISIONS TO
DO THINGS LIKE CLOSED SCHOOLS,
WE ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE SPACES
WHERE HOME WASN'T SAFE. FOR
CHILDREN, CHILDREN ENGAGED OR AT
RISK IN OUR CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
THAT WE NOT ONLY INVESTED IN
HAVING GREATER ACCESS TO CHILD
CARE SUBSIDIES FOR OUR ESSENTIAL
WORKFORCE. BUT ALSO THOSE
FAMILIES WHO THAT CONNECTION TO
A STABLE AND STRONG ADULT IN
LIVING CAREGIVER WAS HUGE IN
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LIFELONG
TRAJECTORY FOR THOSE SYSTEMS.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE
FEDERAL FUNDING IS THE REASON
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO SO FAR. $5
BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING
SUPPORTS THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO
DO MUCH OF WHAT WE'VE DONE
TOGETHER IN THESE INVESTMENTS
AND OUR ABILITY TO KNOW HOW AND
WHERE TO INVEST WAS LARGELY
DRIVEN BY THE WORK OF THIS BODY
WITH THE ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY BLUE
RIBBON COMMISSION REPORT. EARLY
LEARNING AND CARE AS WELL AS THE
MASTER PLAN ON EARLY LEARNING
AND CARE THAT WE WORKED ON
TOGETHER, SO WE HAD THE ROADMAP.
WE HAD THE PLANS. WE HAVE THE
PRIORITIES THAT WE SAT DOWN
TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH, LOOKING
AT THOSE EVIDENCE BASED
PRACTICES AND IN HEARING FROM
THE VOICES OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO GO
FURTHER, WHICH REALLY DID ALLOW
US TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY AND
RAPIDLY IN OUR ABILITY TO
IMPLEMENT MUCH OF THE RELIEF AND
SUPPORTS NOT ONLY FOR THE
WORKFORCE BUT ALSO FOR THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU'LL HEAR
MORE ABOUT. I WANT TO AGAIN YOUR
AGENDA. I THINK PAGE NINE POINTS
TO SOME OF THE SPECIFIC RELEASE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PACKAGES
AND SUPPORTS THAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO PUT OUT AGAIN. WORKFORCE
WORKFORCE WORKFORCE THEME YOU'LL
HEAR MORE ABOUT AND THAT
ECONOMIC RELIEF TO SUSTAIN AND
RETAIN EXISTING, UH, PROGRAMS IS
TREMENDOUS, BUT ALSO TO RECRUIT
NEW PEOPLE INTO THIS EARLY
LEARNING SECTOR IN IN THE FIELD.
I ALSO WANT TO LIFT UP THE
TREMENDOUS WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING
TOGETHER ON HAVING OPPORTUNITIES
TO CONTINUE SKILL BUILDING AND
COMPETENCY BUILDING AND
INABILITY BUILDING WITH TRAUMA,
INFORMED APPROACHES AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE WAY. THE
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED EVERYTHING
AGAIN FROM FACILITIES AS AGAIN
YOU'RE EARLIER PANEL WAS
REFERENCED. THIS IS HUGE, TOO,
AS WE LOOK TO CREATE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS ACROSS
COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA, THAT
ABILITY OF THE INTERMEDIARIES,
CHILDCARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
AGENCIES, THE LOCAL PLANNING
COUNCILS AND OTHERS TO ALSO BE
READY AND PREPARED TO LOOK AT
DATA AND AGAIN DRIVE OUR
INVESTMENTS AND BE READY TO GO
BUT ALSO DURING THE TRANSITION.
WE LOOK TO IMPROVE AROUND
AUTOMATED SYSTEMS AGAIN PLAY
THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM
THE PANDEMIC NETWORK LIKE DIRECT
DEPOSIT FOR OUR PROGRAMS GOING
FORWARD, SO AS WE'RE LOOKING
AHEAD I JUST HAVE TO SAY AS THE
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES THAT
IT IS CRITICAL THIS THIS CHILD
CARE AND DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY IS
A CRITICAL C¢M PART COMPONENT OF
OUR OVERALL AERATED DISRUPT
POVERTY IN THIS STATE, AND IT
ABSOLUTELY GIVES US GREATER
ABILITIES TO DO THINGS LIKE
LEVERAGE OUR INVESTMENTS IN
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND
ENDING FAMILY, HOMELESSNESS,
TRANSFORMING OUR CHILDREN AND
YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS
TO ENSURE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESILIENCE
BUILDING SKILLS TO OVER. BECOME
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES TO
LOOK AT STRENGTHENING. STRENGTH
BASED VOLUNTARY HOME VISITING,
WHICH IS EMBEDDED IN OUR COW
WORKS PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES AND,
OF COURSE, THE FOOD SECURITY
COMPONENTS THAT I MENTIONED
PRIOR. UM JUST ABSOLUTELY
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH
TOGETHER TO CONTINUE THESE
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS INTO
COMMUNITIES AND VERY MUCH
RECOGNIZED THERE IS MORE TO DO.
BUT TO NOT ONLY TRANSITION. TO
UH WORK THROUGH THE PANDEMIC,
AND IT'S STAND UP PROGRAMS IN
THE MATTER OF WEEKS, ETCETERA
BUT ALSO TO TAKE ON NEW AND
SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATIONS LIKE
RATE REFORM IN OUR SUBSIDY
SYSTEM TOGETHER HAS BEEN
EXTRAORDINARY, SO I'M GRATEFUL
TO THE LEADERSHIP OF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR HYMAN MEILAN WHO YOU'LL
HEAR FROM NEXT AND MANY OF OUR
TEAM ON THE GROUND. BUT MOST OF
ALL, TO OUR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR
PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE. THANK
YOU. OKAY THANK YOU. NEXT. WE
HAVE A WITNESS ON WEBEX. WE HAVE
, UM, IN A PAL THE CENTER FOR
THE STUDY OF CHILDCARE,
EMPLOYMENT AND HAVE YOU START
TALKING, WE WILL SEE YOUR FACE.
GOOD MORNING TO THE COMMITTEE.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? THANK
YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. THANK YOU.
WONDERFUL I'M A SENIOR RESEARCH
AND POLICY ASSOCIATE FROM THE
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF
CHILDCARE EMPLOYMENT AT UC
BERKELEY, AND MY RESEARCH IS
FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE WORKFORCE
WORKFORCE, SPECIFICALLY, THE
TEACHERS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH
THROUGH AGE FIVE, AS WELL AS THE
CHILDCARE CENTERS AND FAMILY
CHILDCARE HOMES WHERE THEY WORK.
SO WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
WORKFORCE IN CALIFORNIA? THEY
ARE MAJORITY WOMEN OF COLOR.
MORE THAN HALF ARE AGE 50 OR
OLDER AND ABOUT ONE THIRD SPEAK
SPANISH. SO HOW HAS THE
WORKFORCE FARED SINCE THE
PANDEMIC? WELL AS OF JANUARY,
2023, THE BUREAU OF LABOR
STATISTICS SHOWS THAT THERE ARE
93.3% AS MANY CHILDCARE WORKER
JOBS IN CALIFORNIA COMPARED TO
PRE PANDEMIC FEBRUARY 2020 20.
UM IN OTHER WORDS, A LOSS OF
6.7% OF THOSE JOBS IN THIS
CATEGORY IN THE LAST MONTH, IN
FACT, CALIFORNIA SAW A DECLINE
OF 1900 JOBS. UM THE OVERALL
JOBS ESTIMATE IS SIMILAR TO THE
NATIONAL ESTIMATE FOR CHILDCARE
WORKERS WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT
94.3% OF PRE PANDEMIC EMPLOYMENT
LEVELS. NOW OUR RESEARCH SHOWS
THAT LOW WAGES DRIVE THESE
WORKERS SHORTAGES, FOR EXAMPLE,
THE MEDIAN WAGE OF A FULL TIME
CENTER TEACHER IN CALIFORNIA IS
$39,500 PER YEAR. UM AND WE
ESTIMATE THAT CENTER TEACHERS
WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, SO I
DECLINE OF 1 TO 2.5% IN THEIR
WAGES BETWEEN 2006 AND 2022
AFTER ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION.
IN FACT, BACHELOR DEGREES ARE
PRETTY COMMON ABOUT ONE THIRD OF
FCC PROVIDERS AND ONE HALF OF
CENTRALLY TEACHERS DO HOLD THEM.
BUT IF T K TEACHER WITH THE SAME
DEGREE EARNED AT LEAST DOUBLE
THE SALARY, SO ECONOMIC
INSECURITY IS COMMON WITH THE
MOST SEVERE EFFECTS FOR OUR
BLACK, LATINO AND IMMIGRANT
EDUCATORS AS AN EXAMPLE ONLY
SEVEN OUT OF 10 CHILDCARE
CENTERS CAN OFFER HEALTH
INSURANCE TO FULL TIME STAFF.
ONLY 21% OF FAMILY. CHILDHOOD
CARE PROVIDERS HAVE RETIREMENT
SAVINGS AT ANY AMOUNT, AND FOOD
INSECURITY IS RELATIVELY HIGH.
ABOUT A THIRD OF THIS WORKFORCE
. IS FOOD INSECURE, BUT IT IS IN
FACT A BIT HIGHER FOR CENTER
TEACHERS WHO ARE WOMEN OF COLOR
OR WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS. FOR
EXAMPLE, 42% OF OUR IMMIGRANT
CENTER TEACHERS, UM IN THE FIRST
YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC. JOB
TURNOVER IN CHILDCARE CENTERS
WAS 58% FOR ASSISTANT TEACHERS
AND 32% FOR OUR LEAD TEACHERS,
AND SO THIS INADEQUATE
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS DRIVES
THIS TURNOVER AND WITH RISING
INFLATION AND STAGNANT WAGES, WE
KNOW THAT HIGHLY SKILLED
EDUCATORS WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD
THE FIELD OR NOT JOIN IN THE
FIRST PLACE, POTENTIALLY SO THE
STAFFING SHORTAGES EXISTED AS
EXISTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. UM
AND WHILE CALIFORNIA MADE
IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS TO STAVE
OFF MASS CLOSURES DURING THE
PANDEMIC, THE JOB OF A PRESCHOOL
TEACHER OR CHILDCARE WORKER
REMAINS AS HIGH SKILL, LOW PAID
JOB. I'M GONNA SPEAK BRIEFLY ON
THE ACTIONS THAT CALIFORNIA TOOK
RELATIVE TO OTHER STATES. SO
FUNDAMENTALLY, WE WILL NEED
FURTHER RESEARCH TO DETERMINE
WHETHER PARTICULAR INTERVENTIONS
WITH PANDEMIC RELIEF DOLLARS
WERE EFFECTIVE IN OUR STATE
VERSUS ANOTHER STATE. BUT WE DO
KNOW THAT MOST STATES TRY TO
DEDICATE SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR
WORKFORCE COMPENSATION. FOR
EXAMPLE, NEW JERSEY OFFERED
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT
PAYMENTS TO CHILDCARE STAFF. UM
AND IN FACT, THEY'RE EDUCATOR.
WORKFORCE NUMBERS EXCEED THE PRE
PENDING PRE PANDEMIC ESTIMATES.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, MORE THAN
100% OF THAT PRE PANDEMIC
NUMBER, WHEREAS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, WE RELIED ON THESE
GRANTS. PROGRAMS WHICH REALLY
SERVED AS IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF
OFFSETTING LOST REVENUE, RIGHT,
MAINTAINING THE CURRENT WAGES
THAT WERE BEING PAID BEFORE
PRIMARILY UM, WE'RE NOW WITH
RELIEF FUNDS WINDING DOWN FACING
WHAT SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN
HEARING ABOUT, POTENTIALLY THIS
ARP CLIFF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
ACT CLIFF, UM, WITH THE FUNDING
WHERE CALIFORNIA'S EMERGENCY
FUNDS THEY DID PREVENT DEEPER
LOSSES, BUT WE DO NEED THAT
ONGOING INVESTMENT. FORTUNATELY
THE STATE HASN'T YOU KNOW, PUT A
GOOD EFFORT INTO DEVELOPING THIS
TRUE COST OF CARE FUNDING MODEL
FOR REIMBURSEMENT RATE REFORM,
SO WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO ACT AS
LEADERS IN THIS SPACE BY
FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE
BUDGETARY SUPPORT FOR THOSE
RATES, AND I THINK MANY OF THE
FOLKS ON THIS PANEL ARE GOING TO
SPEAK TO PARENTS ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING TO AFFORD CARE
PROVIDERS CAN'T AFFORD TO RAISE
THEIR PRICES. SO THEY CONTINUE
TO PAY LOW WAGES TO THEIR
TEACHERS AND THE CURRENT
REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR
SUBSIDIZED CARE CANNOT COVER THE
TRUE COST OF QUALITY CARE. AS A
RESULT, WE EFFECTIVELY HAVE TO
MAINTAIN LOW WAGES FOR THE TIME
BEING WITHOUT THIS INCREASED
FUNDING, SO WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO HIRE AND
OR INCREASE ENROLLMENT. LICENSED
CAPACITY. YOU NAME IT, UM,
FUNDAMENTALLY STATE DOLLARS FOR
MORE SPACES MUST BE COORDINATED
WITH THE INCREASES TO
REIMBURSEMENT RATES. OTHERWISE
PROGRAMS IN MANY REGIONS MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO STAFF UP OR ABSORB
MORE FUNDED. A VOUCHER
ENROLLMENT. ONE FINAL POINT. WE
AGREE THAT ENROLLMENT BASED
RATHER THAN ATTENDANCE BASED
FUNDING IS A GOOD MODEL TO
CONSIDER. FROM THE LONG RUN. WE
FIND THAT CONTRACT BASED FUNDING
STREAMS THAT USE THIS MECHANISM
HAVE MORE STABLE STAFFING AND
ENROLLMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, HEAD
START ENTITLED FIVE PROGRAMS,
WHICH WERE LESS LIKELY IN
CALIFORNIA TO FALL ONTO LAYOFFS
OR FURLOUGHS OR OUR REDUCTIONS.
STATES LIKE ILLINOIS ARE
EXPANDING THEIR USE OF CONTRACT
AND ENROLLMENT BASED FUNDING
MECHANISMS TO IMPROVE THE
STABILITY AND ALLOW FOR MORE
WAGE INCREASES. SO IN
CONCLUSION, UM WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
CHALLENGES IN REACHING THE NEW
LICENSE CAPACITY FUNDED BY
SUBSIDIES, BUT CAPACITY ALONE IS
NOT A REASON TO DELAY NEW SPACES
. INSTEAD CALIFORNIA MUST TACKLE
THE STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES THAT
KEEP WAGES LOW AND DRIVE.
TEACHER SHORTAGES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. OKAY THANK YOU. UH
NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM L. A OH,
JACKIE BRUCE, STILL WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE, AS
NOTED ON YOUR AGENDA ON PAGE
NINE, WE DID PROVIDE A SUMMARY
OF KEY COVID 19 RELIEF
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY
SET TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 30TH 2023
TO THAT I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT FOR YOUR MEMBERS
SPECIFICALLY, ARE THE FAMILY FEE
WAIVER EXPIRATION OF THE FAMILY
FEE RAVER AND THEN ALSO
EXPIRATION OF REIMBURSEMENT
FLEXIBILITIES THAT WERE ENACTED
DURING COVID 19. IN THE CASE OF
FAMILY FEES. UM AND OUR ANALYSIS
OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. WE
JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT THE
EXPIRATION OF THE WAIVER LIKELY
WILL CREATE BARRIERS TO CARE FOR
LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT
ABLE TO AFFORD THESE FEES. UM
THAT'S THE LEGISLATURE MAY WANT
TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION HOW
BIG OF A BARRIER AND THEY EXPECT
, UM, THE EXPIRATION OF FAMILY
FREE WAIVER WILL HAVE ON
FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY THE
LEGISLATURE COULD ASK THE
ADMINISTRATION WHAT CHANGES
COULD BE MADE TO THE FAMILY.
SCHEDULE TO MITIGATE. ANY
POTENTIAL ACCESS BARRIERS WHILE
STILL COMPLYING WITH THE FEDERAL
FAMILY FEE REQUIREMENT. AS FOR
THE REIMBURSEMENT FLEXIBILITIES
DURING COVID 19 CHANGES WERE
MADE AS TO HOW CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS WOULD RECEIVE THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES. UM
SPECIFICALLY, CHANGES WERE MADE
THAT THEY COULD STILL RECEIVE
THEIR FULL REIMBURSEMENT RATES,
REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY CARE
HOURS OUR CHILDREN SERVED. WE
FIND THAT MAINTAINING SOME FORM
OF REIMBURSEMENT FLEXIBILITIES,
AT LEAST FOR THE VOUCHER BASED
PROGRAMS. MAY HAVE MERIT SINCE
THE PROVIDERS FOR THE
REIMBURSEMENT FLEXIBILITIES THAT
WERE ENACTED. THEY WERE AT LEAST
STILL REQUIRED TO HAVE CHILDREN
ENROLLED, AND TO PROVIDE AT
LEAST SOME LEVEL OF SERVICE TO
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT
AMOUNT AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD
ANECDOTALLY FROM PROVIDERS. THIS
DID PROVIDE A LEVEL OF
PREDICTABILITY FOR PAYMENTS AND
POTENTIALLY MADE THEM MORE
LIKELY TO ACCEPT CHILDREN THAT
WERE RECEIVING VOUCHERS. HOWEVER
IN THE CASE OF DIRECT CONTRACT
PROVIDERS THE WAY THAT THE
REIMBURSEMENT FLEXIBILITY
RESTRUCTURED. IT DID NOT
NECESSARILY REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE
CHILDREN ENROLLED. IT REALLY WAS
JUST BASED OFF OF PRE PANDEMIC
ENROLLMENT LEVELS, SO WE FIND
THAT MAINTAINING THE EXISTING
REIMBURSEMENT FLEXIBILITY FOR
DIRECT CONTRACT PROVIDERS MAY
NOT ALIGN WITH THE OVERALL GOAL
OF MAXIMIZING THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN SERVED, UM THANK YOU.
THAT'S IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT
AH, SPEAKER IS. PRISON MY SHEET
. IT'S ME. YES. ANDREA. SO THE
DSS REP. WE'RE GOING TO SKIP
BECAUSE WE HEARD MOST OF IT.
ANDREA FERNANDEZ. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS ANDREA FERNANDEZ AND
I'M, THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR
CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S ACADEMY.
WE HOLD A C S P P. N C CTR
CONTRACT, UM, DOWN IN LOS
ANGELES COUNTY THAT SERVES
INFANTS, TODDLERS AND
PRESCHOOLERS. IN PRE COVID TIMES
WE WERE SERVING OVER 700
CHILDREN PER DAY. IN 15 CAMPUSES
. UM AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I
WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU DURING THE COVID. WE WERE
ABLE TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN THE
ENTIRE TIME SERVING CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES BECAUSE OF THE COVID
RELIEF THAT YOU PROVIDED, SO
THANK YOU. I'M HERE TODAY TO
SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE
EFFECT OF THE STATEMENT OF THE
FAMILY FEES AND WHAT IT WOULD DO
TO THE SUBSIDIZED CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES IN THE CALIFORNIA EC
SYSTEM. A SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED
BY SOME OF THE EARLY EDUCATION
FOLKS AND OVER 7000 FAMILIES WHO
ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING
SUBSIDIZED CARE SERVICES
RESPONDED OVER HALF 55.9% THAT
THEY WOULD DROP OUT OF CARE
BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO AFFORD THE FAMILY FEES. 75%
OF THOSE FAMILIES WHO RESPONDED
EARNED BELOW $50,000 A YEAR.
REINCE STUDYING THE FAMILY FEE
WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO THE LOW
INCOME MARGINALIZED FAMILIES WHO
WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE BY THIS
CHANGE. FAMILIES HAVE TOLD US
THAT THEY'VE NEVER HAD TO PAY A
FAMILY FEE BEFORE THEY WOULDN'T
BE ABLE TO BUDGET IT IN WOULDN'T
KNOW HOW AND THEY'RE BARELY
MAKING ENDS MEET AS IT IS
KEEPING A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS
OR PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.
THEY TOLD US THAT THEY'RE SCARED
BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THEIR
CHILDREN. OR WHERE THEY'RE GOING
TO LEAVE THEM WHILE THEY WORK.
SOME OF STATED THAT THEY'D HAVE
TO STOP WORKING. AND TAKE THEIR
CHILDREN WITH THEM AND MANY
OTHER SCENARIOS THAT BUT COULD
POTENTIALLY HARM CHILDREN AND
PUT THEM IN HARM'S WAY BUT
DEFINITELY WOULD NOT BE
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.
THEY HAVE ALSO TOLD US THAT WITH
THEIR BASIC NEEDS, SUCH AS FOOD
, DIAPERS, GAS ALL BEING SO
EXPENSIVE. THEY CAN'T AFFORD ONE
MORE THING, SOMETHING THEY
HAVEN'T HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT IN
THREE YEARS. AS OUR ENROLLMENT
STILL HAS NOT RECOVERED FROM PRE
COVID TIMES AN ADDITIONAL MASS
EXODUS OF FAMILIES OUT OF OUR
PROGRAMS WOULD COLLAPSE. THE
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE SYSTEM AND
DEVASTATE THE CALIFORNIA
ECONOMY. ADDITIONALLY IT
COMPOUNDS THE HIGH COST OF
KEEPING OUR DOORS OPEN. THE COST
NOT ONLY HAVE RISEN FOR THE
FAMILIES AND EXPENSES, PROVIDING
FOOD FOR THE CHILDREN STAFFING
COSTS, BUT IT'S ALSO IT'S ALSO A
BARRIER FOR US AS WELL AS
PROVIDERS. ADDITIONALLY ON ON
TOP OF THAT THE INFANT TODDLER
COSTS TO RUN INVENTORY OR
PROGRAMS WITH STAFFING RATIOS IS
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN A
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. AND IT
IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP OUR DOORS
OPEN AND STAFF IN OUR PROGRAMS.
BUT WE DO IT AND IT'S HELPED
BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE COVID
RELIEF. ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THE FAMILY FEES
WOULD BE DEVASTATING, BUT MOST
SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE LOW INCOME
MARGINALIZED CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES WHO RELY ON OUR
SERVICES TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN
SAFE AND TO KEEP THEM WORKING.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE
FIND A WAY TO KEEP THE FAMILY
FEES AT BAY BECAUSE OUR FAMILIES
WOULD TRULY BE DEVASTATED. BUT
ALSO THE CALIFORNIA ECONOMY.
THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
THEM. THANK YOU. NEXT. WE HAVE
KARINA FROM PARENT VOICES. JUST
ONE SWAP.
HELLO MY NAME IS KARINA SCARE. I
AM MARRIED AND I HAVE THREE
KIDS. THREE A AND 11 MY HUSBAND
WORKED WITH TIME FOR RICK OLOGY.
I HAVE A DISABILITY VISION
DISABILITY. AND I AM. FULL TIME
STUDENT AT SONOMA STATE
UNIVERSITY. MY MAJOR IS
SOCIOLOGY. AND I'M MY MOTIVATION
IS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
SCIENCE. I HEAR THAT I HAVE TO
PAY NEXT SEMESTER MORE THAN FIVE
$100 I GOT HIS TRIPS AND WORRY.
BECAUSE. I AM A STUDY. TO GET A
HIGHER EDUCATION. TO CHANGE MY
LIFE TO GET IT MORE ECONOMIC
STABILITY FOR MY KIDS AND MY
FAMILY. EVERY DAY. I WAKE UP AT
SIX IN THE MORNING. AND TAKE THE
BUS TO MASTER UNIVERSITY WITH MY
LITTLE GIRL THAT SHE'S THREE
YEARS. AND I MOTIVATE HER. I SAY
YOU KNOW WHAT? WE YOU AND ME.
WE'RE GOING TO SCHOOL. AND I
HEAD TO THE IT'S COOL CHILDHOOD
SCHOOL. AND SHE'S HAPPY. I SAY,
YOU KNOW WHAT? WHEN I COME BACK
I'M GOING TO PRODUCE SOMETHING.
AND SHE ALWAYS WHEN I BEAT HER
UP, SHE ALWAYS EXCITING AND I
SAY, HOW WAS YOUR DAY AND SHE'S
LIKE IT WAS GREAT. I PLAY WITH
MY FRIENDS AND SHE'S
SOCIALIZING. AND SHE'S HAVING A
GOOD TIME. SHE'S DOING
ACTIVITIES. SHE'S BEHAVED SO
WELL THAT RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE
HER. SHE'S REALLY QUIET. AND I'M
LIKE REALLY, HAPPINESS SAID YOU
KNOW WHY. I BROUGHT YOU SOME
DONUT. WHAT IS LIKE REALLY
HAPPY. SO WE HAVE HOME AT 55. PM
. AND I GET HOME. I DO. THE
COOKING FOR MY OTHER TWO KIDS.
AND THEN IN THE NIGHT, I DO MY
HOMEWORK BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
IMPORTANT THAT IS. BE THERE FOR
MY KIDS, BUT ALSO THE ONLY WAY
THAT I CAN DO SOMETHING BETTER
FOR MY KIDS EDUCATION. AND I
KNOW THAT CHILDCARE. IS A SEARCH
OF FOR LITTLE KIDS BECAUSE THEIR
FUTURE. IS EDUCATION, AND I
LEARNED IT BECAUSE I WAS IN
POVERTY. I WAS IN FIRST TIMES
ASSISTANCE. IN PUBLIC EXISTENCE
. AND RIGHT NOW I'M NOT IN FOOD
STAMPS. I DO RECEIVE S S A
SOCIAL SECURITY. BUT THEY'RE
ONLY REASON THAT I RECEIVE A IS
WITH RIGHT NOW. I'M DOING WHAT I
CAN DO TO GET A HIGHER EDUCATION
AND AIR MY BASHES DEGREE IN
SOCIOLOGY TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE
AND THE REASON THAT I'M HERE
RIGHT NOW WITH YOU GUYS. IS TO
PLEASE HELP ME AND SUPPORT ME.
BECAUSE. 500 MORE DOLLARS RIGHT
NOW. I DON'T KNOW. IT'S TOO MUCH
FOR ME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I ONLY
RECEIVED $1000. AND MY HUSBAND
PAYCHECK. PATIENT TO PATIENT AND
I LEARNED SO MUCH IN SOCIOLOGY
THAT EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL THAT
CULTURAL CAPITAL I WANT
SOMETHING BETTER FOR MY KIDS.
SOMETHING FOR ME. AND I KNOW
THAT YOU GUYS ARE HUMANS LIKE
ME. AND YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND ME?
AND YOU GUYS. CAN DO SOMETHING
FOR MY LITTLE GIRL AND FOR OTHER
FAMILY. EDUCATION EMPOWERS ME
AND EDUCATION AND POWERS. MY
CHILDREN. SO PLEASE. DO
SOMETHING. AND HELP US. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU HAVE ONE
QUESTION, KARINA. YOU DIDN'T
INTRODUCE YOUR DAUGHTER. WHAT'S
HER NAME IS KATE K¾T SCARED.
SHE'S THREE. THANK YOU. GREAT
JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. NEXT. WE HAVE KIMBERLY FROM
THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS UNION.
THANK YOU. UM IT'S A FACT TO
FOLLOW TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. I'LL
SO CAN REALLY ROSENBERG
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS UNITED WHICH
IS S E I U NEED UW
COLLABORATION. BUT AS WE SAID
EARLIER, YOU CAN JUST CALL HIS
WORKFORCE WORKFORCE WORKFORCE.
WE REPRESENT THE FAMILY
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, AND WHEN WE
STARTED OUR CAMPAIGN 10 YEARS
AGO, THERE WAS ABOUT 40,000
WORKERS. IN 2018 WHEN WE ENTERED
THE FINAL HURDLE TO WIN THE
RIGHT TO UNIONIZE, THERE WAS
ABOUT 36,000 THAT WERE ASSESSED
ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. UM IN THAT
TIME, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE
NUMBERS WERE DECLINING. WE KNEW
THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE
ECOSYSTEM. IT WAS VERY FRAGILE
AND WE DID OUR VOTE DURING 2020
RIGHT AROUND THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC AT THE PEAK OF THE
PANDEMIC NUMBERS DECLINED TO
22,000 IF IT WASN'T FOR THE
QUICK AND MONUMENTAL SUPPORT OF
THE LEGISLATURE. WE DID AN
AGREEMENT TO AGREEMENTS COVID
AGREEMENTS PRIOR TO EVEN
NEGOTIATING OUR FIRST CONTRACT
TO HELP STABILIZE THE WORKFORCE
. UM THOSE HELPED THAT PREVENT
THAT CHILDCARE WORKFORCE FROM
COLLAPSING. WE'RE BACK AROUND TO
MID TOOTH 20,000. SO IT'S NOT
GREAT. WE LOST NEARLY A THIRD OF
OUR WORKFORCE FROM WHAT WE HAD
10 YEARS AGO. UM, BUT IT DOES
SEEM THAT SOME NUMBERS DID
RETURN BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE,
IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE
INVESTMENTS FROM THOSE COVID
AGREEMENTS. THE KEY INVESTMENTS
INCLUDED MOVING TO ENROLLMENT.
TO GIVING STIPENDS, WHICH HELPED
OFFSET THE SUBSIDIZED CHILDREN
BECAUSE AS THE P FIVE STUDY THAT
CAME OUT RECENTLY INDICATED ONLY
25 TO 30% OF THE ACTUAL COST OF
CARE IS COVERED BY SUBSIDIES,
WHICH MEANS OUR CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS ARE WHOLLY DEPENDENT
ON THE PRIVATE FAMILIES TO
SUPPORT THE OVERALL COST OF
RUNNING THE BUSINESS AND THOSE
PRIVATE FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY
HAVE MORE RESOURCES BECAUSE THEY
WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO
WORK FROM HOME, WHERE THE FIRST
TO TAKE THEIR KIDS OUT OF THE
CHILDCARE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO OUR PROVIDERS WERE
RUNNING UP CREDIT CARD DEBT, NOT
ABLE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE OR
RENT. AND SO, UM, THAT ECONOMIC
RELIEF WAS HUGE. AFTER WHERE WE
ALSO WERE ABLE TO GET AN
ADDITIONAL 16 6 DAYS PAID SICK
DAYS ON TOP OF THE 10 THAT ARE
IN STATUE. THOSE WERE CARRIED
OVER IN OUR C CPU TWO YEAR
CONTRACT, WHICH IS SET TO EXPIRE
IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. WHICH
MEANS THAT WE ARE WHAT WE DO GET
75% INCREASE IN THE REGIONAL
MARKET RATE AND A SUBSIDY WHICH
BROUGHT THEM UP TO ABOUT 10%
THAT'S TYPING IS SET TO EXPIRE.
THIS STIPENDS FROM THE COVID
AGREEMENTS HAVE EXPIRED, SO WE
ARE GOING TO RETURN TO A LOWER
RATE THAN WHEN WE HAD DURING
THOSE THREE YEARS. WE'RE GOING
TO MOVE. AWAY AGAIN FROM
ENROLLMENT, WHICH TAKES AWAY THE
STABILITY OF OUR CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS BECAUSE WHETHER OR NOT
THAT KID ATTENDS, OUR CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS ARE STILL SUPPORTING
THEM. THEY'RE STILL KEEPING A
SLOT OPEN. THERE'S STILL
ABSORBING THE COST OF THAT CHILD
NOT ATTENDING, EVEN IF THEY'RE
NOT GETTING THE DOLLARS FROM THE
STATE AND ALSO SINCE OUR
CONTRACT SET TO EXPIRE, THAT
ALSO MEANS THEY'RE AT RISK OF
LOSING THOSE PAID SICK DAYS,
WHICH WERE REALLY CRUCIAL TO
HELPING THEM TAKE THE RIGHT
MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD
TO PREVENT ANY ILLNESSES FROM
GOING TO THE CHILDREN INVEST
THEIR FAMILY. ME. SO WHAT WE
LEARNED IS SOMETHING WE ALREADY
KNEW DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT
THE CHILD CARE STRUCTURE IS VERY
, VERY FRAGILE. UM WE KNOW THAT
THERE WERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT
WE DID, AND WE INVESTED IN THAT
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONTINUE.
THAT'S PAYING HIGHER WAGES
THAT'S MOVING TO AN ENROLLMENT
MODEL. WE THROUGH OUR JAILS.
THEY HAVE ALSO RECOMMENDED AN
ULTERIOR FUNDING ALTERNATIVE
FUNDING MODEL, WHICH CONSIDERS
THE COST OF CARE, MORE EQUITABLE
APPROACH. UM AS WELL AS. MAKING
SURE STICK DAYS ARE CARRIED OVER
. WE WANT OUR FAMILY IS TO BE
ABLE TO GO TO THESE CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS. WE WANT OUR CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS TO TAKE ALL
CHILDREN, INCLUDING SLOTS THAT
ARE SUBSIDIZED, NOT HAVING TO
RELY ON PRIVATE FAMILIES, WHICH
IS A REALLY, UH UNSTABLE
WORKFORCE. AND FINALLY, UH WE
ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE
PARTNERSHIP OF OUR D S S AND OF
THE LEGISLATURE. BUT UM, NONE OF
THE STATEMENTS NONE OF THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE
NEGOTIATED DESPITE THE QUICK
ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE WERE
RECEIVED ON TIME. UM TO OUR
PROVIDERS, WHICH MEANT THAT THEY
WERE ABSORBING THE COST DURING
THAT TIME, WHICH WAS THE
ENTRANCE ON THE CREDIT CARD. THE
LATE FEES AND THINGS THAT
COULDN'T MAKE PAYMENT FOR AND AN
INCREASE IN FOOD INSECURITY. SO
THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD
HIGHLIGHT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO
ADDRESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND
WE KNOW YOU'RE ALL WORKING ON
IT. 2020 WAS A TOUGH TIME YOU
GUYS SHIFTED OVER A LOT OF THE
WORKFORCE. SO, UM, WE JUST WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT DIFFICULTY WAS
ABSORBED PRIMARILY BY OUR
WORKFORCE. OKAY? THANK YOU. WE
HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THIS PANEL.
MR ALVAREZ. YEAH THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU TO ALL THE
TESTIMONY. UM. LET ME START WITH
THE QUESTION OF THE. LIKE A
BASIC QUESTIONS. SO OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH ALL OF
THE FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS, WE
WERE ABLE TO DO MANY OF THE
THINGS MENTIONED HERE TODAY. UM
CAN SOMEONE COMMENT ON UM. AN
OVERALL GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT
CHANGES WILL BE OCCURRING. EVERY
RESULT. AS A RESULT OF THOSE
FUNDS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR US
THIS YEAR. I THINK THE ONE THAT
STANDS OUT AND I WANT TO ASK
FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT SO YOU
DON'T NEED TO GET INTO TOO MUCH
DETAIL IS THE POTENTIAL PROPOSAL
FOR THE FEES. UM BUT WHAT MAY BE
TO EITHER THE DEPARTMENT OR TO
THE LAO WHAT CHANGES SHOULD WE
HAD? BE ANTICIPATING IN
CHILDCARE AS A AS A RESULT OF
THE LACK OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT
WE WON'T BE RECEIVING THIS. THIS
YEAR OR INTO THE FUTURE. I'LL
START KIM JOHNSON, DSS. AGAIN AS
YOU AS YOUR AGENDA OUTLINES IN
THAT WE SPOKE TO, UH, PARTIALLY
OUT OF REQUIREMENTS OF THE
FEDERAL FUNDING SPENDING KIND OF
WHAT WAS ELIGIBLE. IT IS A
RELIEF TO YOUR DIRECT RELIEF.
FOR THE WORKFORCE WASN'T MUCH OF
WHAT THE FUNDS WERE INTENDED TO
SUPPORT. SO MANY OF THE POLICIES
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE
FLEXIBILITY ON. FOR INSTANCE,
THIS WHOLE HARMLESS IS ANOTHER.
SO THOSE ARE OUTLINED, SO IT'S
DIRECT ECONOMIC SUPPORTS TO THE
WORKFORCE THAT WE'VE, UH LARGE
MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS WERE
UTILIZED FOR UM, IT'S ALSO WE DO
HAVE AS YOU HEARD THE EXPIRATION
OF THE WAVING THE FAMILY FEES.
THAT CHANGES. UM UH AND SOME
ADDITIONAL, UM, INCENTIVE
DOLLARS AS WELL. THAT WERE PART
OF THE COVID RELIEF, BUT THAT
WAS PART OF THE WHOLE HARMLESS
OR YOU SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO
THE FUNDING THAT OCCURRED BASED
ON ENROLLMENT AS OPPOSED TO IN
ATTENDANCE, OKAY? AND SO THE
CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL FUNDS
CHILDCARE BASED ON ATTENDANCE.
FOR THIS COMING UP HERE. THAT'S
CORRECT. WHAT IS THE, UM.
ANTICIPATED SAVINGS AS A RESULT
OF SHIFTING THAT POLICY. THE
QUESTION, I THINK IS THE
REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE
PROJECT FOR FAMILY FEES. THANK
YOU. GABBY SANTORUM DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE JUST FOR CONTEXT,
WHAT WE HAD BUILT INTO THE
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TO WAIT.
FAMILY FEES WAS 136 MILLION. I
BELIEVE ROUGHLY WHAT WE'RE
PROJECTED TO COLLECT WITH THE
EXPIRATION OF THAT WAIVER OF
FAMILY FEES IS AROUND 80
MILLION. OKAY SO I'M JUST MAKE
SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING
CORRECTLY. THE FAMILY FEES. ARE
BEING REINSTITUTED. THEY'RE NOT
BEING USED AS A REVENUE
GENERATOR FOR UM THERE ARE TWO
DIFFERENT THINGS WE'VE GOT. AN
ISSUE RELATED TO FUNDING BASED
ON ENROLLMENT, AS OPPOSED TO
ATTENDANCE. AND THEN WE'VE GOT
REVENUE AS IT RELATES TO FEES.
THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS.
CORRECT. SO IF I COULD JUST
MAYBE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE
FIRST ONE? UH, ON THE PROJECTED
ATTENDANCE. UM. BUDGET VERSUS IF
WE BASE IT ON AN ENROLLMENT
BUDGET. WHAT IS THAT DIFFERENCE?
I ASSUME WE CALCULATE THROUGH
SOME FORMULA THAT THERE WILL BE
IN ATTENDANCE OF SOME SORT TO
CHILDCARE AND WE PAY BASED ON
ATTENDANCE. HOWEVER WE COULD
ALSO PAY BASED ON ENROLLMENT.
WHICH IS A DIFFERENT AMOUNT. I'M
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
DIFFERENT TO AMOUNT THE TWO
DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF OUR UM TO
CLARIFY WHAT WE HAVE BUILT IN
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WITH THE
HOLD HARMLESS POLICY TO
REIMBURSE BASED CENTER MOMENT
WITH 108 MILLION. I THINK THAT
THAT IS OUR ASSUMPTION OF WHAT
THE ASSOCIATED COST IS OKAY,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S OVER AS IF I
MAY. UM I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT
TO SEE THAT IN THE BUDGET
ESTIMATES, JUST IN TERMS OF HOW
THE BUDGET ESTIMATES CHILDCARE
COSTS. UM, IT'S STILL ASSUMES
FULL ENROLLMENT. ALL SLOTS ARE
FILLED. UM SO ESSENTIALLY EVEN
WITHIN THE NUMBERS OF THE
CURRENT YEAR IN THE BUDGET YEAR,
I'LL SHOW AS IF IT'S FLAT FUNDED
. WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE
DIFFERENCE. YOU WON'T
NECESSARILY SEE THAT IN THE
NUMBERS JUST IN TERMS OF HOW THE
BUDGET IS CONSTRUCTED, BUT WE
WOULD SEE THAT AFTER THE FACT
ONCE WE START GETTING ACTUALS
OKAY, SO WE COULD EITHER BUDGET
, UM, KNOWING WE WILL HAVE AN
ACTUAL NUMBER THAT'S DIFFERENT,
OR WE CAN BUDGET ASSUMING THAT
THAT BUDGET IS THE EXPANDED
BUDGET BASED ON ENROLLMENT
NUMBERS. WE HAVE THAT OPTION,
OKAY? AND THAT'S ENOUGH. THAT'S
ENOUGH. 101 $108 MILLION. AH!
WELL, OKAY. ALEX AND THEN THE
136 MILLION JUST TO CLARIFY HER.
IF IT'S WRONG, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW IS THE REVENUE ASSOCIATED
WITH WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS
CURRENTLY PROPOSING TO NOT
BACKFILL. OR NOT TO COVER THE
FAMILY FEES. IS THAT 136 MILLION
. UM THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT. TO
CLARIFY TO, UM MR BARROSO'S
POINT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN MAXIMUM EXPOSURE AND WE
EXPECT TO COLLECT. WHAT WE SEE
IS OUR MAXIMUM EXPOSURE IS 136
MILLION, BUT WE EXPECT TO
COLLECT HIS ROUGHLY AROUND 80
MILLION. YOU EXPECT TO RECOVER
80 MILLION FROM PEACE, BUT THE
STUDY THAT'S EXPECTED TOTAL
COLLECTIVE OKAY? THAT GIVES ME
AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, UM.
PROP 64 WAS REALLY IN AN
IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF FUNDING
THIS DO WE HAVE A NEW ASSESSMENT
OF REVENUE EXPECTATIONS FOR PROP
64. ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN UPDATED
FROM WHEN THE BUDGET WAS
RELEASED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
ARE THOSE ALSO TRENDING
DOWNWARD. I GUESS IT'S MY
QUESTION. SURE HAPPY TO TAKE
THIS QUESTION THERE. THERE WAS A
CHANGE TO THE APPLICATION OF USE
OF PROP 64 REVENUES THAT WAS
APPLIED LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE
22 BUDGET ACT AND IN TERMS OF
IMPACT TO CHILDCARE. WHAT WAS
DONE IS QUEEN HELD AT A BASE
REVENUE OF 292 MILLION. WE ARE
HOLDING THAT AMOUNT CONSTANT FOR
APPLICATION TO CHILDCARE FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS. AND WE HAVE, UM
TO 150 MILLION GENERAL FUND TO
SERVE AS A BACKFILL TO THAT 292
MILLION IN THE EVENT THAT
REVENUES ARE INSUFFICIENT TO
MEET THAT LEVEL FOR CHILDCARE.
UM IF I COULD ASK THE L. A S
OFFICE IS WHAT IS. DOES THAT
MEAN WE ARE COUNTING? 150
MILLION AND THE 2 92 THAT'S LIKE
NOT DOUBLE COUNTING, BUT IT'S Tð
. UM ARE WE SCORING THAT? I
GUESS SO SIMILAR TO WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SAID LAST
YEAR THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TO
THE PROP 64 THAT WOULD RESULT IN
LOWER REVENUES SO AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE POTENTIAL
OF LOWER REVENUES. $150
MILLION.01 TIME GENERAL FUND WAS
PROVIDED TO BACKFILL ANY LOSSES
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, NOT
JUST FOR CHILD CARE, BUT FOR
OTHER AND PROGRAMS THAT RELY ON
PROP $64. SO WHAT'S INCLUDED
RIGHT NOW IN THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET IS THEY ARE ASSUMING A
PORTION OF THAT 1 50 WILL BE
USED TO MAINTAIN FUNDING LEVELS
FLAT FOR CHILDCARE, BUT THEN
ALSO OTHER PROGRAMS THAT RELY ON
PROP 64 REVENUES IN TERMS OF
WHAT REVENUES UPDATED REVENUE
PROJECTIONS. OUR OFFICE. WE
RECENTLY DID A UPDATED REVENUE
PROJECTION OF PERHAPS 64. WE'RE
FINDING THAT PERHAPS PROPOSITION
64 REVENUES MAY LIKELY BE WELL
BELOW WHAT IS THE ESTIMATE IN
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, MEANING
THAT A LARGER BACKFILL WOULD BE
NEEDED SO AS A RESULT, IT IS
EVEN POSSIBLE THAT, UM THE $150
MILLION.01 TIME GENERAL FUND
THAT WE'VE PROVIDED, UM, TO KEEP
TO BACK THE LOSSES OVER THE NEXT
YEARS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO
MAINTAIN FUNDING LEVELS. FOR ALL
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CHILDCARE IN
23 24. SO WITH THAT WE WOULD
RECOMMEND THE LEGISLATURE ASKED
ADMINISTRATION HOW IT HOW IT
WOULD RESPOND TO PROPOSITION 64
REVENUES POTENTIALLY COMING IN
SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW JANUARY
ESTIMATE YOUR ESTIMATES THAT
THEY'LL FALL SO MUCH BELOW THE
150 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH. THAT
MAY BE A POSSIBILITY AND
SOMETHING THAT WE SEE IN MAY. SO
IF THAT HAPPENED, WHAT IS THE
PLAN? UM, FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS AT LEAST 185
MILLION OF CARRYOVER PROP $64
FROM PRIOR YEAR CHILDCARE
ALLOCATIONS THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY BE USED TO, UM
FURTHER BACKFILL IF NEEDED. BUT
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION SOONER
RATHER THAN IN MAY MAY JUST GIVE
THE LEGISLATURE BETTER
OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, PLAN FOR IT
AND CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS. JUST
MINUTES ADMINISTRATION HAVE ANY
COMMENT ON THAT AT THIS TIME?
YES THANK YOU. UM AS THE L. A
HAD NOTED, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT
CARRYOVER FROM THIS 292 MILLION
BASELINE FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING
IN THE PAST YEAR. UM BASED ON
THIS INFORMATION, I JUST WANT TO
NOTE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT IN
AND VERY RECENT YEARS THE STATE
HAS FUNDED A SIGNIFICANT NEW
INVESTMENT INTO THE FIELD TO
EXPAND THE NUMBER OF CHILDCARE
SLOTS THAT CAN BE FILLED. WE
RECOGNIZE THERE'S TIME TO EXPAND
ON THAT. IT'S OUR INTENT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN FUNDING
THAT IS NECESSARY. TO MAINTAIN
FILLED SLOTS AND TO MEET OUR
MULTIYEAR EXPANSION GOALS OF
206,500 NEW SLOTS. WE BELIEVE
BASED ON THESE TWO GOALS THAT WE
CAN MEET THEM WITHIN THE CURRENT
TRAJECTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING
WITH PROP 64 REVENUES. UM SO LET
ME JUST CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I
THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN
THE BUDGET ALSO TO INCREASE THE
SLOTS NEXT YEAR. SO YOU'RE
SAYING THAT NOW THAT DELAY IN
INCREASED SLOTS? COULD BE USED
TO BACKFILL SOME OF THIS LACK OF
REVENUE. UM TO CLARIFY ARE WHAT
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET REFLECTS
IS A MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING
SLOTS WITH AN ADDITIONAL RAMP UP
OF 146,500 SLOTS THAT THERE IS
FUNDING INCLUDED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TO MAINTAIN
THIS COMMITMENT. UM WHAT WE'RE
PROPOSING IS TO DELAY FURTHER
EXPANSION OF SLOTS IN THE BUDGET
YEAR, WHICH IS PREVIOUSLY
PLANNED OF 20,000 THE INTENT
BEING THAT WE PROVIDE A ONE YEAR
DELAY TO ALLOW THE FIELD MORE
TIME TO, UM TO UTILIZE THE
FUNDING FOR THE 146,000 SLOTS
THAT WE ALREADY PLAN TO EXPAND
AND DELAY OUR MULTIYEAR
EXPANSION OF THIS PLAN BY ONE
YEAR FROM 20 FISCAL YEAR, 2025
TO FISCAL YEAR 2026 ARE THESE
ALL PROPOSALS THAT CAME IN
JANUARY OR THESE DIFFERENT
PROPOSALS IN JANUARY? THE ORIGIN
OF THE INITIAL COMMITMENT TO
EXPAND SLOTS BY 200,000 AS PART
OF THE 2021 BUDGET ACT. LAST
YEAR'S RIGHT. UM, IT WAS $257
MILLION. UNLESS IN 2021 22. THAT
IN FOR ABOUT. I'M READING IN THE
L. A S REPORT 8800 NEW SLOTS.
THAT IS WHAT SO FAR AS FLATS HAD
BEEN FILLED AND ASSOCIATED
FUNDING USED TO FILL THOSE NEW
SLOTS. THAT'S CORRECT. ALRIGHT,
I'LL STOP THERE. THANK YOU.
OKAY? MR FONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH
, MR CHAIRMAN AND JUST AND JUST
REAL QUICK. FOR ALVAREZ ON THE
ON THE SLOTS. UM WE'RE GONNA GET
TO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT LATER AS
WELL. SO WE'LL GET MORE DETAIL
ABOUT THAT. MR FONG, THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MR CHAIRMAN AND THANK
YOU TO ALL OUR SPEAKERS AND
EVERYONE FOR PROVIDING THE
UPDATES ON THE BELIEVE POLICIES
IN TERMS OF THE COVID. RELIEF
ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE
CHILDCARE RELIEF STEP INTO
SUPPLEMENTARY. IT'S THE FAMILY
FEE WAIVERS. WE'VE HEARD A
NUMBER OF CONCERNS ON THAT. THIS
QUESTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT
FINANCE HAS THE ADMINISTRATION
CONSIDERED EXTENDING SOME OR ALL
OF THEIR RELIEF POLICIES. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION. GABBY
SAINT OR DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DOES NOT
REFLECTIVE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND
THE THESE RELIEF EFFORTS AT THIS
TIME. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES? I KNOW YOU
MENTIONED DIFFERENT? AS MR
ALVAREZ IS REFERENCED THE
DIFFERENT FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT
CHILDCARE SLOTS GOING FORWARD,
AND, UM, SOME OF THE BACKFILL
BUT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE
POLICIES REGARDING THIS IS THERE
ANY POTENTIAL CONVERSATIONS TO
SAY WE CAN EXTEND SOMEBODY'S
REALLY FALSIES? UM WE ARE HAPPY
TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS TO
CONSIDER. WE JUST WANT TO FOR
CLARITY THAT THESE ARE NOT
REFLECTED IN THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSALS. OKAY. I THINK
WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AROUND
DIFFERENT RAIDS AND FEE WAIVERS
AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. AH, HIS
OPPORTUNITY, CEREZO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. OKAY THANK
YOU. I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE
FAMILY FEAST. I WOULD ASSUME
IT'S DIFFERENT REGIONALLY. SO DO
YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF WHAT
CAN YOU GIVE US A COUPLE OF
HYPOTHETICALS ACROSS CALIFORNIA
HOW THEY WOULD DIPPER. WHEN
YOU'RE REFERRING OUT? I'M SORRY
, DOCTOR, LUPE HYMAN MILHAM,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE CHILD
CARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF VISION.
PROCEED BSS WHEN YOU'RE
REFERRING TO THE DIFFERENCE IN
REGARDS TO REGIONALLY ARE YOU
REFERRING TO COPAYMENTS OR
FAMILY FEAST? HOW ABOUT BOTH?
OKAY ANY HYPOTHETICALS THAT YOU
KNOW TOP OF YOUR HEAD AND GIVEN
HYPOTHETICALS UP? NO THE REASON
FOR THAT IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS IN TERMS OF CO PAYMENTS.
CO PAYMENTS IS THAT LET ME FIRST
START BY JUST SPEAKING ABOUT
WHAT THAT IS. SO THAT MEANS THAT
THE VOUCHER AMOUNT IS NOT ENOUGH
TO COVER THE FULL COST FOR THE
PROVIDER. SO THEREFORE THE
PARENT NOW HAS A COPAYMENT RIGHT
FOR THAT DIFFERENCE. UM AND SO
THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY DOES
NOT COLLECT DATA IN REGARDS TO
THE COPAYMENT ACROSS THE STATE,
SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE
FAMILY FEES IN TERMS OF FAMILY
FEAST. THE DATA THAT I DO HAVE
ON THAT IS WE PULLED DATA FROM
PREVIOUS FROM THE PANDEMIC TO
SEE HOW MANY PARENTS WERE PAYING
FAMILY FEES PRIOR TO THAT, AND
WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN
AVERAGE OF ABOUT 26% OF FAMILIES
ON CCD F SO ON SUBSIDIES
PROGRAMS THROUGH CDSS WERE
PAYING FAMILY FEE AND THAT COULD
RANGE FROM DEPENDING ON THE
INCOME. RIGHT. SO UP TO THE 10%
BEING THE MAX. YEAH SO I'M JUST
CURIOUS BASED UPON THAT THE
QUARTER THAT PAID IT. DO YOU
HAVE ANY EXAMPLES FROM LIKE SAN
DIEGO? THE BURIAL OF SACRAMENT
JUST TO KIND OF PAINT A PICTURE
FOR REGIONALLY. IF YOU DON'T
THAT'S OKAY. YOU CAN GET BACK TO
IT. EXACTLY LET ME GET BACK TO
YOU ON THAT. THANK YOU. AND THEN
, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE ISSUE AS WE
CERTAINLY HAVE A UH, CHILDCARE
CRUNCH ACROSS CALIFORNIA, AND
NOT TO MENTION THE SLOTS.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT ABLE TO
EXPAND, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE
FAMILIES THAT COULD BENEFIT.
WHAT WOULD. AND WE HEARD IT
BOUNCED FROM ONE OF OUR
WITNESSES. WHAT? WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN? IF WE REINSTITUTED
FAMILY FEES AND SO MANY PEOPLE
WHO ARE LIVING ON THE MARGINS
WEREN'T ABLE TO PAY THAT FEE.
WHAT WOULD ENROLLMENT LOOK LIKE
IN CALIFORNIA? ANYBODY COULD
ANSWER. SO LOOKING BACK AT A
TOTALLY DIFFERENT INFORMATION
THAT WE HAVE. LET ME INTRODUCE
MYSELF AGAIN. LOOP LOOP BEHIND
ME. MARLON DEPUTY DIRECTOR
CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION.
UM SO WE'VE HEARD ANECDOTALLY
ARRANGED, AND I THINK ANDREA
ALSO SPOKE TO THIS TO, UM, IN
REGARD TO THAT IT RANGES FROM
FAMILIES HAD SHARED WITH US THAT
THE FAMILY FEE IS GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT, RIGHT? IT IS GOING TO
CAUSE A FINANCIAL IMPACT.
HOWEVER WE HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT
FEE IS SOMETIMES MORE DOABLE
THAN A INDIVIDUAL TUITION RIGHT
IN REGARDS TO WHETHER YOU'RE
PAYING CHILDCARE DIRECTLY AT A
POCKET. SO THAT'S ONE ANECDOTAL
PIECE. HOWEVER WE DO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE ALSO THAT THERE IS
GOING TO BE A FINANCIAL IMPACT
IN REGARDS TO FAMILY FEED TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT THE INFLATION WE
ARE AWARE AS TALKING TO OUR
PARTNERS THROUGH THE FED THAT
THE FAMILY FEE IS SOMETHING THAT
CDSS CCD FF IN ORDER FOR US TO
MAINTAIN OUR FUNDING. WE NEED TO
HAVE A FAMILY FEAST STRUCTURE
RIGHT IN PLACE, SO WEAVING THE
ENTIRE FEES FOR EVERYONE. ONE
MORE YEAR WOULD NOT BE ALLOWABLE
BASED ON OUR FEDERAL FUNDING. I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROPOSAL
THAT THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RACES
PUTTING FORWARD WOULD HAVE A
FAMILY FEE OF 1% AND OBVIOUSLY,
I'M NOT ADVOCATING THIS. I
HELPED GET RID OF THE FAMILY
THESE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT JUST
WE HAVE 500,000 ROUGHLY PEOPLE
IN CALIFORNIA SUBSIDIZED
CHILDCARE IF WE BROUGHT BACK 7%
FAMILY FEES, WHICH I DON'T WANT
TO SEE HAPPEN. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
? PAINT ME A PICTURE? WOULD WE
LOSE A THIRD OF FAMILIES WITH
20% WOULD HAVE BUT KICK TRIGGER
CREATED BY 80. THE IDEA WAS
ANYBODY HAVE ANY OPINION ON WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IF THAT DRACONIAN
EFFORT WENT FORWARD. ANDREA
FERNANDEZ, CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S
ACADEMY AND ACCORDING TO THE
DATA THAT WE'VE COLLECTED. WE'VE
SURVEYED FAMILIES THAT RECEIVE
SUBSIDIZED CARE ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, SO FROM IT, AND IT'S
PART OF IT WAS THROUGHOUT EVERY
CHILD, CALIFORNIA AND OVER 7000
FAMILIES RESPONDED AND 55.9% OF
THEM OVER HALF OF ALREADY SAID
THEY WOULD DROP OUT OF CARE THAT
THEY COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND IT
WOULD DEVASTATE THEIR FAMILIES.
YES I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
REMINDER THAT, UM YOU KNOW ME?
HAVE MORE NEGATIVE IMPACT AND
THOUGHT IF WE RE INSTITUTE THEM
THOSE LEVELS AND THEN WHAT? WHAT
IS A WHAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE FAMILY
FEE? I KNOW. MISS REYES HAS AN
IDEA OF 1. UM NO. PRESIDENT
BIDEN, HIS PROPOSALS, SAYING
THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PAY NO MORE
THAN 7% OF THEIR INCOME. FOR
CHILDCARE GRANTED PEOPLE ON THE
MARGINS AND SUPER LOW INCOME 7%
IS MORE THAN SOME FAMILIES. SO
WHAT? WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE?
PERCENTAGE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD
PAY FOR FAMILY KI¾M. ANDREA
FERNANDEZ AGAIN CALIFORNIA
CHILDREN'S ACADEMY AS SOMEONE
WHO USED TO PAY A FAMILY FEE FOR
MY CHILD CARE, KNOWING THAT
THERE IS A FEDERAL EXPECTATION
AS PART OF OUR FUNDING, I WOULD
AGREE WITH DOCTOR LUPU HEIM IT
OF THAT 1% BECAUSE OUR FAMILIES
CANNOT AFFORD THE BASIC
NECESSITIES AS IT IS, WE'VE
HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I
CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY MY RENT. I
CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE. DIAPERS FORMULA. THEY'RE
DEPENDING ON US TO HELP
SUBSIDIZE THEM FOR THESE NEEDS
SO EVEN ADDING A 1% WOULD STILL
BE UNATTAINABLE FOR FAMILIES, UM
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
PROGRAMS AND SUBSIDIES,
SUBSIDIES IN CALIFORNIA, OKAY?
THANK YOU. THIS CERTAINLY IS AN
IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND I KNOW A
LOT OF MEMBERS HAVE STRONG
OPINIONS ON THIS. YES, MR
ALVAREZ. UM THE NEWS TO ME WAS
THE REQUIREMENT OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR FEES. WHAT WHAT
IS THE EXACT REQUIREMENT? AND I
CAN SEND YOU THE RIGS BEHIND
THIS ALSO, BUT YEAH, BUT THE
REQUIREMENT IS THAT WE HAVE TO
HAVE A FAMILY FEAST STRUCTURE.
THAT'S ALL IT SAYS IS A
STRUCTURE. THANK YOU. WHICH IS
WHY THERE'S PROPOSALS TO HAVE A
FEE, BUT LIKE A NOMINAL FEE.
YEAH. OKAY WE WILL HOLD THIS
ISSUE OPEN AND I KNOW WE'LL COME
BACK TO THIS AND HAVE SOME TYPE
OF ACTION LATER IN THE YEAR.
ISSUE NUMBER THREE CHILD CARE
FUNDING RATES REFORM IN JANUARY
BUDGET PROPOSAL. SOCIAL SERVICES
. START US OFF AND D O F A O C.
D E AND C P C CPU AGAIN AND THEN
THE EC COALITION.
DR JAIME WANT TO LEAD US UP.
YES. GOOD MORNING, DOCTOR LUPU
HYMAN MILHAM AND I'M, THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE CHILD CARE AND
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, AND, UM,
WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE SOME
OPENING STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO
ISSUE THREE. SO THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET INCLUDES 6.6 BILLION IN
TOTAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE
PROGRAMS FOR 23 24 AS A POINT OF
REFERENCE 10 YEARS AGO, THE
TOTAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT
CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AND 13 14 WAS
1.7 BILLION. YOU CAN SEE THE
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. THERE
ARE FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE
DESTABILIZED THE FIELD AND
ADDRESS AN EQUITIES IN THE
CURRENT SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE,
INVESTMENTS ADDRESSING RATES
SUCH AS IMPLEMENTING UP A NEW
CEILING OF 2018 REGIONAL MARKET
RATE AT THE 75TH PERCENTILE, AND
NUMEROUS ONE TIME STIPENDS ARE
EXAMPLES OF THIS. THE GOVERNOR
ALSO PROPOSED THE BUDGET THAT
INCLUDED A 8.14 COLA, AND THIS
ALSO HELPS SHIFT QUITE AN
ALLOWED US FOR NEXT STEPS IN
REGARDS TO RAPE REFORM
ALTOGETHER. AS A REMINDER AS WE
GO INTO SOME HIGHLIGHTS IN
REGARD TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT
WE'VE DONE IN THIS LAST YEAR
REGARDING THE RAPE REFORM, WE
HAD, UM WE CONVENE WITH THE
CONSULTATION, RCD PARTNERS RATE
AND QUALITY WORK GROUP, AND SOME
OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT WORK
GROUP WAS TO ENSURE EQUITY AS A
FUNDAMENTAL FOR ALL CHANGE.
REPLACE THE CURRENT METHODOLOGY
OF USING THE PRICE SURVEY TO SET
RATES WITH THE ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY AND WHICH USES A
COST ESTIMATE MODEL TO SET BASE
RATES. TO CREATE A SINGLE RATE
STRUCTURE. AND THEN, OF COURSE,
CONTINUING THE EVALUATION OF
THIS WORK AS A STEP TWO OF THIS
. THE JOINT LABOR MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE ALSO MET IN REGARDS TO
RAPE REFORM, TOOK THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTINUE TO
TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER WHERE
THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THE
SINGLE RATE STRUCTURE. THAT
INCLUDED IN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY, LOOKING AT THE TWO
COST OF CARE AND INCLUDED A BASE
RATE AND SENTENCES AND
ENHANCEMENT USING A SAID SITTING
MATRIX EVALUATION OF THE
STRUCTURE. AND THEN IT ALSO
LOOKED AT CURRENT STATE AND
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. EVERYTHING
BASED ON EQUITY, UM IN REGARDS
TO THIS WORK AND THEN CONTINUING
TO SUPPORT AN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY APPROACH. BUILDING
ON WHAT THE WORKGROUP AND THE
LMC RECOMMEND. RECOMMENDATIONS
WERE COMMITTED TO MOVE TOWARDS
AN ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY BY
THE NEXT DAY PLAN, DO YOU ON THE
SUMMER OF 2024? THROUGH THE RATE
REFORM. FISCAL YEAR. 21 22
INVESTMENT AT THE P FIVE
STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED
AND TO CONDUCT THE ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY STUDY. FURTHER WORK
WITH STAKEHOLDERS WILL BE
COMPLETED TO ASSESS THE
COMPETENCIES IN THE FIELD TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRUE COST OF
CARE. AND WITH THIS OPENING, I
WILL ALSO MENTIONED THAT MISS
GABBY AND SANTORO FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE IS
AVAILABLE TO ANSWER MORE
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OUTLINED IN
THE AGENDA. OF COURSE, OUR
DIRECTOR JOHNSON AND CHIEF
DEPUTY TROIA MAY ALSO BE
ASSISTING WITH ANSWERING ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS AS PLUS
MYSELF. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. GABBY SANTA OR
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, AS DR
MARLON HAD MENTIONED AVAILABLE
TO ASSIST WITH INTERNING ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. JACKIE
BRAZIL, WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE, STARTING ON
PAGE 14 OF THE AGENDA THAT
OUTLINES OUR COMMENTS RELATED TO
THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OR
COLA. THAT'S INCLUDING THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WHICH IS THE
ONLY BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT
IMPACTS RATES AT THIS TIME. THE
COLA IS ESTIMATED TO BE 8.13% IN
23 24 WOULD APPLY TO PROVIDERS
IN BOTH THE GENERAL CHILDCARE
AND ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM
AND OUR ANALYSIS OF THE COLA
COST ESTIMATE. WE FOUND THAT
THAT IN THE CASE OF THE GENERAL
CHILDCARE PROVIDER COLA. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET OVERESTIMATES
COSTS BY ABOUT 120 MILLION. THIS
IS BECAUSE THE COST ESTIMATE WAS
CALCULATED AS IF ALL GENERAL
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WOULD
RECEIVE A COLA TO THEIR RATES
WHEN IN REALITY PER STATUTE,
ONLY GENERAL CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
THAT RECEIVE THE STANDARD
REIMBURSEMENT RATE WOULD BENEFIT
FROM THE COLA. UM ALSO IN OUR
ANALYSIS, WE MENTIONED HOW FOR
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT AGENCIES.
THE COLA WOULD NOT APPLY TO
THEIR RATES, BUT RATHER WOULD
RESULT IN A TOTAL FUNDING
INCREASE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY
OPERATES LIKE A SLOT INCREASE.
AND THEN ONE THING WE WOULD FLAG
IS THAT STRUCTURING THE
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT COLA THIS
WAY? UM AS A SLOT INCREASED
WOULD RUN AT ODDS WITH THE
RATIONALE BEHIND THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED DELAY IN THE SCHEDULED
SLOT INCREASE, GIVEN THAT IT
SEEMS THAT PROVIDERS NEED MORE
TIME TO CATCH UP AND FILL THE
CURRENT, UM, THE NEW SLOTS THAT
HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS SO OVERALL AS OUTLINED
ON PAGE 15 OF THE AGENDA, THERE
ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH THE
LEGISLATURE COULD STRUCTURE THE
COLA. FOR EXAMPLE, IT COULD
PROVIDE AN ACROSS THE BOARD RATE
INCREASE THE BENEFIT BEING THAT
ALL PROVIDERS WOULD GET SOME
ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS IT.
INFLATIONARY PRESSURES BUT THEN
ALSO THE TRADE OFF BEING THAT
YOU WOULD FORGO ANY POSSIBLE
GENERAL FUND SAVINGS AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE. OTHER WAYS YOU
COULD STRUCTURE IT IS USED THE
FUNDS TO REDUCE THE GAP BETWEEN
THE REGIONAL MARKET RATE AND THE
STANDARD REIMBURSEMENT RATE. YOU
CAN ALSO REDIRECT THE COLA FUNDS
FOR OTHER CHILDCARE PROGRAM
PRIORITIES. UM LASTLY, AN OPTION
IS TO FORGO THE COLA ALTOGETHER
AND SCORE THE GENERAL FUND
SAVINGS IN LIGHT OF BROADER
BUDGET PROBLEMS. HOWEVER THE
TRADE OFF OF THIS WOULD BE THAT,
UM PROVIDERS WOULD NOT RECEIVE
ANY ASSISTANCE TO HELP ADDRESS
ANY INFLATIONARY PRESSURES. BUT
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT
IN MAY WE DO EXPECT TO SEE A
REVISED COLA COST ESTIMATE FROM
THE ADMINISTRATION BUT THEN ALSO
REVISED CALL A PERCENTAGE AS
WELL. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. MR CHAIR, VIRGINIA EARLY
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION. SO AS UH AS OTHER
PANELISTS HAVE MENTIONED RATES
ARE REALLY KEY FOR THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR PROGRAMS,
AND THEY'RE ALSO A KEY ELEMENT
OF EQUITY SINCE THE MAJORITY OF
THE WORKFORCE IS WOMEN OF COLOR.
AS AS DR JAIME MILLA HAM
MENTIONED WE PROVIDED
CONSULTATION AT CD TO DSS AS
PART OF THE RATE AND QUALITY
WORK GROUP. WHICH EXPLORED THE
IDEA OF DETERMINING RATES BASED
ON THE COST OF MEETING
REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING PROGRAM
QUALITY REQUIREMENTS, RATHER
THAN WHAT FAMILIES CAN AFFORD.
UM DATA WAS COLLECTED AS PART OF
THIS WORK GROUP. THAT REALLY
REVEALED THAT NOT ONLY ARE RATES
NOT ALIGNED WITH THE MARKET, BUT
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER
THAN THE TRUE COST OF CARE IN
CALIFORNIA. WHILE THE STATE
WORKS ON THE NEXT STEPS FROM
THOSE WORKGROUP THAT DSS
MENTIONED THE REGIONAL MARKET
RATES SURVEY DATA DOES REMAIN,
UM, A MEASURE OF EQUITY ACROSS
COUNTIES THAT WHILE IMPERFECT IS
THE BEST PROXY WE HAVE AT THE
MOMENT TO CAPTURE REGIONAL COST
VARIATIONS. SO BY WAY OF
BACKGROUND, UM THE RMR SURVEY
ESSENTIALLY CAPTURES THE
DISTRIBUTION OF PRICES IN
SPECIFIC COUNTIES ACROSS THE
STATE. AND SO, UM THE CERTAIN
PERCENTILES MEAN THAT SAY THE.
THE 5% OF THE PROVIDERS IN THAT
COUNTY CHARGED THAT RATE OR
SOMETHING LESS SO IT SORT OF
CAPTURES THOSE REGIONAL
VARIATIONS. UM. ONE THING AS THE
ALAMO MENTIONED THAT WHILE MANY
SEE SPP PROGRAMS RECEIVE RATE
INCREASES, JANUARY 1ST WHEN THEY
SWITCHED TO THE REGIONAL MARKET,
RIGHT, LAST YEAR'S COLA ONLY
WENT TO LOW COST COUNTIES.
RATHER THAN HIGH COST COUNTIES
AND SPECIFICALLY 15 COUNTIES IN
CALIFORNIA, AND, UM, ABOUT OVER
HALF OF OUR CONTRACTORS DID NOT
RECEIVE A COLA INCREASE. UM SO
WHILE OTHER COUNTIES INCREASED
THEIR PERCENTILE AND SO, UM ARE
CONTRACTORS SHARED THAT NOT
RECEIVING A COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENT IN A YEAR WITH HIGH
INFLATION WAS REALLY QUITE A
BURDEN FOR THEM. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSAL, AZEGLIO
MENTIONED WILL ESSENTIALLY
REPEAT THE SAME PROCESS FOR THIS
YEAR. UM AND SIMILARLY ABOUT 12
COUNTIES WOULD NOT RECEIVE AN
INCREASE. UM AND THAT INCLUDES
COUNTIES LIKE ALAMEDA AND SAN
DIEGO. SO IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS
THESE CHALLENGES, WE ECHO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT LEO SAID
OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO
ALLOCATE THE FUNDS FOR RATES AND
COLA TO INCREASE SORT OF THE
FLOOR LINE PERCENTILE BASED ON
THE RMR SURVEY. IF THAT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS A PREFERENCE,
I THINK OUR SECOND CHOICE WOULD
BE AN ACROSS THE BOARD RATE
INCREASE FOR EVERY COUNTY. UM
AND, UM, SIMILAR. SIMILARLY I
THINK THE L A ALSO HAS MENTIONED
THAT THERE'S SOME, UM,
APPROPRIATION FOR RATES FUNDING
FROM PAST INCREASES. THAT CD
DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO ACTUALLY ALLOCATE
AS RATES AND WE'RE ASKING FOR
THAT AUTHORITY. WHEN WE LOOK AT
RATES, WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE
REALLY ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THEY
ALLOW PROGRAMS TO PAY HIGHER
WAGES TO THEIR FORCE, SO THEIR
WORKFORCE KEEP STAFF IN THE
PROFESSION, AND IT ALSO
ADDRESSES ACCESS BECAUSE MANY
PROGRAMS ARE TELLING US THAT
THEY CAN'T FEEL, UM THEIR
CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE SUFFICIENT, UM TEACHERS IN
ORDER TO STOP THOSE CLASSROOMS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
AND ATTENTION AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. OKAY, NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
KIMBERLY ROSENBERG. ER SEE CPU
SO AS NOTED THE RECOMMENDATION
THAT CAME OUT OF THE JAIL EMC
WITH A STATE OR AN ALTERNATIVE
METHODOLOGY THAT LOOKS AT THE
ACTUAL COST AND MOVES AWAY FROM
A FIXED PRICE, AND IT TAKES INTO
CONSIDERATION THE ACTUAL COST
ANALYSIS OF A BUSINESS EXPENSE,
FOOD, DIAPERS, TRANSPORTATION,
INSURANCE, PORTIONS OF MORTGAGE
OR RENT. LOCATION. UM. IN IN
ECONOMIES OF SCALE, WHICH WE
THINK IS LIKE REALLY CRUCIAL AND
UNDERSTANDING WHY WE NEED TO
MOVE TO THIS COST OF CARE AND
WHY WE'RE NOT SEEING ENOUGH
WORKERS SERVING THE SLOTS THAT
WE HAVE FINANCED. IT'S BECAUSE
IN CHILDCARE DESSERTS, FAMILY
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE USUALLY
THE FIRST TO POP UP, BUT THEY
OPERATE ON REALLY SMALL
ECONOMIES OF SCALE SO THAT COST
IS SPREAD OUT OVER A FEWER
CHILDREN, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY
NEED GREATER INITIAL DOLLARS TO
START UP. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
WE'RE WORKING OFF OF A 2018 RMR,
WHICH WE KNOW THE PRICE POINTS
IN 2018 VERSUS POST PANDEMIC ARE
SIGNIFICANT. UM AND WE'RE ONLY
AT 75% OF THE RMR. UM NEW
BUSINESSES ARE OPENING. WE JUST
HEARD 1900 LEFT THIS MONTH.
CHILDCARE WORKFORCE. IT'S
BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY FUNDING AT 25
TO 30% OF THE COST. UM, IT'S NOT
SUSTAINABLE. THERE IS URGENCY TO
IT, AND WE DO THINK THAT SIMPLY
FUNDING THEM UNTIL WE CAN CATCH
UP ISN'T GOING TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE. WE DO NEED TO IMPLEMENT
IMPLEMENT THIS COST OF CARE WITH
URGENCY. WE THINK THAT THERE'S
DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN APPROACH
THIS, UM TO DO SO IN THE
IMMEDIATE WHEN WE HAVE, OUR
CONTRACTORS NOTED EXPIRES JUNE
23 AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO
REITERATE THAT C CPU HAS ABILITY
TO BARGAIN FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS
AND NEIGHBORS EXEMPT IN LICENSED
FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTERS IN
VOUCHER NETWORK PROGRAMS ONLY.
BUT WE'RE IN THE CONVERSATION IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR A C E AND
THE LEGISLATURE. THE LEGISLATURE
ABSOLUTELY CAN HAVE
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE RATE
HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOW WE
IMPLEMENT COST OF CARE IN THE
IMMEDIATE UNTIL WE CAN THEN GO
TO THE FEDS WITH OUR NEW STATE
CONTRACTS, SO WE DON'T THINK
THAT DELAYING UNTIL DECEMBER
2024. THE CONVERSATION IS THE
SMARTEST APPROACH FOR FAILING
INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE WE'RE
SEEING WORKFORCE LEAVE ON THE
DAILY SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS
THAT WE DO SHIFT IT WOULD HAVE A
BASE RATE. UM THE STUDY WOULD
END IT WOULD INFLUENCE BUT NOT
SET THAT THAT'S WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE AND BARGAINING WOULD
DO WOULD SET THAT BASE RATE AND
THEN ON TOP OF THAT WOULD BE
THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT
TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE TAKES INTO
CONSIDERATION ADDITIONAL
BUSINESS NEEDS AND HAS
FLEXIBILITY AND CAN SHIFT
INSTEAD OF BEING TETHERED. 21
REGIONAL MARKET RATE. WHILE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES REQUIRE
THAT SURVEY, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE
THAT SURVEY DICTATE THE TERMS OF
HOW WE PAY OUR CHILDCARE
WORKFORCE AND WE THINK THAT IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT
CAME OUT OF THAT JAIL. EMC
RECOMMENDATION UM I AM HAPPY TO
TALK MORE ABOUT THE COST OF CARE
MODEL ARE REASONS FOR SUPPORTING
IT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE THINK IT HAS THE MOST
EQUITABLE APPROACH. IT'S EASIER
FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND UM
WITHOUT GETTING TETHERED TO
BARGAINING AND BEING PART OF THE
CONVERSATION, AND IT'S MORE
RESPONSIVE IN REAL TIME. THANK
YOU. OKAY THANK YOU. LASTLY, THE
EC COALITION HI GREETINGS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MCCARTHY AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I AM
DR LAWANDA WESLEY, THE DIRECTOR
OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR
CHILDCARE RESOURCE CENTER. I AM
REPRESENTING TODAY. THE
COALITION. WE ARE A MEMBER
ORGANIZATION THAT COMPRISE OF 34
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVOCATE FOR
STATE BUDGET INVESTMENTS AND
POLICIES THAT PROMOTE EQUITY BY
SERVING THE HIGHEST NHIÀU
CHILDREN. FIRST WE ARE INFORMED
BY CURRENT RESEARCH AND
PROMISING PRACTICES. THE
COALITION UM UP FRONT IS ASKING
FOR A 25% INCREASE TO THE
CURRENT RATES FOR THE IMMEDIATE
RELIEF AND ADOPTING A COST
ESTIMATION MODEL, MUCH OF WHICH
WAS MENTIONED ALREADY TODAY.
THIS COST ESTIMATION MODEL IS TO
INCLUDE A TIMELINE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION. FOR THE ACTUAL
COST OF CARE BASED ON ALL BASED
ON PROGRAM ENROLLMENT WITHOUT
CHARGING FAMILIES A FEE. WE ALSO
ARE ASKING AND REQUESTING THAT
THE 20,000 CHILD CARE SPACES
SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED FOR 23
FOR 23 24 BE ALLOCATED. WHAT IS
THE COALITION ASKING FOR GLAD
THAT YOU ASKED BRIEFLY DESCRIBE
THAT BY GOING OVER THE CONTEXT
FOR RATE REFORM, COST DRIVERS
FOR PROVIDERS AND THEN COST
DRIVERS FOR FAMILIES JUST
QUICKLY AS WE THINK ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF RATE REFORM OVER THE
PAST 10 YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE
HAS DEBATED THE MOVE TO A SINGLE
RATE SYSTEM. SO THIS IS VERY
MUCH A FAMILIAR ISSUE TO ALL
2021. THE BUDGET REQUIRED THE
DEPARTMENT SOCIAL SERVICES TO
CONVENE THE RATE AND QUALITY
WORK GROUP TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT SHIFTING
FROM OUR CURRENT BIFURCATED AND
INEQUITABLE RATE SYSTEM TO A NEW
SINGLE RATE FOR ALL PROVIDERS.
BASED ON THE COST ESTIMATION
MODEL. THIS REFLECTS THE
ECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
. AND MUCH OF WHAT YOU HEARD
TODAY IS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE KEEP A DIVERSE
WORKFORCE SO SHIFTING TO THIS
MODEL WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT IN
TERMS OF CROSS DRIVERS FOR
PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE
PROVIDERS ARE FACING DIRE
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES DUE TO THE
CURRENT REIMBURSEMENT RATES
AGAIN, MUCH OF WHAT WE ALREADY
HEARD HERE TODAY. THE CURRENT
RATES USED TO PAY PROVIDERS ARE
BASED ON 2018 REGIONAL MARKET
RATE SURVEY. INTERESTINGLY
ENOUGH, IT'S SOURCED FROM 2016,
SO YOU CAN SIT WITH THAT FOR A
MINUTE IT DO NOT. IT DOES NOT
MEET THE COST OF SUSTAINING A
BUSINESS IN 2023. AS A 2023 THE
CROSS DRIVERS FOR BOTH PROVIDERS
AND PARENTS, UM, ARE IMPACT
THEIR IMPACTED BY INFLATION AND
IN PARTICULAR FOR PROVIDERS, THE
STAFF COST HAS GONE UP BY 29%
GAS HAS INCREASED BY 50% MILK IS
INCREASED HAS BEEN INCREASED BY
45% EGGS HAVE INCREASED BY 70.
BABY FORMULA BY 51% AND WIPES
ARE UP BY BABY WIPES HER UP BY
33. AS A RESULT TODAY THERE ARE
CHILDCARE CHILDCARE PRESCHOOL IN
HEAD START CENTERS WITH EMPTY
EMPTY CLASSROOMS. SOMETIMES WE
REFER TO THESE AS DARK
CLASSROOMS. IT'S NOT BECAUSE
THERE AREN'T A LACK OF FAMILIES
WHO NEED THE CARE, BUT RATHER
BECAUSE BECAUSE THE CENTER
CANNOT FIND STAFF WILLING TO
WORK FOR LOW WAGES OFFERED
BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT LOW
REIMBURSEMENT RATE. IN SOME
AREAS OF CALIFORNIA. THE
PROVIDERS ARE SO SHORT STAFF
THEY MUST CLOSE DOWN FOR A DAY
WHEN THE TEACHER CALLS IN SICK,
LEAVING FAMILIES SCRAMBLING TO
FIND CARE OR FORCING PARENTS TO
STAY AT HOME FROM WORK AND SOME
COUNTIES. E WORKFORCE MAKES UP
SO LITTLE. THAT OVER 50% OF THEM
ARE RELYING ON SOME OTHER FORM
OF SUBSIDY IN THE FORM OF HUD
HOUSING. CAL FRESH MEDICAL. SO
BASICALLY YOU HAVE THOSE WHO
ARE, UM FAMILIES OR RECEIVING
SUBSIDY FOR CHILDCARE. THE
WORKFORCE THEMSELVES ARE ALSO
RECEIVING THE FORM OF SUBSIDY.
AS WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS, PROVIDERS ARE
LEAVING THE E C E FIELD FOR
BETTER WAGES, SUCH AS IN AND OUT
, AND I JUST WANT TO, UM
PHILIPPIANS THAT ALL WORK IS
MEANINGFUL, EVEN IF IT IS IN AND
OUT, BUT YOU HAVE A HIGHLY
SKILLED WORKFORCE LEAVING FOR
THESE JOBS ARE ANTIQUATED RATES
SYSTEM DOES NOT DISPERSE
RESOURCES EVENLY AND LAGS BEHIND
THE ACTUAL COST OF CARE.
PROVIDERS CANNOT WAIT ANOTHER
YEAR TO RECEIVE RATE INCREASES
WITHOUT HARMING CALIFORNIA'S TCH
SYSTEM, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
ACROSS THE STATE. THEY DESERVE A
LIVABLE WAGE. AND I KNOW THIS
ALL TOO MUCH BECAUSE I WAS THAT
PRESCHOOL TEACHER I ALSO WAS THE
MOTHER RECEIVING SUBSIDIZED CARE
FOR HER FIVE CHILDREN. WE KNOW
OTHER SECTORS HAVE RECEIVED
INCREASES TO THEIR WAGES SUCH AS
, UH, I H S S AND OTHER AND R K
THROUGH 12 PARTNERS. SO WE'RE
DON'T WANT TO COME BACK HERE
EVERY TWO YEARS ASKING FOR THE
SAME THING. AS I THINK ABOUT OUR
FAMILIES, CALIFORNIA NEEDS A
RATE SYSTEM THAT COVERS THE COST
OF CARE. THE NEW RATES SYSTEM
MUST INCLUDE THE FULL COST OF
CARE, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO
CHARGE FAMILIES FOR THOSE MAKING
BELOW 75% OF THE STATE. MEDIUM
INCOME. THIS CHANGE WILL MAKE A
REAL DIFFERENCE IN WORKING
FAMILIES CURRENTLY PAYING FEES,
PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THEIR
POCKETS. I WILL I WILL ACTUALLY
SKIP SOME OF MY REMARKS, BUT I
DO WANT TO RAISE UP THIS DATA
POINT. TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO
OTHER STATES, IN PARTICULAR, A
FAMILY IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WHO'S
EARNING $5000 WORTH OF FAMILY
SIZE OF FOUR SIMILAR TO
CALIFORNIA ARE PAYING $46 A
MONTH OF STATE MEDIAN INCOME,
AND THAT REPRESENTS 60 PER 62%
AS COMPARED TO HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. WE ARE PAYING SAME
FAMILY SIZE $363 A MONTH.
REPRESENTING 53% OF STATE MEDIUM
INCOME. AS I CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE
TO SAY. ADDITIONALLY CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS ARE PAID BASED ON
ATTENDANCE. WHEN A CHILD BECOMES
ILL. THEY STAY HOME GREATLY
IMPACTING THE TENDONS AND
PROVIDER'S ABILITY TO BE PAID
FOR THERE TO PAY FOR THEIR
OVERHEAD TO THIS TO PUT THIS IN
PERSPECTIVE, OR, ACCORDING TO
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY FOR
PEDIATRICS. YOUNG CHILDREN AND
CHILDCARE SETTINGS HAVE 8 TO 12
MORE COLDS A YEAR COMPARED TO
THOSE AT HOME, SO WHEN YOU'RE
NOT PAYING BASED ON ATTENDANCE
ARE PAYING PAYING BASED ON
ENROLLMENT AND YOU PAY ON
ATTENDANCE. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
OUR PROVIDERS WILL SEE A LOWER
REIMBURSEMENT. IN CLOSING, I
WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE
IMPACT OF WAITING CHILDCARE
FAMILY FEES. THE WAIVING OF FEES
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, HAS
OFFERED SOME RELIEF, AS NOTED
HERE BY SOME OF OUR MEMBERS FROM
THE EARLIER PANEL AND THOSE WHO
ARE WITH ME NOW. CONTINUE TO
WAVE FAMILY FEES. THE STATE WILL
PROVIDE IMPORTANT STABILITY AND
CERTAINLY FOR FAMILIES AND CHILD
CARE PROGRAMS AND I CLOSE I
CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE
LIKE IF I WAS STILL THAT SINGLE
MOM WITH CHILDREN ALL UNDER THE
AGE OF 10 MEETING TO MEETING TO
TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER I PUT
GAS IN MY CAR OR BUY FOOD. THESE
ARE IMPORTANT DECISIONS AS A
PARENT THAT WAS HERE EARLIER OR
TRYING TO MAKE AND THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NOW STAY FOR
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. OKAY
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS CAN BE
MEMBERS. UM I'LL START OUT. AS I
SAID AT THE OUTSET. UM THIS IS A
KEY PIECE OF OUR PUZZLE AND
EARLY LEARNING AND CARE IN
CALIFORNIA. YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T
EXPAND ACCESS THROUGH UNIVERSAL
TK AND EXPANDED SLOTS WITHOUT
LOOKING AT THE REIMBURSEMENT
RATE FOR OUR CHILDCARE SYSTEMS
IN CALIFORNIA. I JUST THINK THE
BIG PICTURE YEAH, AND I KNOW
THIS BOILS DOWN TO FINANCE AND
DOLLARS AND BUDGETS, BUT LIKE
OUR SCHOOLS WE ARE WHICH HAVE
THE SAME EXPENSES PEOPLE CAUSE
EGGS, CARS, GAS COSTS UTILITY
COSTS. WE HAD A COLA. UM, THIS
YEAR OF ABOUT 8.5% PROPOSED LAST
YEAR L C F F AND R. YOU KNOW,
PROPORTIONAL, ROUGHLY COLA WAS
13% AND 2021 IS ABOUT 5. SO
THAT'S THAT'S JUST OVER 25% SO
TO SAY THAT THEY MAKE A
COMPELLING ARGUMENT BECAUSE
THEIR COSTS ARE GOING UP. BUT
THE COST FOR THIS THING OVER
HERE THAT DEALS WITH KIDS, BUT
LITTLE OUR KIDS DOESN'T HAVE THE
SAME COST GOING OUT JUST DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE. AND SO ONE. WE NEED
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE COSTS
ARE LEGIT. AND UM, TO THAT ON
OUR NEXT ITEM ISSUE NUMBER FOUR
SLOTS AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE IT'S
HAD AN AMAZING WIN TWO YEARS AGO
TO GREEN LIGHT 200,000 NEW SLOTS
, BUT BECAUSE OF A VARIETY OF
REASONS, INCLUDING NOT HAVING
THE ADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENT RATES
. YOU KNOW THAT PROMISES NOT
MEANINGLESS, BUT IT FALLS SHORT
BECAUSE THEY DON'T PENCIL OUT
WITHOUT THE ADEQUATE COSTS AND
THEN YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, TOO.
THAT ARE THE WORKERS IN THESE
FIELDS. YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING
TO MR TING THEIR DAY HE WAS
SAYING IN TAHOE. THAT YOU CAN
WORK AT TACO BELL. MAKE 32 BUCKS
AN HOUR NOW. WITH BENEFITS IN
OUR SO LIKE, WHY WOULD YOU GO?
WHY WOULD YOU GO WORK TO MAKE A
BEAUTIFUL LITTLE THREE YEAR OLD
WHEN YOU CAN MAKE A BEAUTIFUL
FREEDOM SUPREME FOR DOUBLE THE
DOUBLE THE PAY. SO LIKE PEOPLE
ARE RATIONAL. THEY MAKE CHOICES
AND WE HELP THEM MAKE THEIR
CHOICES AND WE PROVIDING
DISINCENTIVE TO DO THINGS LIKE
FOCUSING ON OUR LITTLE KIDS IN
CALIFORNIA. SO THIS IS, YOU
KNOW. KIND OF SHAME ON US TO
THAT. WE NEED TO STEP IT UP HERE
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IT'S
NOT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE ARE STINGY. THERE'S
MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES, BUT
WE HAVE OTHER THINGS LIKE THE
SLOTS AND WE'RE NOT UTILIZING
THEM SO IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW,
FOCUS ON RATES AND DO A TRADE
OFF ON THAT THING. SO MAYBE
THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU TO
HELP US FIGURE OUT THAT WHAT WE
WOULD WANT SLOTS AND RATES IF
WE'RE NOT DOING SLOTS RIGHT NOW,
AND WE'RE NOT SPENDING THAT
COULD WE DO AT LEAST SOME OF THE
RATES TO MAKE THOSE SLOT
INCREASES MORE VALUABLE? UM I
DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. OKAY.
THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT WE WILL
CERTAINLY PUT THIS ISSUE ON HER
TO DO LIST AND COME BACK AT A
LATER. TIME ISSUE NUMBER FOUR.
WE'LL FOCUS ON. AFTER MENTIONED
SLOTS CHILDCARE ACCESS OVERSIGHT
IN JANUARY PROPOSALS WE HAVE, UM
OKAY? OKAY, WE'LL START AGAIN
WITH D S S AND DOCTOR HI MAY
MILHEM TODAY. HOW DO YOU SAY IT
? MILAN MY LOVE. SORRY, DR JAIME
MILHAM. OKAY? PLEASE PROCEED.
THANK YOU. SO AGAIN. GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE. UM DR LUPE
HYMAN MILHAM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
FOR THE CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION, SO I HAVE SOME OPENING
NOTES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE FOR,
UM SINCE FISCAL YEAR, 21 22. AN
ESTIMATED 1.6 BILLION HAS BEEN
INVESTED IN CHILDCARE SLOTS. IN
RESPONSE TO THE ALTERNATIVE
PAYMENT PROGRAM FEEDBACK FISCAL
THAT WE RECEIVED IN FISCAL 22 23
. WE INVESTED 20 MILLION IN A
ONE TIME CAPACITY GRANT TO
SUPPORT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING
THE INCREASE CHILDCARE AND ROMAN
GIVING THE UNPRECEDENTED THE
SLOTS EXPANSION. WHILE WE
ANTICIPATE THAT ALL THE
ADDITIONAL SLOTS ARE NEEDED AND
WILL BE UTILIZED. WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT GIVEN THE
HISTORIC LEVELS OF THE INCREASES
, IT IS TAKING MORE TIME THAN
ANTICIPATED TO COMPLETE THE
NECESSARY PROCESS TO INCREASE
THE SLOTS AS AGREED, UM, THAT 21
22 BUDGET AGREEMENT, THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
AGREED TO ADD THAT 200,000 NEW
CHILD CURSED SUBSIDY SLOTS
WORKING TOWARDS THAT AS A GOAL.
THE INCREASE IN SLOTS OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS HAVE MORE THAN
DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF THE
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT AND GENERAL
CHILDCARE SLOTS. UM SO SEE HERE.
I'M GONNA PAUSE WITH THE REST OF
MY OPENING JUST TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE TIME FOR THE PANELISTS.
OKAY, PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM HERE
MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS, AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA
HAVE FROM DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
MISS DIANNA DOMINGUEZ THAT IS
ALSO AVAILABLE TO ASK TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AND THEN AGAIN, CHIEF
DEPUTY TROIA AND DIRECTOR
JOHNSON IS ALSO AVAILABLE. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. JACKIE
BREWSTER WITH THE L A, U UM WITH
REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED DELAY IN
THE SLOT EXPANSION PLAN BY ONE
YEAR. UM WE FIND THAT THAT SEEMS
REASONABLE, BOTH GIVEN THE
PROJECTED STATE BUDGET PROBLEM,
BUT THEN ALSO, AS NOTED BY DSS,
JUST THE NEED FOR MORE TIME TO
FILL ALL 146,500 NEW SLOTS THAT
HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS. ADDITIONALLY AS NOTED
IN YOUR AGENDA, STARTING ON PAGE
21, THERE WERE A FEW QUESTIONS
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO
GET AN UPDATE ON A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF CHILD CARE
EXPENDITURE LEVELS. THE FIRST
QUESTION WAS RELATED TO HOW THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ALLOCATES OVER
505 BILLION IN FEDERAL RELIEF
FUNDS, AND IN OUR CONVERSATIONS
, WE WERE ABLE TO GET BACK UP
AND WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS THAT.
AT THIS TIME, AT LEAST, 57
MILLION AND FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS
THAT WERE INITIALLY ALLOCATED TO
COVER RATE INCREASED COST MAY
NOT BE SPENT BY SEPTEMBER. 2023
SIMILARLY, AS NOTED IN THE PRIOR
PANEL BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, UM THERE'S ALSO AN
ADDITIONAL 112 MILLION AND
UNSPENT FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS
THAT WERE INTENDED TO COVER RATE
INCREASED COST THAT ALSO ARE AT
RISK OF GOING UNSPENT. THUS THE
LEGISLATURE MAY WANT TO ASK THE
ADMINISTRATION IF THESE FUNDS
CAN BE REDIRECTED TO ANOTHER
ACTIVITY. AND IF SO, HOW QUICKLY
WOULD WE NEED TO ACT AND
REDIRECTING THESE FUNDS TO
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SPENT BY
SEPTEMBER 2023? THE SECOND
QUESTION. WHERE YOU WE OUTLINED
THAT'S OUTLINED IN THE AGENDA IS
GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL
FEDERAL FUNDS OR GENERAL FUNDS
THAT COULD BE FREED UP IN THE
CURRENT YEAR DUE TO THE, UH,
SLOWER THAN EXPECTED SLOT
UTILIZATION RATES. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IN MAY WE
SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE REVISED
COST ESTIMATES TO BOTH REFLECT,
UM THE TIMELINE. THE ACTUAL
TIMELINE IN WHICH FUNDS WILL BE
RELEASED TO DIRECT CONTRACT
PROVIDERS, BUT THEN ALSO THE
LOWER THAN EXPECTED SLOT
UTILIZATION LEVELS. SO TO JUST
GIVE YOU A SENSE OF MAGNITUDE IN
JANUARY, WE DID ESTIMATE THAT TO
THE EXTENT THAT THE BUDGET THE
CURRENT YEAR BUDGET REFLECTED
THE ACTUAL TIMELINE, IN WHICH
AWARDS ARE RELEASED THAT IN AND
OF ITSELF FREE UP AS MUCH AS
$800 MILLION. THERE IS A
QUESTION OF HOW THAT WOULD BE
SPLIT UP AGAIN. ACROSS GENERAL
FUNDING FEDERAL FUND. UM HOWEVER
, IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THIS
AMOUNT COULD BE HIGHER BECAUSE
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
FIRST ROUND OF APPLICATIONS WAS
NOT ENOUGH TO FULLY AWARD ALL
THE DOLLARS AND DSS IS CURRENTLY
GOING THROUGH A SECOND ROUND OF
APPLICATIONS. THE LAST QUESTION
OUTLINED IN YOUR AGENDA. UM,
WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET
CLARITY ON IS THESE FUNDS SOURCE
FOR THE BACK FULL OF FEDERALLY
FUNDS SPECIFICALLY. WE NOTICED
THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CAUSE
ASSOCIATED WITH RATE INCREASES
IN SLOT INCREASES, THOSE ARE
ONGOING COSTS THAT WE DID USE
TEMPORARY FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS
TO OFFSET THE BUDGET, HOWEVER,
MAINTAINED GENERAL FUNDING
FEDERAL FUNDING LEVELS FOR THOSE
TWO COMMITMENTS FLAT, WHERE WE
SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO SEE AT
LEAST A DROP IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO
REFLECT AN EXPIRATION OF THOSE
DOLLARS AND A CORRESPONDING
INCREASE IN GENERAL FUNDS. AND
OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT. IT'S OUR
UNDERSTANDING THAT AS A PART OF
MAY REVISION, AND WE WILL SEE
THAT ADJUSTMENT TO FEDERAL FUND
LEVELS TO REFLECT THE EXPIRATION
OF FEDERAL FUNDS, BUT THEN ALSO
AN ATTEMPT TO BACKFILL THOSE
LOSSES WITH OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS.
ADDITIONALLY THE ADMINISTRATION
UM IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT
THE INTENT IS TO KEEP GENERAL
FUND LEVELS FLAT TO CONTINUE TO
KEEP GENERAL FUND LEVELS FLAT
YEAR TO YEAR. THAT WOULD BE
POSSIBLE IF THERE IF THERE IS
ENOUGH FEDERAL FUNDS THAT HAVE
BEEN IDENTIFIED TO KIND OF DELAY
THE NEED FOR GENERAL FUND TO
BACKFILL THOSE LOSSES, HOWEVER.
IN THE SITUATION WHERE THERE
AREN'T ENOUGH OTHER FEDERAL
FUNDS TO DO THAT BACKFILL. THEN
THERE WOULD BE A NEED TO
INCREASE GENERAL FUNDS RELATIVE
TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY INCLUDING
THE JANUARY BUDGET. THUS THE
LEGISLATURE MAY WANT TO ASK THE
ADMINISTRATION WON THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE WOULD BE
ENOUGH FEDERAL FUNDS. THAT COULD
BE FREED UP IN THE CURRENT YEAR
TO AVOID THE NEED OF A GENERAL
FUND BACKFILL IN THE BUDGET
YEAR. IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH, UM
, FUNDS IDENTIFIED ANOTHER FUND
SOURCES THEN WOULD THE
ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED TO
INCREASE GENERAL FUND IN THE
BUDGET HERE ABOVE WHAT IS
CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN THE
JANUARY BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT
ENOUGH FUNDING IS APPROPRIATED
TO FULLY MAINTAINED THE RATE
INCREASE IN THIS LOT INCREASES.
THANK YOU. OKAY THANK YOU. NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. KIMBERLY
ROSENBERGER WITH CCP. YOU WE
WERE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE
PAUSE IN THE SLOTS. UM WE LEAVE
MONEY ON THE TABLE EVERY YEAR
FROM FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT AREN'T
BEING UTILIZED TOWARDS SLOTS
BECAUSE WE AREN'T SERVING THE
AREA'S DETERMINED, ESPECIALLY
CHILDCARE DESSERTS, WHICH IS ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY WE DO THINK
THAT THE QUICKER WE CAN MOVE TO
THE COST OF CARE MODEL. THE
QUICKER WE CAN SCALE UP, UM, THE
WORKFORCE IN THOSE CHILDCARE
DESSERTS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY
CAN ADDRESS A NEED AND A LITTLE
BIT MORE OF A NIMBLE FASHION. WE
DO WANT TO KNOW THAT WE THINK
THAT THE TAKE UP CAN'T GO. UM I
NOTICED THAT IT WAS ALSO DELAYED
BY SIX MONTHS, SO IT'S HARD FOR
THE TAKE UP TO BE MET. WHEN HALF
OF THE YEAR IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
LARA MAGNUS DAUGHTER I'M A
PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE
COMMUNITY TELE CARE COUNCIL OF
SONOMA COUNTY OR FORESEES, UM WE
ARE A MULTISERVICE AGENCY THAT
HAS ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT CONTRACT
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL. WE RUN 13
STATE SUBSIDIZED PRESCHOOLS AND
WE HAVE FOOD PROGRAM. AND UM
THREE COUNTIES AND I'M GOING TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE UPTAKE OF THE
SLOTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF,
UH, ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT. UM,
CONTRACTOR. SO WHAT'S BEEN
TALKED ABOUT IS THAT THE PROGRAM
WITH THESE PLANNED ADDITIONAL
200,000 SLOTS, THE PROGRAM IS
BASICALLY TRIPLING FROM WHAT IT
WAS BEFORE, WHICH IS A GOOD
PROBLEM TO HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, UM,
BUT OUR DELIVERY SYSTEM HAS BEEN
CHALLENGED IN MULTIPLE WAYS. IN
THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT'S TALKED
ABOUT HERE BEFORE THAT ARE
FUNDING IS BASED ON A PERCENTAGE
OF THE OVERALL CONTRACT. AFTER
THE GREAT RECESSION, THE
PERCENTAGE THAT WE RECEIVE FOR
ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM WAS
DECREASED FROM 19% TO 17.5% SO
DOWN TO BASICALLY THE BARE BONES
OF WHAT IT TAKES TO ADMINISTER
THE CONTRACT. AND THAT IS WHERE
WE HAVE REMAINED SINCE THEN. SO
THIS FUNDING MECHANISM IT MEANS
THAT WHEN THERE'S A COLA, THE
OVERALL CONTRACT AMOUNT
INCREASES BUT NOT THE AMOUNT PER
ENROLLMENT THAT WE AS
CONTRACTORS RECEIVE. DURING
COVID, UM THE STATE ACTED VERY
QUICKLY, FOR WHICH WE ARE VERY
GRATEFUL TO SERVE ESSENTIAL
WORKERS WITH SUBSIDIZED
CHILDCARE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS
AND RAPID PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS
AND CHANGES, WHICH WERE
GENERALLY ISSUED A FEW MONTHS AT
A TIME AND THEN MAYBE EXTENDED,
MAYBE NOT, WHICH MEANS THAT WE
HAD TO TOUCH EVERY FAMILY
MULTIPLE TIMES, WITH EACH
EXTENSION AND PROGRAMMATIC
CHANGE, AND THIS WAS A VERY
EXCITING VERY CHALLENGING TIME
FOR OUR AGENCIES. UM AND WE'RE
AS SO MANY OTHERS. WE WERE IN
REACTIVE SURVIVAL MODE, WHICH WE
VERY MUCH WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT
OF THIS POINT. WE HAVE BEEN IN
THAT FOR A LONG TIME. IN JANUARY
OF LAST YEAR, THE PROVIDER RATES
WERE INCREASED, WHICH AGAIN IS A
GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. BUT THAT
ALSO MEANS FOR OUR AGENCIES THAT
WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND TOUCH
EVERY SINGLE FAMILY AND EVERY
CHILD AND SEND OUT COMMUNICATION
TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE. AND SO
WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE A FEW WEEKS
JUST TO GET THIS WORK DONE. UM
ALSO IN GENERATE, UH 2020 22 IS
WON THE FIRST ROUND OF THE
INCREASED FUNDING ALLOCATED. UM
AND IT WAS ALLOCATED IN JULY OF
2021. WE RECEIVED IT IN JANUARY
OF 2022. SO IT TOOK SIX MONTHS
TO TRICKLE DOWN. UM I AM PROUD
TO SHARE THAT EVEN WITH THESE
CHALLENGES, OUR AGENCY MORE THAN
DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF NO
CHILDREN THAT WE ENROLLED IN THE
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM TO
626 DURING THE YEAR FROM 311
DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. BUT
THAT ALSO MEANT THAT WE HAD TO
STAFF UP WHICH WAS NOT EASY. WE
COULD NOT BEGIN TO STAFF UP
UNTIL WE HAD THE FUNDS IN HAND,
WHICH WAS SIX MONTHS LATE.
TRAINING A CASE MANAGER TO BE
ABLE TO COMPLETE. ONE OF THESE
ENROLLMENTS TAKES MONTHS BECAUSE
THIS PROGRAM IS VERY
COMPLICATED. WE'VE HAD TO
RESTRUCTURE OUR TEAMS AS WE HAVE
GROWN, ADDING SUPPORT, TRAINING
, RESOURCES, EQUIPMENT,
FURNITURE AND SPACE WHERE
CURRENTLY USING CONFERENCE ROOMS
AS OFFICES AND WE ARE SCHEDULING
MASS OPEN ENROLLMENT DAYS WHERE
WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE NOT IN
INVOLVED IN THE ENROLLMENT TO
STAY AT HOME SO WE CAN USE THIS
SPACE TO MEET WITH FAMILIES SO
WE'RE BEING SCRAPPY AND
CREATIVE. SO. THE POINT HERE IS
THAT THE TRAIN HAS LEFT THE
STATION IN TERMS OF WE HAVE. WE
ARE GETTING READY TO DO THIS
ENROLLMENTS. WE HAVE DONE ALL
THE WORK. AND SO FROM THE
CONTRACTOR PERSPECTIVE, WE WOULD
DEFINITELY LIKE TO CONTINUE
THAT. BECAUSE ONCE YOU STOP IT
TAKES A WHILE TO GET GOING
AGAIN. RIGHT? UM AND THE NEED IS
OUT THERE AS WE KNOW. LASTLY
THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT WORK IN
ISOLATION. AS WE ARE ENROLLING
FAMILIES, THEY MUST HAVE A
CHILDCARE PROVIDER TO SERVE THE
FAMILIES AND I'M CONCERNED THAT
ARE FUNDING THE ALLOCATED FOR
THE CHILDCARE INITIATIVE PROJECT
TO RECRUIT NEW LICENSED FAMILY
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. AND THEY
TEND TO THE PROVIDERS OF CHOICE
FOR FAMILIES NEEDING CARE
OUTSIDE REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS,
AND FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS.
THAT FUNDING IS SUNSETTING IN
JUNE OF THIS YEAR. SO WE NEED TO
WORK IN TANDEM IN INCREASING
FUNDING FOR SLOTS BUT ALSO HAVE
THE PROVIDERS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
CARE OF THESE CHILDREN. WE CAN'T
DO THIS AND ISOLATION. AND IN
THE SAME WAY IN GENERAL TUCKER
SLOTS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS
ARE SORELY NEEDED. FAMILIES ARE
TRULY DESPERATE FOR CARE FOR
INFANTS AND TODDLERS. AND AT
THIS TIME OF TK EXPANSION AND
HUGE STRUCTURAL CHANGES, MANY
STATE PRESCHOOL PROVIDERS FIND
THEMSELVES PIVOTING TO SERVE
YOUNGER CHILDREN. AND SO WE NEED
TO REALLY HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY
IN THESE CONTRACTS TO BE ABLE TO
CHANGE. UM BETWEEN CONTRACTS SO
A MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE GRAHAM. I'M
THE CEO FOR CHILDREN'S RESOURCE
MEMORY FOR ALL OF SANTA BARBARA
COUNTY. OUR AGENCY HAS BEEN
LIFTING UP THE NEEDS FOR WORKING
FAMILIES FOR OVER 50 YEARS IN
OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN ASKED
TO SHARE WITH YOU. THE M SOME
INPUT ON THE STATE'S GOAL TO
SERVE 200,000 NEW CHILDREN IN
CHILDCARE BY 25 26. LET ME START
BY SAYING THE GOAL OF ADDING A
TOTAL I HAVE 200,000 NEW SLOTS
IS ADMIRABLE. HOWEVER WE NEED 10
TIMES THAT AMOUNT TO TRULY MEET
THE NEED OF SUPPORTING INCOME
ELIGIBLE CHILDREN WITH ACCESS TO
CHILDCARE. PRIOR TO COVID OVER
TWO MILLION INCOME ELIGIBLE
CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 13 YEARS
HAD NO ACCESS TO CHILDCARE TO
LOWER REIMBURSEMENT RATES,
LICENSING DELAYS AND EXPANSION
OF TK WE CONTINUE TO SEE FAMILY
CHILDCARE, HOME PROVIDERS AND
CENTERS CONTINUING TO SHUTTER.
ON THE FRONT LINES WITH THE
EXPANSION OF UNIVERSAL TK WE ARE
SEEING CLOSURES OF PRIVATE
CHILDCARE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE
SERVED FOUR YEAR OLDS, MANY THAT
HAVE CLOSED. WE'RE ALSO
PROVIDING INFANT AND TODDLER
CARE. HOWEVER, AFTER DOING THE
MATH AND BY LOSING THE FOUR YEAR
OLDS FACED WITH THE LICENSING
REGULATIONS AND LOWER ADULT
CHILD RATIOS TO SERVE IMPOTENT
TODDLERS. THE NUMBERS SIMPLY DO
NOT MAKE SENSE. LET ME PROVIDE
YOU WITH SOME DATA FROM MY
AGENCY SPECIFIC TO OUR CAP
CONTRACT. SINCE 2020 CHILDREN'S
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL HAS MORE
THAN TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF
CHILDCARE VOUCHERS SLOTS FROM
ROUGHLY 250 A MONTH TO 865 PER
MONTH. CHILDREN'S RESOURCE AND
REFERRAL. OVERALL, ABOUT VOUCHER
BUDGET HAS GROWN FROM 3.35
MILLION TO A PROJECTED OF 10.6
MILLION. FOR 22 23. AND NEARLY
EVERY CATEGORY OF CARE THERE
EXISTS A CHILD CARE DESERT
WITHIN THE DEMAND FOR SPACE.
FAR. OUT PASSES LOCAL CAPACITY.
IN SANTA BARBARA. COUNTY FOR
INFANTS. THERE IS A ROUGHLY ONE
SLOT FOR EVERY SIX CHILDREN AND
PRESCHOOL. THERE IS ONE SLOT FOR
EVERY TWO CHILDREN. DUE TO LOSS
OF LICENSED FAMILY, CHILD CARE
HOMES AND CENTERS. WE ARE SEEING
A GREATER SHIFT TO USE THE
FAMILY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR CARE.
CURRENTLY WE ARE USING 65% OF
OUR SLOTS WITH LICENSE EXEMPT IN
TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. YOUR
AGENDA CAPTURES ADEQUATELY THE
FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN
DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILY, CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS AND CENTERS. GRANTS TO
RETROFIT AND BUILD NEW CHILDCARE
CAPACITY ENHANCED WEBSITE
FUNDING AND 20 MILLION FOR
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAMS.
HOWEVER. HERE. WE HAVE SOME
CHALLENGES. MY AGENCY AND OTHERS
ACROSS CALIFORNIA ARE FACING.
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, WE
DESPERATELY NEEDED STARTUP
DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE MASSIVE
GROWTH OVER THE PAST THREE
YEARS. YET NO FUNDING WAS
PROVIDED TO AGENCIES. ALTHOUGH
WE HAVE MORE THAN TRIPLED THE
NUMBER OF CHILDCARE SLOTS
FUNDING FOR AGENCY IS SOLELY
BASED ON THE PAYMENT MADE TO
PROVIDERS TO HELP HIGHLIGHT THE
FUNDING CONCERNS. LET ME PROVIDE
YOU SOME VERY SPECIFIC
BACKGROUND ON THIS ISSUE. 60 TO
70% OF FAMILIES THAT APPLY FOR A
CHILDCARE VOUCHER WILL NOT
COMPLETE THE ELIGIBILITY PROCESS
OR WILL BE DETERMINED
INELIGIBLE. THE WORK STAFF
PERFORMED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES
THROUGH THE ELIGIBILITY
APPLICATION PROCESS IS
COMPLETELY UNFUNDED. IF THE
FAMILY DOES NOT COMPLETE THE
PROCESS OR IF THEY ARE DEEMED
INELIGIBLE. ONCE A FAMILY IS
DETERMINED ELIGIBLE, IT IS OFTEN
COULD TAKE 30 TO 90 DAYS FOR
THEM TO SECURE A CHILDCARE
PROVIDER. ONCE THE CHILD CARE
PROVIDER HAS CHOSEN AND
CHILDCARE SERVICES BEGIN. IT
WILL BE ANOTHER 30 DAYS BEFORE
THE AGENCY WILL THEN BEGIN TO
RECEIVE THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR
THE FAMILY. HOWEVER THE AGENCY
WILL HAVE ALREADY MADE THE CHILD
CARE PAYMENTS TO THE PROVIDER.
PRIOR TO RECEIVING STATE DOLLARS
THIS CREATING A MONTHLY FISCAL
BURDEN ON THE AGENCY. FOR
SMALLER AGENCIES LIKE MINE. THE
NEXT STEP IS TO BORROW FROM
EITHER AN AGENCY RESERVE OR MORE
OFTEN TO BORROW FROM THE BANK
LINE OF CREDIT TO MAKE THIS
TIMELY PAYMENT EACH MONTH FOR
THE PROVIDERS. CARRYING THE DEBT
OF THE STATE UNTIL REIMBURSEMENT
IS RECEIVED. NOW MOVING ON TO
ENROLLMENT ISSUES FOR MY AGENCY
. ALTHOUGH IN CAB WE NOW SERVE
MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE NUMBER
OF CHILDREN WE HAD PRE COVID. WE
STILL HAVE 850 ELIGIBLE FAMILIES
ON OUR WAITLIST NEEDING
CHILDCARE. WE HAVE FULLY
ENROLLED 22 23 CAP CONTRACT.
HOWEVER WE COULD CONTINUE TO
ENROLL AND SERVE EVEN MORE
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
IMMEDIATELY IF WE HAD FUNDING WE
HAVE REQUESTED INCREASED DOLLARS
TO CONTINUE CAP ENROLLMENT AS
THESE DOLLARS COULD BE
IMMEDIATELY USED. YES IT IS VERY
CHALLENGING TO SECURE ADDITIONAL
MONIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE
GOING UNSPENT BY OTHER AGENCIES.
KAPPA THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION
THAT SUPPORTS US HAS REAL TIME
INPUT FROM PROGRAMS OF UNSPENT
MONIES AND AGENCIES IN NEED.
HOWEVER, THE PROCESS TO MOVE
THOSE DOLLARS IS VERY CUMBERSOME
AND NOT FLEXIBLE TO THE REAL
WORLD NEEDS OF OUR FIELD. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSES A
DELAY IN NEW SLIDES. CANDIDLY
THERE SHOULD BE NO DELAY IN
RELEASING NEW SLOTS. WORKING
FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA ARE IN
DIRE NEED TO ACCESS THEM.
HOWEVER, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE
CONSIDERED. LOOK AT THE
CALCULATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF
SITES EVALUATE THE AGENCIES THAT
ARE DOING THE ENROLLMENT AND CAN
DO MORE IF FUNDING WERE
IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. THEN MOVE
THE FUNDS. SECURE REAL WORLD
INPUT ON THE TIME FRAME IT TAKES
TO ENROLL AN INCOME ELIGIBLE
FAMILY INTO A NEW SLOT. FOR
INSTANCE, IN FISCAL YEAR 22 23.
THE AGENCIES WERE INFORMED HOW
MANY NEW SLOTS WE WOULD RECEIVE
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022. HOWEVER
AGENCIES DID NOT RECEIVE MONIES
TO ACTUALLY ENROLL THE NEW SLOTS
UNTIL LATER IN NOVEMBER. WHAT
THAT MEANS IS IF THE NEW DOLLARS
CAME IN NOVEMBER, AND IT TAKES
30 TO 90 DAYS TO ENROLL AND
SECURE CHILDCARE, A CHILD
SITTING IN A NEW SLIDE WOULD NOT
ACTUALLY BE REALIZED UNTIL
FEBRUARY OR MARCH. 2023 IF
AGENCIES HAD FULLY ENROLLED ALL
SLUTS THE WAY THE CONTRACT WORKS
, THEY WOULD. THAT WOULD MEAN
THAT THEY WOULD COME JULY 1ST
2023. THEY WOULD START THE NEW
FISCAL YEAR, ALL CONTRACTORS
WOULD BE OVERTURNED. A FEW LAST
POINTS I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS WE
HAVE HEARD THAT THE WORKFORCE
HAS BEEN MAJORLY IMPACTED, AND
IT HAS HOWEVER, IN SANTA BARBARA
COUNTY I HAVE OVER 100. PEOPLE
ON A WAIT LIST IS OUR SUPPORT TO
START UP THEIR OWN FAMILY
CHILDCARE HOME BUSINESS. THE
AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDING FOR THIS
WORK. ONLY ALLOWS ME TO SUPPORT
EIGHT PER YEAR. WITH INDIVIDUALS
WITH ADDITIONAL LOCAL GRANTS.
I'M ABLE TO INCREASE THIS TO
ABOUT 30 A YEAR. BUT WE NEED
MORE SPACES. ADDITIONALLY THE
FACT THAT AGENCIES HAVE NOT USED
UP ALL THEIR CAP SLOTS IS NOT A
REFLECTION. THAT'S LOTS AREN'T
NEEDED. IT SHOULD DEMONSTRATE
THE LACK OF FUNDING AGENCIES
HAVE HAD TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS
ELIGIBILITY ENROLLMENT AND
PROVIDE CASEWORK FOR THE
INCREASE IN FAMILIES SERVED.
WITHOUT STARTUP DOLLARS FOR
ELIGIBILITY, ENROLLMENT,
TRAINING OFFICE. SPACE AND
EQUIPMENT AGENCIES ARE LEFT
OVERWHELMED AND UNDER SPENT AT
NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. AT CR CNR
CHILDREN WHOSE HISTORY FOR ALL
WE HAVE MADE THE SACRIFICE FOR
SALARIED STAFF TO WORK FAR
BEYOND A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK AND
HOURLY STAFF BEING PAID OVERTIME
WHEN MASS ENROLMENT HAS BEEN
POSSIBLE. UNDER ISSUE TWO. IT
WAS ASKED THE ISSUE IF WE
REVERTED BACK TO REIMBURSE
PROVIDERS BASED ON ENROLLMENT
VERSUS ATTENDANCE. WHAT WOULD BE
THE IMPACT BOTTOM LINE. IT WILL
RESULT IN CHILDREN CURRENTLY
ENROLLED IN STABLE CHILDCARE,
POSSIBLY BEING DIS ENROLLED.
PROVIDERS DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO COVER THE LOSS OF
REIMBURSEMENT IF A CHILD DOES
NOT SHOW UP FOR CARE, AND
FURTHERMORE, THAT SAYS IT
TYPICAL PRACTICE FOR PRIVATE
PAY. PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY IN
REGARD TO ISSUE TWO ON FAMILY
FEE IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY WHEN
WE HAD FAMILY FEES, I REMEMBER
FONDLY A FAMILY WHO HAD TO DROP
THEIR CHILD CARE BECAUSE OF A
$30 FAMILY FI DIS ENROLLING
THREE CHILDREN BRINGING THESE
CHILDREN BACK TO THE AGRICULTURE
FIELDS WHERE THEY WORKED TO WAIT
IN THE CAR AS THE PARENTS WORKED
ALL DAY. THIS IS ONLY ONE
EXAMPLE. BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE
FAMILIES THAT WOULD FIND
THEMSELVES AND GREAT CRISIS.
FINALLY, ONE POINT I'D LIKE TO
TOUCH ON HIS. THE USE OF
ALLOCATED COLA'S WHEN THEY ARE
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. THE ONLY
THING WE CAN USE THOSE COOLERS
FOR PURCHASING NEW CHILDCARE
SLOTS. HOWEVER WE WOULD
APPRECIATE CONSIDERATION THAT
ANY COLA ALLOCATED TO US BE
ALLOWED BY THE AGENCY TO SUPPORT
THE WORK NEEDED TO ENROLL AND
SERVE FAMILIES. I AM CONFIDENT
THAT HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO USE
PAST COLA'S. IN THIS WAY MORE
FAMILIES WOULD HAVE BEEN
ENROLLED ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. OKAY
THANK YOU FINALLY HAVE CRISTINA
GARCIA. APPARENT VOICES. HELLO.
MY NAME IS CRISTINA GARCIA. I
COME TO YOU FROM THE UNSEATED
COAST. ME WALK LAND, ALSO KNOWN
AS MARIN COUNTY. I'M A MOTHER OF
FOUR. MY YOUNGEST WILL TURN
THREE THIS JUNE. MY TWINS ARE
SEVEN AND MY OLDEST IS 17. I'M A
FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
GRADUATE WITH AN ASSOCIATES. MY
PARENTS DIDN'T MANAGE TO FINISH
HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE STRUGGLED TO
REMAIN HOUSED AND PROVIDE FOR MY
FAMILY AND A COUNTY THAT'S NOT
DESIGNED FOR ME AS A WOMAN OF
COLOR. A NATIVE, ONE
SPECIFICALLY ACCESS TO QUALITY
CHILD CARE IS SO CRITICAL AND
SUPPORTING FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY
BY PARK FAMILIES. TODAY I'M HERE
REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES WHO
HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE RECENT
CHILDCARE SUBSIDY INVESTMENTS,
AND I'M SERVING AS A VOICE FOR
THE OTHERS WHO ARE PROBABLY
SITTING PRAYING NIGHTLY TO GET
ACCESS TO THIS AFFORDABLE
CHILDCARE. AND THIS FATE RESTS
IN YOUR HANDS. I FIRST GOT ON
THE CHILDCARE WAITLIST WHEN MY
TWINS WERE BABIES, I THINK IT
WAS 2016. THAT SOUNDS ABOUT
RIGHT. UM THEY DIDN'T BENEFIT
FROM QUALITY CHILDCARE WHEN THEY
WERE YOUNG. UM AT THAT TIME IN
MY LIFE. HAD I HAD ACCESS TO
THESE FUNDS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO LEAVE. AN ABUSIVE
RELATIONSHIP AND CONTINUE MY
EDUCATION AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE
TAKEN ME FOR YEARS. HAD I GOTTEN
A CALL SOONER? WAITING. FOR
CHILDCARE DURING THE PANDEMIC
WAS ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING
THINGS I'VE EVER HAD TO WALK
THROUGH. I HAD A NEWBORN, I WAS
STRUGGLING WITH POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION. I HAD TWINS WHO WERE
TRYING TO DO ZOOM KINDERGARTEN.
AND A TEENAGER WHO WAS ALMOST
SUICIDAL AND VERY MENTALLY ILL.
BECAUSE OF THE ISOLATION WE WERE
ALL IN. MEANWHILE I WAS ALSO IN
ZOOM COURT GETTING A RESTRAINING
ORDER AND THAT WAS GRANTED FOR
FIVE YEARS WE WERE IN SURVIVAL
MODE. DURING THAT TIME I WAS
ABLE TO COMPLETE MY ASSOCIATES.
I APPLIED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, AND
I WAS ABLE TO GET MY DAUGHTER
INTO A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. I WAS
THEN OFFERED A JOB IN THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT. I GOT SOME HOPE. BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, MY DAUGHTER GOT
HAND FOOT AND MOUTH AND I DIDN'T
HAVE MONEY FOR A SITTER. SO I
HAD TO LEAVE THE FIRST JOB THAT
I HAD GOTTEN BECAUSE I DID NOT
HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY FOR CARE.
UM THEN, LAST APRIL, I GOT A
CALL FROM THE MARINE CHILDCARE,
A COUNCIL AND I WAS OFFERED A
VOUCHER FOR THE THREE OF MY KIDS
WHO STILL NEED IT. MY BIG WORKS
AND DOESN'T NEED CARE. UM AND
THIS CAME JUST IN TIME FOR ME TO
TRANSFER FROM THE COLLEGE OF
MARIN, WHICH I HAD JUST GOTTEN
MY ASSOCIATES FROM TWO DOMINICAN
UNIVERSITY WHERE I AM DOING
THEIR ADULT DEGREE PROGRAM TO
OBTAIN A BACHELOR'S AND THEN
APPLY FOR A TEACHING CREDENTIAL
PROGRAM. THE NEED FOR BY PARK
TEACHERS AND A NATURAL SHORTAGE
. I DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT
BECAUSE WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT
THAT. BUT THIS IS THIS IS THE
END GOAL FOR ME. I PLAN ON
GETTING E. D D IN EDUCATIONAL
LEADERSHIP, UM. MOSTLY BECAUSE I
REMEMBER MY OWN EXPERIENCES IN
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BEING A
NATIVE WHO KNEW THE HISTORY IS
THAT WE'RE BEING TAUGHT WEREN'T
ACCURATE. I WANT TO BE THAT
SPACE FOR KIDS LIKE MYSELF. I
DIDN'T GET TEACHERS THAT LOOKED
LIKE ME. I DIDN'T GET PRINCIPLES
THAT LOOKED LIKE ME. UM I GREW
UP IN A VERY AFFLUENT
PREDOMINANTLY WHITE COMMUNITY.
UM AND I WOULD GET IN TROUBLE
WHEN I CALLED THEM OUT FOR, UM,
SAYING THINGS ABOUT THE HISTORY.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE MY
PEOPLE NOT BE SEEN. UM I THINK I
MENTIONED I WANT TO TEACH ETHNIC
STUDIES WHILE I WORK ON THE HDD
PART. PROMO NATIVE MOM, UM. SO I
WROTE ALL OF THIS DOWN SO I
WOULDN'T GET LOST IN ALL OF IT
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO SHARE.
BUT THE PLAN IS TO CREATE
GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR MY
CHILDREN AND WORK IN EDUCATION
AND IN ORDER TO HAVE FINANCIAL
SECURITY DOING THIS. I'M GOING
TO NEED MORE THAN A BACHELOR'S.
IT WON'T BE SUFFICIENT TO HAVE
JUST A BACHELOR'S AH, UM WHEN I
GOT MY SUB SUBSIDY IT IT CHANGED
THE HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY.
THAT SOUNDS KIND OF OUTRAGEOUS,
SAYING THAT, BUT THAT'S THE
TRUTH. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET
THE SUBSIDY AND HAVE SOME
DAYTIME HOURS TO COMPLETE MY
STUDIES AND HAVE MORE TIME
AVAILABLE FOR MY KIDS BEING IN
AFTERCARE. I WAS ABLE TO STEP
ONTO THE BOARD OF THE MARINE
INDIAN ALLIANCE IN SEPTEMBER
ALONGSIDE THAT ORGANIZATION AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE HAD THE
FIRST EVER IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
POW WOW. THAT HAPPENED TWO DAYS
AGO. YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE IJ.
YOU'RE CURIOUS. I ALSO STEPPED
ONTO THE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND
INCLUSION TEAM BECAUSE THERE
WERE NO BROWN WOMEN IN THOSE
SPACES WHERE MY KIDS GO TO
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND FROM
THERE, I PITCHED AN IDEA IN
NOVEMBER FOR A DISTRICT WIDE
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT. UM AND THAT
WAS JUST APPROVED LAST TUESDAY
THAT WILL ALSO TURN INTO ANOTHER
POT OF MONEY AND EDUCATIONAL
CURRICULUM CHANGES. NEWSOME DID
SOMETHING WITH THAT. I DON'T
KNOW ALL THE WORDS FOR IT AT THE
MOMENT. IT'S A LOT, BUT, UM
THOSE THINGS WOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED WITHOUT MY VOICE.
WITHOUT THAT SUBSIDY, MY COUNTY
WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT. IT'S
BEGINNING TO CHANGE. THERE'S
MORE INDIGENOUS VISIBILITY. IT
CREATES MORE EQUITY. UM I ALSO
SIT ON THE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
COMMITTEE AT THE COLLEGE OF
MARIN BECAUSE I WAS THE FIRST
STUDENT. THAT HAD EVER RECEIVED
FUNDS FOR BEING NATIVE. THOSE
FUNDS SAT THERE FOR 20 YEARS
BEFORE I USED TO THEM. SO NOW I
SIT IN THEIR COMMITTEES TO HELP
MARKET THEM TO OTHER STUDENTS
AND HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE
INDIGENOUS BE ABLE TO GET THEIR
ENROLLMENT IF THEY'RE
STRUGGLING, TRYING TO FIGURE
THAT OUT. UM SO THAT MORE KIDS
CAN. DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO
WITH THEIR EDUCATION. ALL THESE
THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST
SIX MONTHS TO UPLIFT OTHER BIPAC
. PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY
WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT
THE SUBSIDY. OR I WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE IF I HAVE TO
PAY THAT FAMILY FEE. I CAN'T
CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT I'M ON
WITHOUT EQUITABLE, AFFORDABLE
ACCESS TO CHILDCARE. I'M LOOKING
TO YOU THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
AND EDUCATION TO DO THE RIGHT
THING, REJECTING THE PROPOSAL TO
DELAY THE FAMILIES WHO ARE
WAITING FOR THEIR CHANCE. AND TO
PAY THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. AND
AFFORDABLE RIGHT WAGE. UM. I
CANNOT READ MY OWN WRITING. I
GOT A LITTLE EXCITED HERE. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, UM. WE NEED TO GIVE
THE CHILDREN WHO ARE IN EARLY
EDUCATION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WHERE, AT
LEAST FOR MY DAUGHTER, I CAN
SPEAK TO HER PRESCHOOL. THEY
LEARN THINGS LIKE SHE TOUCHES
HER FACE. AND SHE GOES. I'M
BEAUTIFUL. I'M SMART. I'M STRONG
. SHE GETS SKILLS IN MEDITATION
, HOW TO REGULATE HER BODY THAT
SHE COMES HOME SHOWING US AND
I'M LIKE YOU'RE NOT EVEN THREE.
HOW DO YOU DO THIS? HER
LANGUAGE. HAS FLOURISHED MORE
THAN ANY OF MY KIDS. I'M A MOM
BEFORE I WATCHED THIS A FEW
TIMES. ACCESS TO THIS KIND OF
CARE HAS CHANGED THIS LITTLE
GIRL'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN A
TIME WHERE WE WERE CONCERNED
BECAUSE WE WERE AT HOME. WITH
THE PANDEMIC. MANY OF THESE
FAMILIES THAT ARE WAITING FOR
SLOTS COULD BE FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE GRADUATES LIKE MYSELF.
THEY COULD BE MORE SURVIVORS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THEY COULD BE
DISABLED PEOPLE THEY COULD BE
ADDICTS WANTING TO GET SOBER. WE
JUST DON'T KNOW ALL OF IT, BUT I
WILL SAY THAT MOST OF THESE
FAMILIES DO FACE STRUCTURAL
RACISM, SEXISM, AND THIS IS A
WAY TO CHANGE THOSE NARRATIVES
FOR EVERYBODY FAR AND WIDE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND
COMING UP TO THE CAPITAL. UH A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS QUESTIONS
FIRST FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. NO
UM I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. CAN YOU
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH? HOW
MANY OF THE SLOTS HAVE I HAVE
NOT BEEN FILLED. I THINK IN OUR
AGENDA WE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY WE
THINK HAVE WERE FILLED IN THE
LAST TWO YEARS. ROUGHLY UM
45,000 IS THAT ACCURATE THAT
THERE'S ROUGHLY 100,000
UNFILLED. DIANA DOMINGUEZ
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. WE.
ESTIMATE THAT 35,800 SLOTS HAVE
BEEN FILLED. AND THAT WOULD, UM
. THAT'S OF THE 110 500,500
AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT, AND
THAT WOULD MEAN THAT 74,000 ARE
REMAINING TO BE FILLED AVAILABLE
100,000. BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THE 1 46 IT WAS ROUGHLY
100,000 UNFILLED. YES, THAT'S
THAT'S CORRECT. SO WHY DO YOU
THINK THEY'RE UNFILLED? UM. WE
DO ANTICIPATE THAT THE. THE
FAMILIES WILL NEED TO ACCESS
THESE LOTS. HOWEVER WE RECOGNIZE
THE HISTORIC LEVEL OF INCREASES
THAT HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AS
WELL AS THE CHILDCARE FIELD, AND
, UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT WILL
TAKE TIME TO DO YOU THINK WERE
THE FACTORS WHY THEY WERE
UNFILLED? GOING BACK LAST TWO
YEARS WE FUNDED A LOT FOR NEW
SLOTS AND THEY WERE UNFILLED. SO
WHAT DO YOU THINK? WERE THE
FACTORS FROM THE MINISTRATIONS
PERSPECTIVE? WHY THEY REMAINED
AND FILLED. UM. IT HAS TAKEN, UH
, THE ADMINISTRATION TIME TO
PROCESS NEW CONTRACTS. UM AND,
UM. THAT HAS. AFFECTED BE UPTAKE
OF SLOTS AND, UM ABILITY TO UM.
PROVIDES LOTS IN THE FIELD.
OKAY. DID YOU WANT TO INTERJECT
AS WELL PARTNER? SOCIAL SERVICES
AGAIN, DOCTOR LUPE HYMAN, MILHAM
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CHILDCARE AND
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION. SO, AS
NOTED BY OUR ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT
PARTNERS, IT DID TAKE SOME TIME
. RIGHT ON 20 JULY 1ST OF 2021.
THAT IS WHEN CDSS HAD THE
TRANSFER AT THESE CONTRACTS. TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, SO IT'S A HISTORIC
MOMENT AT THE TIME. TOOK SOME
TIME, OF COURSE TO RAMP UP
REGARDING THIS NEW DIVISION. BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, UM THESE WERE
HISTORIC. AND, UH, THESE WERE
HISTORIC DOLLARS, SO THE
DIVISION TOOK. WANNA SEND TELL
JANUARY TO GET THE DOLLARS OUT.
UM, LEARNED A LOT. HAVE TO SAY
THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
IS A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES THAT WE
NOW HAVE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE
THAT FUTURE DOLLARS GO OUT THE
DOOR QUICKER, SUCH AS THIS YEAR,
THE OTHER PIECE THAT WAS ALSO
SAID IN REGARDS TO THE PANELIST
WAS, UM THAT THESE WERE VERY
DIFFERENT TYPE OF APPROACH IS,
FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS ONE THING
ABOUT ENROLLING FAMILIES BASED
ON ATTRITION, WHICH YOU HAVE
YOUR OPERATIONS READY TO HANDLE
, HOWEVER, BEING ABLE TO TRIPLE
UM, SLOTS DOES REQUIRE TIME DOES
REQUIRE WE CALIBRATING DOES
REQUIRE RE LOOKING AT YOUR
CURRENT PIECES. THE CAP DOLLARS
SOME STUFF ARE TWO YEARS IN
ORDER FOR THESE DOLLARS TO BE
FULLY UTILIZE. IT'S A TWO YEAR
CONTRACTS. SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS
GO YEAR TO YEAR. THIS ONE IN
PARTICULAR IS TWO YEARS. IN OUR
CASE, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT
DATA FROM OUR FISCAL ANALYSTS
BELIEVE WE WERE LOOKING AT IT.
MAYBE IN NOVEMBER, SO WE NOTICED
THAT MANY OF OUR CONTRACTORS
WERE STILL TRYING TO ENROLL WITH
THE ORIGINAL CAP $1, MEANING THE
FISCAL YEAR 21 22, SO THEY
HAVEN'T EVEN TOUCHED THAT 20 TO
$23. ON TOP OF THAT WE HEARD
LOUD AND CLEAR IN REGARDS TO THE
RESPONSIVENESS OF THE ADMIN NOT
BEING ENOUGH. RECOGNIZING THAT
FAMILIES THAT ARE ENROLLED MAY
NOT BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE
ENTIRE PROCESS, AND THAT'S WHERE
THAT 20,000,001 TIME START UP
FUNDING THAT WAS RELEASED LATER
AND WAS A BIG BENEFIT OF IT. BUT
THERE DEFINITELY WAS SOME KEY
AREAS, SO I WANT TO JUST MAKE
SURE WE COVERED THOSE THANK YOU,
MR TEAM. CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP SO
IS JUST JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THE
CHAIRS. QUESTION, WHICH IS SO,
UM IS THERE NOT DEMAND FOR THE
SLOTS, OR IS IT JUST THAT WE'RE
IS TAKING SO LONG TO PROCESS
THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE
ABILITY TO PROCESS ALL THOSE
LOTS THE LADDER RIGHT? SO THE
DEMAND IS THERE, AND I THINK YOU
WOULD HEAR THAT FROM THE ENTIRE
ROOM INCLUDE AND BEYOND AND THAT
THE MAN CONTINUES TO BE THERE.
IT IS THE RAMP UP TIME THAT IS
TAKING TIME TO GET THIS
HISTORICAL NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD A
YEAR AND A HALF. WHAT IS YOUR.
TIMEFRAME TO PROCESS THESE
CONTRACTS AND THESE SLOTS AS FAR
AS UM, PROCESSING CONTRACTS WERE
PLEASED TO SHARE THAT WITH
FISCAL YEAR 22 23. WE WERE ABLE
TO GET CONTRACTS OUT A LOT
SOONER THAT CAME OUT A LOT
SOONER. WANNA SAY IF I'M
REMEMBERING PROBABLY AROUND
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, SO IT'S
WHEN THEY RECEIVED IT. SO THAT
WAS THREE MONTHS, WHICH IS
TYPICAL FROM SO AGAIN LOTS OF
LEARNINGS AND HELPED TO CONTINUE
TO REFINE THAT. BACKLOG. BACKLOG
IN REGARDS TO REQUESTS OR
CONTRACTS. SO UH, IN TERMS OF
CAP, ALL THE DOLLARS ARE OUT THE
DOOR, SO NO BACKLOG ON THAT. BUT
THERE'S STILL A NUMBER OF
UNUTILIZED SLOTS. THAT IS
CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT. AND I
HAVE TO SAY SORRY, JUST THAT'S
IF YOU'RE PROCESSING THOSE
CONTRACTS IN THREE MONTHS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
UNUTILIZED SLOTS? WHY ARE THOSE
SLOTS UNUTILIZED? SO THAT IS
THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE OUR OFFICE
TO GO TO OUR ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT
PROGRAMS, THEN THEY ARE WORKING
ON GETTING THOSE ENROLLMENTS
COMPLETED. AND THAT IS WHERE YOU
DO. THE GROUP. ENROLLMENTS ARE
DOING DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO BE
THAT, BUT IT TAKES TIME. IT
REALLY DOES. IT VARIES AND YOU
KNOW WHAT? LET ME PAUSE AND SEE
IF MY FELLOW, UM ALTERNATE
PAVEMENT PARTNERS WOULD LIKE TO
DESCRIBE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO
GET A RANGE OF TIME. YEAH. THANK
YOU. I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL
FACTORS. SOMEONE IS WE DON'T
ALWAYS HAVE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
READY TO GO AND SO AS QUICKLY AS
WE CAN ENROLL A FAMILY AND THAT
CAN HAPPEN IN THE MATTER OF
HOURS IF EVERYTHING WORKED
PERFECTLY. UM THERE'S OFTEN NO
PLACE FOR THEM TO GO. SO
CHILDREN WAIT 30 TO 90 DAYS IN
ORDER TO SECURE A CHILDCARE
PROVIDER. WE HAVE. ONE SLOT FOR
EVERY SIX INFANTS IN SANTA
BARBARA COUNTY AND ONE SLOT FOR
EVERY TWO PRESCHOOLERS. THE NEED
IS THERE ENROLLING IS.
CHALLENGING BUT AS I SHARED IN
MY, UM IN MY TESTIMONY, UM WE DO
MASS ENROLMENT. WE DO OVERTIME.
WE DO ALL IT TAKES TO GET TO
MAKE IT HAPPEN. UM NOT. EVERY
AGENCY HAS THE SAME EXACT
PRACTICES AS EACH OTHER. BUT THE
REALITY IS WE ARE ALL TRYING TO
DO IT. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET
THERE THE BEST WE CAN. LARA
MAGNUS DAUGHTER FORCES SONOMA.
ANOTHER PIECE OF IT IS THAT IS
THE STAFFING PIECE, UM, FOR TO
BE ABLE TO DO THE ENROLLMENTS,
UM, AS HAD BEEN DESCRIBED
BEFORE. UM. WHEN WE GET A COLA,
WE DON'T GET AN INCREASE IN HOW
MUCH WE GET PAID OR HOW MUCH WE
PAY. WE JUST ENROLL MORE
FAMILIES, RIGHT? AND SO WE THERE
WAS A CAPACITY GRANT THAT I
BELIEVE WAS DECEMBER 2022, SO WE
CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO PREPARE FOR
THAT UNTIL WE HAVE THE FUNDING
ON HAND. AND SO THIS IS ALL
STARTING TO. REALLY, UM. GAIN
MOMENTUM NOW, TOO. BUILD UP THE
CAPACITY. IT JUST TAKES A WHILE
TO BUILD UP THEIR CAPACITY TO DO
AND TRAINING FOR TO DO THESE
ENROLLMENTS. I WOULD INVITE ANY
OF YOU TO SIT IN AN ENROLLMENT
MEETING. UM AND LOOK AT HOW
THESE ENROLLMENTS TAKE PLACE IN
THE COMPLEXITY AND THE PAPERWORK
THAT HAPPEN. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU WERE ASKED TO DO MORE WORK.
BUT YOU WEREN'T PAID FOR IT IS
THAT THERE WAS A CAPACITY GRANT
THAT WE GOT. BUT WE'VE THAT WAS
ALLOCATED IN DECEMBER LAST
DECEMBER DECEMBER OF 2022 2. SO
JUST THREE MONTHS AGO. THEY ARE
PAID PER CHILD. IT'S JUST THAT
THEY DON'T GET THE MONEY UNTIL
THE CHILD'S ENROLLED. OKAY SO I
THINK THAT'S KIND OF IT'S LIKE A
LITTLE BIT OF A CART BEFORE THE
HORSE WHERE THERE'S THIS. THIS
IS THE SAME AMOUNT PER
ENROLLMENT WHEN THERE'S A COLA.
WE JUST GET A BIGGER GRANT TO
ENROLL MORE FAMILIES? YES THE
SAME PERCENTAGE OFF OF IT SO UM
, SO THE CAPACITY GRANT WAS A
HUGE HELP, BUT THAT IS STILL A
TEMPORARY BAND AID. IT DOESN'T
HELP WITH PLANNING OR PROJECTING
OR OR WORKING ON. STABILITY
GOING FORWARD, RIGHT? SO I GUESS
WHAT? SO WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO
DO TO ASSIST BECAUSE FROST
FRUSTRATION IS WE KNOW THERE IS
THE NEED. WE KNOW THAT DEMAND
FOR ALL THESE SLOTS, AND THEN
ALL THAT COMES BACK IS ALL THESE
SLOTS ARE EMPTY, EMPTY, EMPTY,
EMPTY. AND TO US, IT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE BECAUSE THERE'S.
I THINK WE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
MORE. IT DOES TAKE A WHILE TO
RAMP UP. I THINK MOST OF THE
AGENCIES ARE IN A POSITION NOW
WHERE THEY CAN KEEP ROLLING AND
THEY CAN KEEP GOING SO STOPPING
IT NOW. IT'S LIKE THE TRAIN
LEAVING THE STATION. LIKE I SAID
BEFORE, IT'S WHAT YOU STOP IT.
AND THEN IT TAKES A WHILE TO
RAMP UP AGAIN. BUT WE ALSO NEED
MORE FUNDING. TO BE ABLE TO
ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS AND
THERE NEEDS TO BE. WE NEED TO
HAVE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO BE
ABLE TO RUN THE PROBLEM. BUT
WHAT? WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD AND
AGAIN APOLOGIZE FOR COMING LATE
TO THE PANEL, BUT I HAVEN'T
HEARD OF OKAY. HOW MANY MORE
SLOTS CAN WE ENROLL THIS YEAR?
HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE CAN WE
ENROLL? THIS YEAR? I HEAR A LOT
OF QUALIFIERS MANY MOST A LOT. I
CAN'T PUT ANY OF THOSE IN THE
BUDGET. IF I MAY. I THINK PART
OF THE EARLIER COMMENTARY WAS
THAT, UM, THE SLOT EXPANSION WAS
SO GREAT THAT THEY HAD TO SCALE
UP AND THEN IT WAS A SIX MONTH
DELAY TO GET THAT MONEY OUT. SO
WE THINK, UM AND I THINK MY
PARENTS WOULD AGREE THAT THEY'RE
NOW MORE POSITION TO CONTINUE
ENROLLING. AND INSTEAD OF
ALLOWING THAT GROWTH TO CONTINUE
THAT EVERYONE'S BEEN SCALING UP
TO WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED TO STOP
IT AND SO UNDO ALL THAT PROCESS,
SO I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT
I THINK THE QUESTION IS, WHAT'S
THE NUMBER? CAN YOU? ARE YOU
TELLING ME IF WE LIKE, YOU KNOW,
FOUGHT THE GOVERNMENT'S
PROPOSAL. YOU COULD ENROLL
EVERYBODY NEXT YEAR. OR IS IT
HALF 25% BECAUSE HERE HERE'S
HERE'S WHAT I'M ASKING BECAUSE
THE MONEY THAT GOES TO THIS THAT
SITS IDLE. MEANS KIDS DON'T GET
AFTER SCHOOL. THAT MEANS THERE'S
NO CLASSROOM SUPPORT. OR IT
MEANS MAYBE THERE'S NOT FOOD.
BECAUSE THE MONEY HAS BEEN SET
ASIDE AND NOT DOING ANYTHING,
BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE
NORM. BUT THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED
TO BE ON THE CHILD CARE AND IT'S
NOT. IT'S SITTING IN A BANK
ACCOUNT IN THE STATE BUDGET,
WHICH IS NOT WORTH SUPPOSED TO
BE. SO WHAT? OKAY I APPRECIATE
ALL THE SNAPPING, BUT THIS IS
THIS IS A BUDGET HEARINGS, NOT A
SPORTING EVENT. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY. YOU CAN
WAVE YOUR HANDS. IT'S WONDERFUL
, SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. YOU
KNOW, WE COULD ALL DO THAT, YOU
KNOW, FAN WAVES. AWESOME BUT
PLEASE, NO SNAPPING OR APPLAUSE
AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF, SO I
APPRECIATE THAT. UM BUT THE
QUESTION IS HOW MUCH. BECAUSE
THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING
HERE MEANS MONEY THAT CAN'T GO
SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND THIS IS A
TIGHTER BUDGET THAN YEARS PAST.
SO HOW MANY SLOTS CAN WE ABSORB
NEXT YEAR? HOW MANY MORE SLOTS
YEAH, PLEASE. YOU GOT AN ANSWER.
I CAN'T ANSWER FOR THE ENTIRE
STATE, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY
SOMEBODY. SOCIAL SERVICES,
FINANCE ANYBODY AGAIN LOOP AND
DR HYMAN, MILHAM DEPUTY DIRECTOR
. WE CAN CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU
WITH A NUMBER ON THERE ONLY
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME FISCAL
REPORTS FROM OUR CONTRACTORS
WHERE I THINK I'VE MENTIONED
THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY STILL
SPENDING THEIR YEAR ONE. I DO
WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IT IS NOT
STOPPING THE, UM THE SLOTS,
RIGHT? THEY CONTINUE TO ENROLL.
IT'S PLACING A PAUSE, SO I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW
THERE'S SOME WORRIES OUT IN THE
FIELD ABOUT THAT, AND WE ARE
COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO ADD TO
THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU PASS A
PAUSE. IT'S SORT OF SENDS THE
WRONG MESSAGE BECAUSE THEY ALL
HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE, WHICH IS
RIGHT NOW VERY HARD TO HIRE VERY
COMPETITIVE HIRE PEOPLE. SO YOU
HIRE PEOPLE. YOU TELL HIM IT'S A
PAUSE. THEN WHAT DO YOU DO WITH
THOSE PEOPLE? THEY LET HIM OFF.
RIGHT, SO I THINK I THINK THAT'S
THE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH, SO WE KNOW THIS IS LIKE
WHERE IT'S GOING. RIGHT, SO
BETTER TO STAY HERE OR HERE OR
WHICHEVER WHICHEVER ANGLE IT IS
, BUT TO DO THIS, AND THEN JUST
POWERS. IT MAKES IT MUCH HARDER
TO LIKE. IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS A
COMPUTER. YOU CAN TURN OFF AND
ON. THIS IS THESE ARE PEOPLE AND
THESE ARE LIVES ON BOTH SIDES.
RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE
JUST DID. UH, YEAH. TO INTERJECT
. AND WHO ARE YOU WITH THAT? NO.
HAVE TO WAIT TO REPUBLIC
COMMENT. WE HAVE A PANEL RIGHT
HERE. YEAH PUBLIC COMMENT. YES
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I KNOW WE
HAVE TO GO AND RECESS TO GO TO
OUR CAUCUS, BUT THEY'RE GONNA
ADJOURN THIS ITEM, BUT THAT'S
JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.
AS YOU AS YOU MENTIONED LAST
WEEK FILM WHEN YOU'RE GONE, I
DID BRING UP YOUR TACO BELL
EXAMPLE IN THE $30 AN HOUR AND
THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE
HERE IS THAT IF WE DON'T PAY
ADEQUATE WAGES IN THE RACE, THIS
IS ALL MEANINGLESS. WE CAN FIGHT
ALL WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BETTER
ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION
AND CONTRACTORS AND THAT BUT
LIKE IT'S A HOUSE OF CARDS
FALLING APART. THAT BEING SAID
ONE TECHNICAL FINANCE QUESTION
IS, UM, I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS
A DECREASE IN THIS GENERAL FUND
ALLOCATION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE
PAUSE. SO HOW DOES THAT PENCIL
OUT? WHY DO YOU HAVE LESS MONEY
IN GENERAL FUND FOR THE SLOTS?
WHEN THE. FOR THE FOR THE
EXISTING AMOUNT OF SLOTS FROM
THE CURRENT YEAR TO THE BUDGET
HERE. YES UM, DUE TO THE ONE
YEAR DELAY IN THE SLIGHT
EXPANSION WE EXPECT, UM, BUT
THIS PROPOSAL WILL REDUCE
EXPENDITURES BY $134 MILLION
GENERAL FUND. BUT HOW DOES THAT
EQUAL IF THERE'S THE SAME AMOUNT
OF KIDS, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE
SAYING YOU DON'T NEED A NEW
MONEY FOR NEW SLOTS, BUT THERE'S
SAME AMOUNT AND YOU HAVE LESS
MONEY. IT DOESN'T QUITE PENCIL
OUT. L. IT DO YOU HAVE SOME
COMMENTS ON THAT? I'M NOT
NECESSARILY SURE WHERE THAT
NUMBER IS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT
WHAT THEY BUDGETED FOR SLOTS, IT
REMAINS FLAT YEAR TO YEAR. I
THINK THERE'S A QUESTION,
THOUGH, AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT
IT SHOULDN'T BE REMAINING FLAT.
IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD BE SEEING
A REDUCTION IN FEDERAL FUNDS
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S
GOING TO BE A RAMP DOWN,
CORRECT, BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING
THAT CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN
GENERAL FUNDS. SO IN MAY THERE
WILL BE ADJUSTMENTS TO NOT ONLY
REFLECT TRUE UP OF SLOT
UTILIZATION, BUT THEN ALSO THIS
ISSUE OF LIKE $1 HAVE GONE OUT
THE DOOR AND WE'LL HAVE A BETTER
SENSE OF ITS GENERAL FUND. GOING
UP WHERE IT'S GOING DOWN THE
REMAINING THE SAME. OKAY THANK
YOU. UM AND I KNOW WE HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS ON THIS. I WOULD AS
WELL BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A
RECESS FOR OUR FOR AN HOUR WILL
BE BACK ABOUT 1 15, AND WE HAVE
ONE MORE ISSUE TO THIS ISSUE IS
HELD OPEN. THEN WE GET GOOD
ISSUE NUMBER FIVE AND THEN WE'LL
HEAR FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS SO
THAT WE WILL RECESS. THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT'S A GOOD JOB. OKAY
OH, YEAH, PLEASE. AND I
RESPONDED. YES, PLEASE. I CAN'T
WAIT TO WENDY. THIS PODCAST? NO
HE PRETTY MUCH WE'RE DONE WITH
OURS, AND THEN THEY'RE JUMPED TO
THE LAST ONE. OH,
OKAY OKAY. THANK YOU. WE WILL
RECONVENE THIS HEARING. WE HAVE
ONE MORE ITEM TO HERE AND THEN
WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO
THE FIFTH AND FINAL ITEM IS THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. OVERSIGHT OF THE
PROGRAM, AND SOME REFORMS FROM
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. WELL AS, UM
PROPOSALS FROM THE 23 BUDGET. SO
WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE L A. OH, C D E AND THE
CHILDCARE CONSORTIUM OF LOS
ANGELES.
OKAY. WE'LL START WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. HE AND
KAREN MEMBERS JUDY LIEBERMAN.
YOU WILL FINANCE GETTING
OVERVIEW. FIRST INVESTORS. THE
ADJUSTMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE.
PROVIDED INCREASED ADJUSTMENT.
DOCTORS. THESE INCREASES
REPAIRED WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE CALIFORNIA PROVIDERS TO
INCREMENTALLY RAMP UP THEIR
ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES AND HAVE AT LEAST
10% OF THEIR ENROLLMENT. BE
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BY
JULY 1ST OF 2024. CONSISTENT
WITH THE 2022 BUDGET ACT. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES 64.5
MILLION PROPOSITION, 98 GENERAL
FUND AND 51.8 MILLION GENERAL
FUND TO CONTINUE A MULTIYEAR
PLAN TO RAMP UP THE INCLUSIVITY
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. THE
2023 24 YEAR WILL BE THE SECOND
YEAR OF THE THREE YEAR RAMP UP
PROCESS, AND STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO
MAKE UP AT LEAST 7.5% OF STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDERS.
ENROLLMENT NEXT. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY
63.3 MILLION GENERAL FUND AND
112 MILLION PROPOSITION 98
GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT AN 8.13%
STATUTORY COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENT FOR THE CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. NEXT
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES A
PROPOSAL THAT WILL ALLOW A CHILD
TO ATTEND THE CALIFORNIA STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IN A FREE AND
REDUCED PRICE MEALS BOUNDARY IF
THAT PARENT IS EMPLOYED IN THE
BOUNDARY, THE INTENT IS TO ALLOW
WORKING FAMILIES AND COMMUTERS
TO DROP OFF AND PICK UP THEIR
CHILD AT A LOCATION THAT IS
CLOSER TO THEIR WORKPLACE. THE
CHANGE WILL BE TO BOTH FULL DAY
AND PART DAY PRESCHOOL. THIS
ENROLLMENT FLEXIBILITY ALIGNS
WITH TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN.
NEXT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
INCLUDES A 1.7 MILLION AND THREE
ONGOING POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLASSROOM
ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM OR
CLASS TO BE USED IN ALL
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
CLASSROOMS. THIS FUNDING IS
SPLIT INTO 763,000 PROPOSITION,
98 GENERAL FUND AND 957,000 NON
PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND. TO
SUPPORT THE PRESCHOOL CLASS. THE
CLASS IS A TOOL FOR OBSERVING
AND ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF INTERACTIONS AMONG TEACHERS
AND STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS. IT
MEASURES THE LEVEL OF EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION
AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT
PROVIDED BY TEACHERS ALIGNED
WITH STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN LINKED THROUGH
RESEARCH. UM ALIGNED WITH SORRY
CHILDREN'S SOCIAL, DEVELOPMENTAL
AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND IT
IS ALSO REQUIRED AS PART OF THE
HEAD START MONITORING SYSTEM.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD PROVIDE
RESOURCES AND THREE STUFF TO
IMPLEMENT THE CLASS FOR ALL
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROVIDERS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT
AND TRAINING TO THE CLASS FOR
CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROVIDERS. THANK YOU, AND I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. OKAY. THANK
YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. HI SARA
CORTEZ, LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE. SO MY COMMENTS ARE ABOUT
THE 2023 24 PROPOSALS, THE
LEGISLATURE COULD REDUCE COSTS
BY 196 MILLION AND MAINTAIN THE
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, AS IT
CURRENTLY OPERATES. THE BULK OF
THESE ONES COME FROM AN
OVERESTIMATE OF THE COLA AND
WHICH IS WHICH WAS DISCUSSED BY
THE PREVIOUS PANEL. THE
GOVERNOR'S COLA ESTIMATES
REFLECTS THE COST OF PROVIDING
NICOLA TO ALL PROVIDERS, WHERE A
STATUTE ONLY PROVIDES A COLA TO
PROVIDERS BASED ON THE S ARE NOT
THE RMR. SOME OF THESE FUNDS ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE COST OF THE
RECENT RATE INCREASE BEING LOWER
THAN EXPECTED. AND THEN THERE'S
ALSO 29 MILLION IN PROPOSITION
98 DUE TO ON AWARDED SLOTS WITH
REGARD TO THE TEMPORARY POLICIES
SO AS A REMINDER OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DOES NOT
EXTEND TEMPORARY PROVISIONS TO
PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT,
FLEXIBILITY AND FAMILY FEE
WAIVERS AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL
ACTION, THESE PROVISIONS WILL
EXPIRE. WE RECOMMEND ALLOWING
REIMBURSEMENT FLEXIBILITY TO
SENSE IT. WE THINK THIS WOULD
INCENTIVIZE PROVIDERS TO RETURN
TO PRE PANDEMIC ENROLLMENT
LEVELS IF THE PROVIDER CAN NO
LONGER SERVE ITS PRE PANDEMIC
ENROLLMENT LEVELS DUE TO EITHER
LOCAL DEMAND FROM FAMILIES OR
FOR WORKFORCE ISSUES. ENDING THE
REIMBURSEMENT FLEXIBILITY ALLOWS
THE STATE TO EITHER REDISTRIBUTE
FUNDS TO OTHER STATE PRESCHOOL
PROVIDERS THAT HAVE DEMAND TO
EXPAND, REDIRECT THE FUNDING TO
OTHER PRIORITIES OR TO ACHIEVE
BUDGET SAVINGS. ALSO IF FUNDING
PRIORITIES ALLOW, THE
LEGISLATURE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
ELIMINATING FAMILY FEES FOR FULL
DAY STATE PRESCHOOL TO HAVE
PARITY WITH TK AND PART DAY
STATE PRESCHOOL. THIS ACTION
WOULD ELIMINATE THE FISCAL
INCENTIVE TO AND ROUGH FOR
FAMILIES TO ENROLL IN A PROGRAM
WITHOUT A FEE AND ALLOWS
FAMILIES INSTEAD TO FOCUS ON
OTHER ASPECTS OF A PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM WHEN CHOOSING TO IT
ROLL. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT. WE
HAVE C D E. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, STEPHEN PROFIT ER,
THE DIRECTOR OF THE EARLY
EDUCATION DIVISION AT THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION ON BEHALF OF THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION. WITH THE EXPANSION
OF TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTENS.
THE CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE
FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN WHOSE
FAMILIES PREFER TO ENROLL THEM
IN CSP, P AS WELL. WE REFERRED
TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, ALONG WITH A
GROWING NUMBER OF THREE YEAR OLD
CHILDREN WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
THE EXPANSION OF CSP P AND
ELIGIBILITY CHANGES. IS THAT
PRESENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO TWO YEARS OF
QUALITY PRESCHOOL FOR MORE
CHILDREN, INCLUDING FOR CHILDREN
WITH LOW INCOMES. UM CHILDREN
WHO ARE DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNERS
OR HAVE A DISABILITY. REGARDING
SERVING THREE YEAR OLD CHILDREN
IN CSP P. WE ARE SEEING A
SLIGHTLY HIGHER NUMBER OF THREE
YEAR OLDS SERVED IN THE PROGRAM
COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS LIKELY
DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF TK. IN
THE FALL OF CD HELD FOCUS GROUPS
WITH CONTRACTORS WHERE
CONTRACTORS SHARED SOME OF THE
BARRIERS THAT LIMIT ENROLLMENT
OF THREE YEAR OLD CHILDREN.
SPECIFICALLY CONTRACTORS SHARED
THE FOLLOWING BARRIERS IN
STATUTE. FOUR YEAR OLDS ARE
PRIORITIZED HIGHER THAN THREE
YEAR OLDS, MEANING THAT AS MORE
FOUR YEAR OLDS ENROLLING TK IT
MAKES IT HARDER FOR CSP PS TO
ENROLL THREE YEAR OLDS. PROGRAMS
RECEIVED MORE FUNDING TO SERVE A
CHILD WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT, SUCH AS CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES AND DUAL LANGUAGE
LEARNERS FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE
FOR ITS COMPARED TO CHILDREN,
WHO ARE THREE AH. FINALLY SCHOOL
DISTRICTS HAVE SHARED THAT AS
THEY PIVOT TO SERVING MORE THREE
YEAR OLDS COMMUNITY CARE
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE
DUPLICATES DUPLICATIVE OF
EXISTING SCHOOL RULES CREATES
BARRIERS FOR INCLUDING CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES IN GENERAL
EDUCATION SETTINGS. ON SERVING
MORE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
AND SEE SPP. WE APPRECIATE THE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS THE
LEGISLATURE INCLUDED IN LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET AND THE CONTINUED
FOCUS ON INCLUSION OF CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES IN THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET. RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES
THAT INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS BENEFIT
ALL CHILDREN, NOT JUST CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES. IN SUMMER, WE
RELEASED SOME INITIAL GUIDANCE
ON THE NEW REQUIREMENT AROUND A
CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF FUNDED
ENROLLMENT BE SET ASIDE FOR
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AND
WE RELEASE MORE COMPREHENSIVE
GUIDANCE IN FEBRUARY OF THIS
YEAR. AS OF ABOUT A WEEK AGO,
20% OF CONTRACTORS OR ABOUT 137
ARE PROJECTED TO MEET OR EXCEED
THE ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT OF 5%
THAT'S IN PLACE FOR THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER CSP PSR RAMPING UP
ENROLLMENT OF CHILD CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES AS THEY'RE
LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT
THIS NEW REQUIREMENT. AS WE LOOK
AT OUR DATA, WE SEE THAT ELIA'S
ARE MORE LIKELY THAN COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ENROLL
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES,
WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR
SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY BASED
STATE PRESCHOOLS TO ENROLL
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
RELATED ON THE INCLUSIVE EARLY
EDUCATION EXPANSION PROGRAM. WE
GREATLY APPRECIATE THE
INVESTMENT OF 250 MILLION IN
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET FOR IP. AS
THESE RESOURCES PROVIDE MUCH
NEEDED SUPPORT AS STATE
PRESCHOOLS WORK TO ENSURE
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE
SERVED IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE
ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE WORKING TO
IMPLEMENT THREE SEPARATE FACETS
OF THE 250 MILLION, INCLUDING
GRANTS TO FUND DIRECTLY TO
ELIA'S IN EVALUATION OF THE
PROGRAM AND THEN STATE LEVEL
SYSTEMS BUILDING. WE ANTICIPATE
HAVING THE R F A FOR DIRECT
GRANTS OUT THIS SPRING, AND
WE'RE WORKING TO FINALIZE
DECISIONS AROUND THE STATEWIDE
SYSTEMS BUILDING ALSO THIS
SPRING. JUST ONE FINAL NOTE ON
IPV. I'D NOTE THAT THE BECAUSE
IT'S PROPOSITION, 98 FUNDED THAT
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
CANNOT ACCESS IT DIRECTLY, WHICH
IS WHICH WE KNOW IT HAS SHOWN TO
BE SO IMPORTANT FOR INCLUSION IN
ALL SETTINGS OF STATE PRESCHOOL.
ON STATE PRESCHOOL EXPANSION AND
JUST SHARING A COUPLE OF NOTES
HERE OF THE 130 MILLION THAT WAS
APPROPRIATED IN 21 22. WE WERE
ABLE TO AWARD 101 MILLION WENT
TO ABOUT 74 ELIA'S FOR A TOTAL
OF 6304 SLOTS. WE'D ALSO NOTE
THAT 24% OF THE ELIA'S OUR NEW
PROGRAMS. THEY'VE NEVER HAD A
CSP P BEFORE. WE ARE WORKING TO
ISSUE IN OUR FAVOR THIS YEAR TO
AWARD THE BALANCE OF THE 29
MILLION AND ANTICIPATE THAT THAT
WILL FUND AN ADDITIONAL 2000
SPACES. UM FOR WOULD ALSO ADD
THAT FOR CONTEXT IN OUR DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT SHARED DATA FROM
OUR U. P K PLANS ON THE FIRST
ISSUE, I'D ADD THAT IN THE THAT
PLAN, WE HAD 286 ELIA'S
EXPRESSED INTEREST IN APPLYING
TO EXPAND FOR CSP P IN THE
FUTURE. UH UNMIXED INCOME. WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROPOSED TRAILER
BILL LANGUAGE THAT WOULD PROVIDE
ELIGIBILITY TO STATE PRESCHOOL
TO FAMILIES WHO WORK IN THE
BOUNDARY OF A QUALIFIED FOR YOUR
REDUCED PRICE MEAL ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL TO BE INCLUDED FOR
PRIORITY AND SEE SPP WHILE STILL
PRIORITIZING FAMILIES OF WITH
LOWER INCOMES. FIRST RESEARCH
SUGGESTS THAT ALL CHILDREN
BENEFIT FROM UNIVERSAL AND MIXED
INCOME PROGRAMS, BUT MIXED
INCOME PROGRAMS SEEM TO BENEFIT
MORE CHILDREN FROM LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS. FINALLY REGARDING
THE CLASS. UM WE APPRECIATE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL TO
SUPPORT THE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM
ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM. IN
ADDITION TO REPLACING A TOOL
THAT IS NOT ONLY DATED BUT NOT
SUPPORTED BY THE AUTHOR OF THE
TOOL, MEANING THERE'S NO
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR IT.
THIS INVESTMENT WILL ALIGN STATE
PRESCHOOLS WITH HEAD START AND
QUALITY COUNTS, CALIFORNIA THUS
REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN
AND IMPROVING ON MEASURING
QUALITY. AND I WILL CONCLUDE MY
REMARKS WITH THAT, AND I HAVE
WITH ME. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
SORREL NEVILLE MORGAN AND
ADMINISTRATOR VIRGINIA EARLY TO
ASSIST IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME. OKAY THANK
YOU. LASTLY, WE'LL HEAR FROM
LISA WILKEN WITH CHILDCARE
CONSORTIUM OF LOS ANGELES. HI
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO
SPEAK. I REPRESENT CHILD
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM OF LOS
ANGELES, WHERE A CENTER BASED
CHILD CARE PROVIDER WITH CC TRC
SPP AND FULL COST FAMILIES, SOME
OF WHOM EXCEPT WHO UTILIZED
VOUCHERS THROUGH THE CAP
PROGRAM. SO IN MARCH, 2020 AND
WE WERE ALL HIT BY A TIDAL WAVE
CALLED COVID 19. UM THE HOLD
HARMLESS AND THE COVID
STABILIZATION SUPPORTS WERE
WELCOME LIFE PRESERVER. BUT
BEFORE WE COULD TAKE A FULL
BREATH, WE WERE HIT BY ANOTHER
WAVE, AND THAT WAS THE TK
EXPANSION PROGRAM. UM AND THEN,
AS WE WERE TRYING TO COME UP FOR
AIR ON THAT WE WERE HIT WITH A
STAFFING SHORTAGE. UM ANOTHER
WAVE AND THEN, UM, AND NOW WE'RE
LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY THAT
THE HOLD HARMLESS AND THE OTHER
SUPPORTS THE FAMILY FEES ARE
COMING BACK AND HOLD TIME IS
GOING AWAY. WHICH TO ME IS A
RIPTIDE. I'M A BEACH GIRL. JUST
SO IN CASE, YOU KNOW UM NEEDLESS
TO SAY, UM YOU KNOW, WE COULD
NEVER COME RECOVER FROM ONE
THING BEFORE WE WERE HIT BY
SOMETHING ELSE. UM AND THE EARLY
CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY LOOKS VERY
DIFFERENT NOW THAN IT DID THREE
YEARS AGO, AND WE ARE NOT
STABLE. UM GOING BACK TO FUNDING
PROGRAMS BY IN ROMAN, ADJUSTED
BY ATTENDANCE WILL CAUSE MANY
STATE POLITICAL PROGRAMS TO
STRUGGLE OR POSSIBLY CLOSED DOWN
ALTOGETHER. WE'RE LOOKING AT
CLOSING ONE OF OUR STATE
PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS BECAUSE WE
CAN'T UM KEEP IT FUNCTIONING
WITH JUST THREE YEAR OLDS. IT'S
NOT POSSIBLE. UM IT'LL CREATE A
IT'S A IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE
WE'RE STRUGGLING TO FIND
PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ARE
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IS 25.
BELOW THE ENROLLMENT THAT WE HAD
IN JANUARY. 2022 DESPITE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN
RECRUITING AND MARKETING THAT
WOULD TRANSLATE INTO A 25%
REDUCTION IN OUR OPERATING
BUDGET WITHOUT THE WHOLE
TIMELESS PRODUCTIONS ARE STATE
ARE PART OF A STATE POLITICAL
PROGRAM IS VIRTUALLY NON
EXISTENT, GOING FROM 48 TO 9
CHILDREN PER DAY. REINSTATEMENT
OF FAMILY FEES WILL JUST
EXACERBATE THE ENROLLMENT
CHALLENGES AND I, BY THE WAY, I
DON'T THINK THAT STATE PRESCHOOL
HAS THE SAME FEDERAL FEE
REQUIREMENT IN THEIR FUNDING. SO
UM, I THINK THAT'S UH, SOMETHING
THAT MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE
DOABLE. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS
ALSO A BIG PROBLEM AT ALL LEVELS
OF EDUCATION. AND I JUST READ AN
ARTICLE IN THE L A TIMES ABOUT
THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. UM THE YOUNGER
THEIR CHILDREN, THE ATTENDANT
SEEMS TO BE, UM, LESS
PREDICTABLE. UM AND WE NO LONGER
ESTATE PRESCHOOL PROVIDERS HAVE
THE OPTION TO TERMINATE SERVICES
FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE
CONSISTENTLY ABSENT FROM THE
PROGRAM. WERE FORCED TO HOLD
SPACES OPEN THAT WE ARE NOT
BEING REIMBURSED FOR. THE OTHER
THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS
THE INEQUITABLE APPLICATION OF
THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
IN THE CONTRACTS ACROSS THE
STATE. THE WAY THAT THE COLOR IS
APPLIED. THERE WILL BE NO COLA
IN THE AREAS WHERE CHILDCARE
COSTS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES WHERE THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE IS HIGHER
THAN THE RATES IN THE COMMUNITY.
OPERATING COSTS FOR EVERYTHING
CONTINUED TO ESCALATE AND FOR
OUR PROGRAMS AND IN LOS ANGELES
, THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL GO, UM,
WILL BE INCREASED BY 5% ON JULY
1ST FROM $16.04 TO $16.78 PER
HOUR. BUT BECAUSE OF THE
INEQUITABLE APPLICATION OF THE
COLA, WE WILL GET NO INCREASE TO
PAY FOR OUR INCREASED LABOR AND
OPERATING COSTS. UM WE URGE YOU
TO CONTINUE THE HOLD HARMLESS
PROVISION AND FAMILY FEE WAIVERS
FOR STATE PRESCHOOL AND OTHER
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS UNTIL
THE EXPANSION OF TK IS FULLY
IMPLEMENTED TO GIVE US TIME TO
ADJUST TO THE MOVEMENT IN FOUR
YEAR OLD ENROLLMENT TO SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND PARENTS, ONE AGAIN
BECOME COMFORTABLE PUTTING
CHILDREN BACK IN GROUP CARE
SETTINGS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING
ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TODAY. OKAY? THANK YOU, UM, JUST
TO MAYBE JUST REMINDER ON THE
HOLD HARMLESS FROM THE PANDEMIC
FOR THE ENROLLMENT. FIRST, THE
ATTENDANCE. HOW MUCH IS THAT
AGAIN FOR STATE PRESCHOOL THAT
WE FUNDERS, ELLA OR FINANCE. I
KNOW THAT THE STRUCTURE FOR THE
DIRECT CONTRACT HOLD HARMLESS IS
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE
VOUCHER ONE. SO THIS SO IT'S
NOT. IT'S A BUDGET NEUTRAL
ACTION. IT'S NOT COSTING. UM,
IT'S YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT
ADDITIONAL DOLLARS NEEDED TO PUT
IN THE BUDGET TO MAINTAIN THE
HOLD. HARMLESS UM THE
DISTINCTION HERE IS THAT USED TO
USED TO. YEAH, I USED TO SERVE
THE FUNDING USED TO SERVE A LOT
MORE CHILDREN THAN IT DOES
TODAY, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE
TRADE OFF HERE. YES YOU DON'T
POTENTIALLY HAVE MORE SLOTS,
WHICH MAYBE ALRIGHT BEING ALWAYS
FULLY UTILIZED ANYWAY, SO MAYBE
IT'S KIND OF A MOOT POINT. UM UH
, A FEW QUESTIONS SO I GUESS THE
BIG PICTURE FOR C, D, E OR L A,
OR FINANCE. UM YOU KNOW, ONE OF
THE ONE OF THE GOALS WAS WHEN WE
CREATED, UH, UNIVERSAL TK AFTER
THE BLUEPRINT AND THE GOVERNOR'S
EARLY ED MASTER PLAN. WAS THE
NOTION THAT IF YOU FULLY FUNDED
AT AT AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM WITH PROPER $98, YOU
COULD USE THE DOLLARS YOU
CURRENTLY SPEND FOR THOSE INCOME
ELIGIBLE KIDS AND SERVING MORE
THREE AND TWO YEAR OLDS. SO, UM
I KNOW IT'S NEWS THEIR FIRST
YEAR AND YOU KNOW WE'RE COMING
OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. SO
ENROLLMENT IN ALL LEVELS OF
EDUCATION, INCLUDING EARLY AD
ARE SUPPRESSED. ARE WE SEEING
THAT AT ALL MATERIALIZE I CAN
SHARE THAT. SO THAT'S STEPHEN
PROFITED FROM CD I CAN SHARE
THAT WE ARE SEEING A SLIGHT
INCREASE IN THE ENROLLMENT OF
THE THREE YEAR OLD CHILDREN, ONE
OF THE ONE OF THE ISSUES AND
YOU'VE HEARD IT ON A NUMBER OF
PANELS IS WORKFORCE. UM AND YOU
KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF GOES BACK
TO REIMBURSEMENT RATES. UM SO
HAVING HAVING ENOUGH KIND OF
WORKFORCE IN PLACE TO WORK WITH
A YOUNGER POPULATION. THE
MAJORITY OF CHILDREN IN STATE
PRESCHOOL HAVE TRADITIONALLY
BEEN FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THAT
PRIORITIZATION FOR FOURS. UM
YEAH, BUT IN ADDITION TO THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE THAT WE DID
DO A FEW THINGS THAT PAST FEW
YEARS WE INCREASE THAT FACTOR.
THE TODDLER FACTOR AND INCLUDES
FOR THREE FOR THREES AS WELL. UM
SO I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE THAT I THINK WE PRIDE
OURSELVES ON IS LISTENING THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. A LOT OF
THE PROVIDERS WHETHER THERE
STATE PRESCHOOL. OR PRIVATE PAGE
WHO WEREN'T AUTHORIZING STATE
PRESCHOOL. THEY'RE LIKE, HEY,
FOUR YEAR OLDS MAKE SO MUCH TO
US. THEY MEAN SO MUCH TO US AND
OUR FINANCIAL VIABILITY. AND SO
WITHOUT THAT PIECE IN THERE,
WE'RE IN DEEP TROUBLE, AND OUR
RESPONSE WAS WELL. HEY WHY DON'T
YOU SERVE MORE THREE YEAR OLDS
IN ZERO THROUGH THREE AND THEY
COME BACK, AND THEY'D SAY GREAT
IDEA, BUT IT COSTS WAY MORE
MONEY THAN WE HAVE. OUR RESPONSE
WAS, WHAT DO YOU NEED? AND THEY
SAID X Y AND Z MY UNDERSTANDING
AS WE DID PRETTY GOOD THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS WRITING EXACTLY
WHAT WAS REQUESTED FOR THAT SO
UH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IN PLAIN
ENGLISH. BUT ALL THAT BEING SAID
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE
AUTHORIZED THAT HAS IS THAT
WORKING? I THINK IT'S STILL A
LITTLE EARLY. I THINK THE WE
THINK THAT THE INCREASE TO THAT
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR THAT WHICH IS
YOU KNOW 1.8% 1.8 TIMES, THE
AMOUNT OF THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE
IS A BIG HELP. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENS AS YOU RAMP UP ANY
KIND OF POLICY CHANGE WHEN FOLKS
ARE WHEN OUR STATE PRESCHOOLS
ARE ENROLLING CHILDREN. THEY
WERE DOING IT BEFORE THE BUDGET
WAS WAS ENACTED. SO I THINK THEN
WE SEE KIND OF, UM THAT INCREASE
IN THREES HAPPENING A LITTLE BIT
LATER THAN SAY, AFTER JULY. 11
OF THE OTHER ISSUES IS THAT THE
PRIORITY THREES ARE NOT
PRIORITIZED EVEN AT THE SAME
LEVEL AS FOURS. SO A STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM HAS TO
ESSENTIALLY GO THROUGH ALL OF
THEIR ELIGIBLE FOUR YEAR OLD
CHILDREN BEFORE THEY CAN ENROLL
THREE YEAR OLD CHILDREN, SO I
THINK THAT ELIGIBILITY PIECE IS
A IS POSSIBLY A PRETTY BIG
BARRIER, SO THAT'S JUST TIME OR
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
ADJUST THEIR. IT'S SOMETHING
THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO BE
ADJUSTED SO THAT THE ELIGIBILITY
WERE FOR A THREE YEAR OLD CHILD
AND FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD WERE THE
SAME. HMM I'M SORRY. PRIORITY
I'M SAYING THE WRONG WORD, NOT
ELIGIBILITY. BUT PRIORITY ORDER
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE SAYING
GO FOR ALL FOURS. AND EVEN
THOUGH SOME OF THOSE FOURS MAYBE
GOING TO TK, SO WE'RE MISSING
THE CHANCE TO DO THAT. SO WHAT
WOULD NEED WE NEED TO BE DONE TO
ADDRESS THAT SO WE WOULD NEED SO
IN STATUTE WHERE WE HAVE THE
PRIORITY ORDER FOR ENROLLMENT
AND FOUR YEAR OLD CHILDREN WOULD
NOT WOULD BE PRIORITIZED THE
SAME AS THREE YEAR OLD CHILDREN.
RIGHT NOW, FOUR YEAR OLD
CHILDREN ARE PRIORITIZED ABOVE
THREE'S OKAY, GOOD IDEA, AND WE
HAVE A FOLLOW UP TK BILLS, SO
MAYBE WE COULD ADD THAT CLAUSE
IN THERE. SO ON THAT NOTE. WHAT
ELSE DO WE NEED TO DO? TO MAKE
THIS ALL WORK AND I KNOW ME HERE
SOME STUFF IN PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER
ISSUES, INCLUDING THE ADULT
ISSUES AND JUST THE PEOPLE
PROBLEM, BUT WHAT PIECES DO WE
NEED TO PUT IN PLACE TO FOLLOW
UP TO THAT? THE COMMITMENT THE
PROMISE THAT HEY, WE HEAR YOU
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THESE
YOUR THESE PROGRAMS, UH,
FLOUNDER. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO
HELP YOU SERVE MORE. ZERO
THROUGH THREE, UM WHAT? WHAT
OTHER ELEMENTS DO WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING AT? I THINK FROM C D S
PERSPECTIVE AT THE RISK OF
REPEATING ITS REIMBURSEMENT
RATES, INCREASING REIMBURSEMENT
RATES, I THINK FOR ALL OF CSP P
. I THINK THE THREES THE
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR GETS AT A LOT
OF WHAT, LIKE WHAT YOU SAID. BUT
IT'S BUT IF YOU INCREASE THE
RATE ON WHICH THAT FACTOR IS
APPLIED, YOU ARE YEAH. YEAH AND
THEN ALSO TO WHEN WE
IMPLEMENTED, UM T K. THERE WAS A
PROPOSAL FROM I THINK FINANCE
THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU WERE, UM
IN THE COHORT AS A FOUR YEAR
OLDS. AND YOU'RE YOU WERE
ELIGIBLE FOR CALIFORNIA STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. YOUR OPTION
NOW IS T K AND YOU KNOW, WE
CHANGE THAT, AND WE MADE IT SO
THAT NO, YOU COULD STILL CHOOSE
TO GO TO STATE PRESCHOOL IF YOUR
INCOME ELIGIBLE AND WE INCREASED
THE ELIGIBILITY SO NOW MORE, YOU
KNOW, LOWER INCOME AND EVEN
WORKING POOR FAMILIES AND MIDDLE
CLASS FAMILIES. WHO ARE IN THE
STATE PRESCHOOL ELIGIBILITY CAN
MAKE THE CHOICE AND STAY AND GO
TO THEIR STATE PRESCHOOL. IF
THEY CHOOSE, UM HOW'S THAT
PLAYING OUT? SO UM, I THINK THAT
WILL WILL SEE MORE WITH WITH OUR
DATA, BUT I MEAN, CHILDREN ARE
YOU KNOW THEY'RE STILL ENROLLING
IN THE STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.
IF I CAN COME BACK TO THE, UM
AND I THINK WELL, BEFORE I COME
BACK, WE ARE ONE OF ONE OF THE
CONSISTENT MESSAGES THAT WE'VE
HAD IS THAT FAMILY CHOICES STILL
PRESERVED WITH STATE PRESCHOOL.
AND THAT WAS THAT WAS ONE OF THE
POLICY CHANGES THAT WAS MADE I
BELIEVE IN IN EITHER LAST YEARS
OF THE YEAR BEFORE BUDGETS WHEN
TK AGE ELIGIBILITY WAS WAS
EXPANDED. IT ENSURED THE
LEGISLATURE ENSURED THAT STATE
PRESCHOOLS AT FOUR YEAR OLDS
COULD BE ENROLLED IN THE STATE
PRESCHOOL AS WELL. UM GOING BACK
TO THE THREE YEAR OLDS. THERE'S
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD BE
DONE AROUND THE LICENSE. EXEMPT
UM, COMPONENT IN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. SO AS WE SEE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS WHERE MORE FOUR YEAR
OLD CHILDREN COULD BE MOVING TO
A T K PROGRAM IN THOSE SAME
SETTINGS, UM, UH, LICENSE
EXEMPT? UH, EXTENDING THE
LICENSE EXEMPT AGE TO THREE YEAR
OLD CHILDREN, UM AND KIND OF
ELIMINATING SOME OF THE THOSE
DUPLICATIVE LICENSING
REQUIREMENTS IS ONE THING THAT
COULD BE DONE TO SUPPORT
ENROLLMENT OF THREE YEAR OLD
CHILDREN ALSO STACKING
ADJUSTMENT FACTORS. UM BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW IN OUR STATE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM OF FAMILY IS ELIGIBLE,
ESSENTIALLY FOR OR A CHILD IS
ELIGIBLE GENERATES ONLY UM, KIND
OF JUST ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT
. UM IF A, YOU KNOW, BASED ON
THE GREATEST ADJUSTMENT FACTOR
THAT THE CHILD QUALIFIES FOR, SO
TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE A CHILD WITH
A DISABILITY WHO IS ALSO A DUAL
LANGUAGE LEARNER, THE THAT CHILD
HAS NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS,
BUT THE STATE PRESCHOOL. RULES
ONLY ALLOW THE CONTRACTOR TO
REPORT THE CHILD UNDER ONE
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR. SO WHERE
WE'VE GOT KIND OF, UM COMPLEX
NEEDS WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS WITH
ONE ADJUSTMENT FACTOR THAT HELPS
AND THEN, UH, LISA FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, AND YOU CAN
REPHRASE THE QUESTION. UM YOU
KNOW, WE TRY TO MAKE THIS
COMMITMENT THAT WE DIDN'T WANT
TO LEAVE PROVIDERS BEHIND WHERE
THEIR STATE PRESCHOOL
CONTRACTORS OR FAMILY CHILDCARE
HOMES WHO COULD USE SOMEBODY
WITH THEIR STATE PRE SCHOOL
VOUCHER. AND THE IDEA WAS HEY,
SERVE MORE 0 TO 3 AND WE
INCREASE THE RATES BETWEEN THE
FACTOR, UM, AND THEN CHANGE THE
ELIGIBILITY. SOME MORE STATE
PRESCHOOL FAMILIES COULD STAY IF
THEY WANTED TO. AND CHOOSE THAT
OVER TK SO HOW'S THAT PLAYING
OUT AND WHAT POTENTIALLY NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED IN YOUR
PERSPECTIVE FOR US TO CONSIDER
SO, UM, I THINK I SAID IN MY
REMARKS THAT WERE DOWN 25% WE'VE
TRIED REALLY, REALLY HARD TO
FIND CHILDREN. SOME OF THEM ARE
GOING TO IN THE L. A UNIFIED
ATTENDANCE AREA, SO THEY'RE THE
BIG THERE IS THE LARGEST SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN THE STATE. I BELIEVE
WITH A VERY LARGE EARLY
CHILDHOOD PROGRAM AS WELL. WE'RE
ALL COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER
FOR THE SAME CHILDREN. THE
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR, YOU KNOW,
CHANGING THE ADJUSTMENT FACTOR
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS HELPED WITH
STATE PRESCHOOL IN TERMS OF
EARNING OUR CONTRACT, BUT IT
DOESN'T GIVE YOU MORE CHILDREN.
IT JUST GIVES YOU MORE MONEY. UM
AND SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THE
CHILDREN, WE CAN'T APPLY THE
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR TO ANYTHING.
SO IS THAT I KNOW WE HAVE SLIGHT
FLATTENING OF POPULATION IN
CALIFORNIA WAS HAPPENING ANYWAY
. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS TABLE
OF THE L A. OH, PUT OUT THAT THE
NUMBER OF KIDS IN 2029 IN STATE
PRESCHOOL WAS ABOUT 140,020 20
DROPPED, OF COURSE, THE PANDEMIC
TO JUST UNDER 80 2021. IT'S
ROUGHLY 90. AND THEN IT LOOKS
LIKE 2022 PRELIMINARIES UNDER
100, SO WE'RE NOT BACK TO WHERE
WE WERE 2019 SO IT IS IT MAY NOT
NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF THIS
CHANGE, MAYBE BECAUSE OF TWO
THINGS HAPPENING. I THINK
THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING. IT'S JUST MAKE THIS
THIS MAYBE CONFLATES OR
COMPOUNDS THE ISSUE BECAUSE WE
ALSO HAVE PARENTS WHO ARE
NERVOUS ABOUT PUTTING THEIR
CHILDREN BACK IN GROUP CARERS
SITUATIONS IN PARTICULARLY THOSE
IF THE PARENTS DON'T NEED
CHILDCARE TO GO TO WORK, THE
PART DAY PROGRAMS TEND TO BE A
LOT MORE, UM, I THINK
DIMINISHED, THEN THE FULL DAY
PROGRAMS DO BUT YEAH. SO THEY
BASICALLY ARE THERE ANY THINGS
THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT?
FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE? WELL
YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK THAT I
THINK THAT WE NEED TO PROBABLY
DO A BETTER JOB AS A STATE, AND
I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S THE
LEGISLATURE'S ROLE BUT REALLY
ENCOURAGING PARENTS OF THREE
YEAR OLDS TO ENROLL THEIR
CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL. I THINK
THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY WERE THEY
LOWER PRIORITY, BUT FEWER
PARENTS WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO
PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL
WHEN THERE ARE THREE UM SO
REALLY, YOU KNOW, GETTING THOSE
PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT BUT IT BUT, UM,
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AND
PROBABLY GONNA TAKE TOO LONG TO
GO THROUGH EVERYTHING. WHAT
ABOUT THAT IDEA LAST YEAR THAT I
THINK FINANCE ROLLED OUT THEIR
CD TO THAT ALLOWING UM. 2.5 2
YEAR OLDS 2.5 YEAR OLD'S FIRST
STATE PRESCHOOL. SO SO, I MEAN,
THAT THAT IS AN OPTION, BUT
WE'RE JUST SHIFT. I MEAN,
THERE'S A POOL OF CHILDREN THAT
WE HAVE IN THE STATE. MORE
CHILDREN, THOUGH, RIGHT? SO BUT
SO YOU'RE SHIFTING CHILDREN OUT
OF C C T R AND SHIFTING THEM
INTO C. SPP SO IT'S I MEAN,
THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, I'M NOT.
I'M NOT. WE WOULD DO IT. WE
WOULD SERVE 2.5 YEAR OLDS, BUT
IT'S ALSO UM, STAFFING FOR 2.5
YEAR OLDS. IT'S MORE LIKE
TODDLERS. UM AND SO THERE'S A
DIAPER CHANGING GOING ON.
THERE'S RATE DIFFERENCE OF
RATIOS AND WE HAVE A REALLY HARD
TIME FINDING HAVING ENTIRE TIME
FINDING STAFF. BUT WE'RE ALSO
HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING STAFF
WHO WANT TO WORK WITH THE
YOUNGER CHILDREN. THEY REALLY
WANT TO WORK WITH THE OLDER
CHILDREN WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE
THOSE OTHER. CARE ISSUES. I'M
JUST HEARING YOU ABOUT THE
NUMBER OF KIDS ISSUE AND THAT I
WOULD THINK THERE'S YOU KNOW,
FIRST OF ALL STATE PRESCHOOL,
YOU CAN SAY IT'S A LITTLE MORE
STABLE WITH OUR FUNDING SOURCES
AND CHILDCARE OVERALL. AND AT
SOME, UNFORTUNATELY AND YOU
KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE'S MORE
ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE PRESCHOOL
IN THERE IS FOR CHILDCARE, SO
THIS OPENS UP COHORT OF YOUNG
PEOPLE SHE WOULDN'T HAVE
OTHERWISE. YEAH, I MEAN, I LIKE
I SAID, I'M FINE. I'M FINE WITH
THAT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT
THAT'S GOING TO SHIFT KIDS OUT
OF CCT ARE IT'S JUST IT'S YOU
KNOW, IT'S JUST MOVING THE DECK
CHAIRS A LITTLE BIT, BUT, YEAH,
I MEAN, IT'S JUST WHERE THE
FUNDING SOURCES AREN'T THEIR
KIDS THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR
STATE PRESCHOOL THAT THAT AREN'T
ELIGIBLE FOR CCT ARE SURE IF
THERE IF THEY IF THEIR PARENTS
JUST WANT THEM TO COME FOR THREE
HOURS AND THEIR TWO AND 2.5 YEAR
OLD YEARS OLD, THAT'S FINE. BUT
FOR FULL DAY ANYTHING YOU NEED,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NEED. SO THEN
IT DOESN'T MATTER. CCT RCS PP.
YOU HAVE THE SAME NEED
REQUIREMENTS. OKAY A FEW MORE
QUESTIONS. SO WE HAVE THIS
EXPANSION FOR THE SET ASIDE FOR
STATE PRESCHOOL FOR, UM, SPECIAL
NEEDS KIDS. BASED UPON THE
DEMAND IS THAT WORTHY TO
CONTINUE, OR SHOULD WE UM, DELAY
THAT, LIKE WE'RE DELAYING OTHER
THINGS IN THE BUDGET. SO I CAN
JUST BASED ON THE INITIAL DATA
THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR. THE UH
THERE'S 20% OF CONTRACTORS THAT
ARE SLATED TO HIT 20 OR I'M
SORRY. 20% OF CONTRACTORS ARE
SLATED TO HIT THE 5% SET ASIDE,
WE DO HAVE A FREE FEW YEARS TO
IMPLEMENT AND WE THINK THAT SOME
OF THE INVESTMENTS AROUND THE
INCREASE IN THE ADJUSTMENT
FACTOR. FOR SERVING CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES. IT'S 2.4
TIMES THE STATE PRESCHOOL RATE.
UM THE ROLLOUT OF THE INCLUSIVE
EARLY EDUCATION EXPANSION
PROGRAM WILL HELP IN IN MANY
CASES, UM UM, AND AS WELL AS,
UM, I THINK I THINK THOSE IT
WILL HELP. I THINK THAT AND ALSO
THE I'D ALSO SHARE THAT THE, UM
C D IS REQUIRED TO PUT INTO
PLACE A WAIVER PROCESS. UM, AND
IN A FEW YEARS WHERE YOU KNOW,
CONSIDERING KIND OF CONTRACT
STATUS WILL BE WILL BE PART OF
THAT. BUT THAT WAIVER PROCESS WE
SEE AS A WAY FOR US TO IN
ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW
AND KIND OF UNDERSTANDING
BARRIERS UM, UM I GUESS IN SHORT
, WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND A PAUSE
, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND
CONTINUING IT AND KNOWING THAT
THERE ARE INVESTMENTS IN PLACE
TO, UH, TO SUPPORT. CAPACITY BUT
THINK THAT A AN APPROPRIATION
THAT SUPPORTED COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS DIRECTLY THROUGH
AN EXPANSION OF THE INCLUSIVE
EARLY AND EXPANSION PROGRAM
WOULD HELP CHRISSIE SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT. SO THERE'S A
CAPACITY ISSUE FOR ASSESSMENT.
ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN DO THE
ASSESSMENT FOR AN I E. P AND THE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE A LIMITED
CAPACITY, AND THEY'RE ALSO ALSO
ONLY DOING ASSESSMENTS UNTIL
KIND OF MID SPRING, AND THEN
THEY HAVE TO STOP FOR THE SCHOOL
YEAR BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
TIME TO GET EVERYBODY ASSESSED.
UM AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE
ISSUES THAT WE'RE FINDING IS A
PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH WE ARE HITTING
OUR 5% THIS YEAR. THE OTHER
THING IS THAT THE DEFINITION OF
A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IS
ONLY A CHILD WHO HAS AN I E P A
AND I FSP, BUT IT DOES NOT
INCLUDE CHILDREN WHO HAVE
MEDICAL ISSUES THAT DO NOT THAT
THAT ARE SPECIAL NEEDS, BUT DO
NOT REQUIRE THAT THEY DON'T
AFFECT THEIR EDUCATION PLAN. UM
AND SO IT'S AN EXPANSION OF THE
DEFINITION OF WHO IS CONSIDERED
A SPECIAL NEEDS MIGHT MIGHT HELP
WITH THE INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF CHILDREN WHO ARE GETTING
SERVICES UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
OKAY AND THEN, LASTLY, REGARDING
THE CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL
PROVIDERS, UM AS WE SAW IN THAT
CHARTER SECOND AGO. FEW KIDS ARE
JUST PARTICIPATING AS A WHOLE
AND SOME PROGRAMS AFTER THE
PANDEMIC AND WORKFORCE SHUT
THEIR DOORS IS THERE. UM AND, OF
COURSE, SOME OF THOSE PROVIDERS
ARE SAYING THERE MAY BE LOSING
THEIR KIDS TO TK IS THERE A IS
THERE ANYTHING IN LAW THAT
PREVENTS THEM OR HURDLES THAT
PREVENTS THEM FROM SERVING
PRIVATE PAY FAMILIES? YES. WHAT
IS THAT? SO WE HAVE TO, UM SO
STATE UM CSP, P AND C C T R
CONTRACTORS IF YOU'RE SERVING
PRIVATE PAY FAMILIES, YOU HAVE
TO CHARGE THE PARENTS. THE SAME
AMOUNT. IF YOU'RE IF YOU HAVE
CHILDREN SERVED IN THE SAME
CLASSROOM, THEY HAVE TO BE. THEY
HAVE TWO PARENTS HAVE TO PAY THE
SAME AMOUNT AS THEY AS WE GET
REIMBURSED FROM THE STATE AND
PARENTS ARE THE ACTUALLY THE
HIGHER THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT
RATE IS FROM THE STATE, THE LESS
THE FEWER PARENTS THERE ARE IN
THE COMMUNITY WHO CAN AFFORD TO
PAY THOSE RATES. TO ALLOW THEIR
CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT
PROGRAM, BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE
PROBABLY PAYING EQUAL OR MORE AT
THE PRIVATE PLACE NEXT DOOR THAT
MAY NOT BE EXISTED. I GUESS IF
YOU'RE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR
WHATEVER REASON, THE PRIVATE PAY
AND PARENTS ARE PAYING AS WE
KNOW IN L A. OR YOU'RE HERE IN
SACRAMENTO TO GRAND OR PLUS MORE
A MONTH. LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, IT'S
MORE THAN IT COSTS TO SEND YOUR
KID TO èC, BERKELEY, UCLA.
INTUITION NOT HOUSING, BUT JUST
TUITION. UM AND THEY MAYBE THEY
GO TO THE STATE PRESCHOOL AND
THE REIMBURSEMENT BEHIND, BUT IT
MAY BE LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE
PAYING AT THE OTHER. PRIVATE
FACILITY AROUND THE CORNER MIGHT
BE BUT ALSO MIGHT BE MORE THAN
THEY'RE PAYING THE OTHER
FACILITY, SO IT JUST IT JUST
KIND OF DEPEND DEPENDS ON THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU'RE IN. SO
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF WE HAVE A
LOT OF FAMILIES WHO ARE RIGHT
THERE ON THE EDGE OF WHERE THEY
WOULD QUALIFY, BUT THEY DON'T
ABOUT FAMILIES THAT DON'T
QUALIFY AT ALL. UNDERSTOOD TRULY
PRIVATE PAY, AND THEY DON'T HAVE
MAYBE THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF
OPTIONS. AND SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
IF WE'RE LIKE, HEY, THIS STATE
PRESCHOOL OVER HERE HAS, UM YOU
KNOW AN OPEN DOOR AND SO WHAT
ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
IF WE CAN JUST ALLOCATE NEED SO
I MEAN, WE DO THAT ALREADY. AND
IN MY PROGRAM WE DO WE SERVE
BOTH PRIVATE FAMILIES AND FULL
COST FAMILIES IN THE SAME IN THE
SAME WAY THE COST FOR PRIVATE
PAY VERSUS WHAT'S THE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR SAME KID FULL
THAT? WELL WE'RE SO WE'RE IT'S
ABOUT THE SAME. SO WE JUST YOU
KNOW, WE'RE JUST OPEN TO ANYBODY
BUT SOME PEOPLE, SOME PROGRAMS
MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE Tð HAVE TO
DEAL WITH BOTH, YOU KNOW? WHAT
TUITION PAYING PARENTS ARE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF DIFFERENT
POPULATION OF PEOPLE IS A
DIFFERENT KIND OF ISSUES THAT
THEY HAVE. SO SOME SOME PROGRAMS
PREFER TO JUST HAVE PRIVATE
PAPERS PAY PARENTS BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE
WITH. SOME PROGRAMS JUST LIKE TO
HAVE SUBSIDIZED BECAUSE IT'S
WHAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE BOTH. UM AND
IT'S YOU KNOW TO US, IT'S A WIN
WIN FOR US. I MEAN, BECAUSE WE
HAVE A VERY WIDE. IT'S JUST LIKE
GOING INTO THEN INTO PUBLIC
SCHOOL, RIGHT WHERE IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT YOUR INCOME IS.
YOU'RE YOU'RE STILL YOU'RE
EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME, SO
YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK I MEAN,
I'VE TOTALLY GOOD WITH THAT. UM
I CAN. WE CAN ADD THAT THIS IS
AN AREA WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT
ISSUING GUIDANCE. UM I THINK A
LOT OF WHAT? UH WHAT, UM LISA
MENTIONS IS THE BLENDING AND
BREEDING AND HOW, UH, BLENDING
AND BRAIDING FUNDING. UM AND
THAT IS AN AREA THAT I THINK
SOME OF OUR OUR STATE PRESCHOOLS
WHO MAYBE NEWER, MAYBE
ADMINISTRATORS WHO MAY BE NEWER
TO THE PROGRAM. MAYBE DON'T HAVE
AS ST PRIEST GOING AHEAD. START
COULD WE'VE GOT SOME CAPACITY TO
BUILD IN KIND OF IN DOING THAT
BLENDING AND BRAIDING AND
BRINGING IN PRIVATE PAY FAMILY.
IT'S SOMETHING THE PROGRAMS CAN
DO NOW WE THEY'RE THEY'RE
REFERRED. THOSE FAMILIES ARE
REFERRED TO AS NON CERTIFIED,
NON SUBSIDIZED. THEY ESSENTIALLY
PAY THE FULL COST OF, YOU KNOW
WHATEVER RATE THERE ARE THINGS
THAT WE COULD LOOK AT WITH A
SLIDING FEE SCALE. UM TOO, BUT
YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF GOES
BEYOND WHAT THE CURRENT FAMILY
FEE SCALE IS FOR SUBSIDIZED, UM,
SUBSIDIZED FAMILIES. OKAY? AND
THEN, UM, CAN WE FOCUS AGAIN ON
THE ISSUE THAT I BROUGHT UP
EARLIER ABOUT? TK IMPLEMENTATION
AND, UH AFTER SCHOOL UNIVERSAL
AFTER SCHOOL AND EXTENDED
LEARNING, AND, UM, YOU KNOW,
WRAPPING THE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE SERVE FAMILIES LIKE YOU SAID
APARTHEID. WE'RE NOT WORK FOR A
LOT OF FAMILIES. I GET THAT SOME
FAMILIES MAY MAKE THAT CHOICE.
BUT FOR MANY, THEY NEED LONGER
THAN EVEN A FOUR, UM, SCHOOL
DAY. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH CD
AND PROVIDING GUIDANCE AS FAR AS
HOW CAL STATE CALIFORNIA
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS CAN BE USED
TO HELP WRAP TK QUÊ EXPENSES AND
LEARNING HE LOVED. SO WE HAVE WE
HAVE GUIDANCE ON UH, THE WHAT WE
REFER TO AS EXTENDED LEARNING
AND CARE FOR THE CALIFORNIA
STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH,
UM, UH, ALLOWS CHILDREN THAT ARE
ENROLLED IN TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN TO
RECEIVE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH CSP
TO EXTEND THE DAY IT IS
CURRENTLY LIMITED TO PART DAY
STATE PRESCHOOL, SO UM, THAT
MEANS THAT IT'S UP TO FOUR HOURS
. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THAT
THE TYPE OF ACCESS THAT PROVIDES
FOR FAMILIES IF YOU HAVE A T K
DAY THAT IT'S A 180
INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES, SO
ROUGHLY THREE HOURS OR SO GIVE
OR TAKE SOME SO, BABY, UM RECESS
AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND THEN YOU
ADD UP TO THAT FOUR HOURS YOU'RE
REALLY GETTING BETWEEN 6.5 AND
SEVEN HOURS, MAX. UM AND SO THE
THAT KIND OF PARTY MODEL DOESN'T
PROVIDE THE FULL, UM, FULL
ACCESS TO A FULL DAY OF FOR
WORKING FAMILIES. THE OTHER
THING WE'D WE'D SHARE IS THAT,
UM AH, THE PRIORITIZATION. FOR
STATUTE CURRENTLY PRIORITIZES UM
UH. T K AND KINDERGARTEN
CHILDREN AND EXTENDED LEARNING
AND CARE AS KIND OF THE LAST
PRIORITY. UH, THANK YOU.
OKAY THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THIS.
WE WILL HOLD THESE ISSUES OPEN
AND COME BACK. A COUPLE OF
MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD. THANK YOU
WITH THAT WE WILL PROCEED NOW
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU IF YOU COULD LINE UP
IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT THERE AND
YOU CAN BEGIN AND PLEASE KEEP
YOUR COMMENTS TO ONE MINUTE OR
LESS 60 SECONDS OR LESS. THANK
YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. MY NAME IS
RACHEL CHURCH AND MY LIFE STORY
OUTLINING SEVERE CHILDHOOD
TRAUMAS WAS PUBLISHED IN SAN
FRANCISCO'S MISSION DISTRICT
STREETS IN 2019. I'M GRATEFUL TO
BE ALIVE TO SPEAK FOR MY MISSION
DISTRICT COMMUNITY WHO RELIES ON
SUBSIDIZED CHILDCARE. I'M A
PARENT VOICES LEADER. WHEN MY
CHILD WAS BORN, WE WERE HOMELESS
TOGETHER IN A COLD MOTOR HOME IN
SAN FRANCISCO'S MISSION
DISTRICT. TO HELP MY INFANT
SURVIVED. WE MOVED TO A 12
SQUARE FOOT S R O COSTING $1750
A MONTH. MY WORKER AT CHILDREN'S
COUNCIL IN 2017 SAID THAT MY
FAMILY FEE WOULD BE $200. IN
PAYING THE FAMILY FEET AND MY
RENT. I HAD NOTHING LEFT OVER
FOR FOOD, TRANSPORTATION OR
CLOTHING. WE NEED TO HAVE A
BACKUP PLAN WHEN THE STATE THIS
CONTINUES FUNDING FAMILY FEES
WAIVER ON JULY 1ST 2023, WE ARE
ASKING YOU, MY HARDWORKING
ASSEMBLY MEN AND WOMEN WHO I
ADMIRE TO PLEASE EXTEND THE
FAMILY FEE WAIVER. THANK YOU.
EXCELLENT JOB. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ELLIOT FERNANDEZ AND
I'M WITH PARENT VOICES. AND I
WAS IN THE WAITING LIST FOR A
LONG TIME WITH NO SHOW. I DON'T
CARE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WAS
NEVER CALLED. I WAS SELF
EMPLOYED, SO I SO I CAN TAKE
CARE OF MY CHILDREN WE HAVE TO
HAVE WITH WE HAD TO LIVE WITH MY
PARENTS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. AT
THIS MOMENT I AM A GRANDMOTHER
OF SIX GRANDKIDS. AND WHEN OF MY
GRANDCHILD. IS AUTISTIC. AND ONE
DAY WHEN WE WERE NOT LOOKING. HE
OPENED THE DOOR AND RAN OUT INTO
THE STREET. AND WAS HIT BY A
CAR. AND, UM. AND I WISHED THREW
HIM ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE.
THE CARD AND NOW IT IS DIFFICULT
FOR OUR FAMILY TO FIND CHILDCARE
BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO. NO
NOBODY WAS TRAINED TO TAKE CARE
OF KIDS WITH AUTISM OR SPECIAL
NEEDS. AND WITH THIS CONDITION
WE NEED TO EXPAND CHILDCARE
BLOCKS. DESERVE OFF CHILDREN AND
INCREASED PAY. FORESHADOWS CARE
PROVIDERS. BASED ON ACTUAL COST.
OKAY CARE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
TAKE CARE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS
CHILDREN. PROVIDING CHILDCARE
FOR PARENTS ON THE WAITING LIST.
AT LEAST DO NOT SUSPENSE LOTS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK. THANK YOU. JACQUELINE
REYES, MEMBER OF THE INVOICES,
RADOS NINOS. WITHOUT ANY PHOTOS
, STARTING FLUID OH, CALIFORNIA
SUSPENDED LARA VIDEO CONTINUE.
TO SPEND THEIR LIVES BY FAMILIAR
THANK YOU. I'M GONNA TRANSLATE.
HELLO MY NAME IS JACQUELINE. I'M
A MEMBER OF BARON VOICES MATTER
OF TWO CHILDREN. CHOCOLATE
SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE FOR
EVERYBODY AND BE INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. I HAVE A COPY THAT
FOR NOW IS SUSPENDED AND I
SUPPORT THE SUBSIDY CONTINUES IN
THIS BUDGET HERE. THE FAMILY
FEES I HOPE TO KEEP WAVING THE
FAMILY. I HOPE YOU KEEP WAVING
THE FAMILY FACE. THANK YOU. MY
NAME IS LAWRENCE ALARCON. I'M A
MEMBER OF INVOICES FOR 15 YEARS
I'VE BEEN ADVOCATED FOR
CHILDCARE. A SINGLE MOTHER OF
TWO CHILDREN. I WAS ABLE TO
OBTAIN, UH, A DEGREE AND PURSUE
HIGHER EDUCATION. BUT NOW I'M
TRYING TO EMPOWER MY COMMUNITY
TO KEEP THAT, UH, EDUCATION OPEN
AND AFFORDABLE FOR OTHER
FAMILIES. AND I ALSO CHATTER
PROVIDER I TEACH SPANISH IN A
PRESCHOOL AND TWO OF OUR
FAMILIES HAVE TO LIVE BECAUSE
NOW THEY CAN'T THEY CAN'T AFFORD
THE FAMILY FEES. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA.
LOOSE STORY. UM, THE ORGANIZER.
PARENT VOICES. SAN FRANCISCO. I
AM GOING TO READ THIS TESTIMONY
OF A PARENT WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE HERE BUT HER DAUGHTER GOT
SICK THIS MORNING. SO MY NAME IS
NAME A FUSSY FROM SAN FRANCISCO
. CHILDCARE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY
GREATEST CONCERN. BEING IN THE
WAITING LIST FOR SO LONG. IT HAS
COST ME NEARLY TWO YEARS OF
COLLEGE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO WORK
AND GET THE FULL TIME JOB WHEN I
WAS FINALLY CALLED UH, MY
CHILDREN HAD OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN
ONE OF THE FAMILY CHILDCARE
HOMES. I WAS ABLE TO WORK AND GO
TO SCHOOL, AND I FELT BETTER.
INCREASE MY INCOME AND MY
FAMILY'S RIGHT. HOWEVER MANY
OCCASIONS THE CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS DISGUSTED ME THAT
THEIR REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR MY
TWO CHILDREN DID NOT COVER THE
FULL COST OF CARE. AND WAS FAR
FROM BEING FAIR. I ALSO LEARNED
THAT WHEN MY KIDS ARE OUT SICK
THAT SHE DOES NOT GET PAID. I
WAS SPEECHLESS BECAUSE I
HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY
OR HOW TO MAKE THE SITUATION
BETTER. REPRESENTING FAMILIES
WAITING FOR CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE
AND MY FELLOW PARENT VOICE
LEADERS AND I'M SPEAKING FOR ALL
THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO VOICE.
I SPEAK FOR THE FAMILIES ARE SO
BUSY TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND
CARE FOR THE CHILDREN. IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO
REPRESENT THEM BECAUSE I WAS
THERE ONCE AND I KNOW HOW IT
FEELS. FOR THESE REASONS AND
MANY MORE. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU
FOR MAKING CHILDCARE PRIORITY.
TO KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO INCREASE
CHILDCARE ACCESS AND BUILD
CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DO
NOT HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY TO
SERVE CHILDREN BECAUSE LICENSE
CARE MANY LICENSED CARE, CLOSE
THEIR DOORS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE SHOULD INCREASE THE RATE OF
REIMBURSEMENT AND COMPENSATION
TO PROVIDERS TO MATCH THE MARKET
RATE AND TO COVER THE ACTUAL
COST OF CARE. WE WANT
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MONEY. IT WAS
ALLOCATED AND DO NOT SUSPEND
SLOTS. FUNDING DELAYED IS SCARED
. UNITE OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR.
MY NAME IS RAQUEL YOFFIE AND I'M
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM
ASSOCIATION, OR CAPA. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING THIS HEARING TO
SUPPORT A RICHER UNDERSTANDING
OF THE CHALLENGES OF AN
ANTIQUATED REIMBURSEMENT
STRUCTURE AND THE KNOWLEDGE THE
NEED THE NEED TO HONOR THE
COMMITMENT TO ADD NEW SLOTS AND
NO EVEN MORE NEEDED. IN REGARDS
TO THE COLA'S. OUR AGENCIES
CANNOT USE THE COLOR TO HELP
SUPPORT THE ENROLLMENT OF
FAMILIES OR GETTING THEM
CONNECTED TO CHILD CARE. THEY
CAN ONLY BE USED TO PURCHASE NEW
SLOTS AND AS WE HEARD EARLIER
FROM PANELISTS ON ISSUE FOR
CAPACITY GRANTS ARE ONLY A
TEMPORARY FIX. ON THIS POINT, WE
ASKED FOR ANY CALL IN THE BUDGET
BE LOUD FOR USE BY OUR AGENCIES
TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT FAMILIES AND
ENROLL MORE SLOTS. FINALLY WE
ARE ASKING FOR THE FUNDING OF
OUR AGENCIES TO BE INCREASED
FROM 17.5% 22. OF WHICH ROUGHLY
13% DIRECTLY SUPPORTS FAMILIES
SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FUND ALL
THE WORK NEEDED TO DIRECTLY
SUPPORT FAMILIES AND GET
CHILDREN SECURED AND STABLE
CHILDCARE IN CLOSING. WE WOULD
LIKE TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE
PRIORITIES OF THE COALITION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR. MY NAME IS
GRACE DECO HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT
PROGRAM ASSOCIATION, OR CAPA.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE
TO ECHO OUR PANELISTS AND
UNDERSCORE THAT WE NEED AS MANY
CHILDCARE ENROLLMENT SLOTS AS
THE STATE WILL FUND. AS YOU'VE
HEARD, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
HAVE NEARLY TRIPLED IN THEIR
CAPACITY. BUT PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC, THEY WERE SUPPORTING
ALMOST 58,000 VOUCHER, CHILDCARE
SLOTS. AND TODAY THAT NUMBER IS
ROUGHLY 162,000. TO PUT THIS
INTO PERSPECTIVE, THE RATIO OF
CASE MANAGERS TO FAMILIES WAS
ABOUT 1 TO 50. BUT WE ARE NOW
HEARING THAT SOME AGENCIES ARE
EXPERIENCING A RATIO OF 1 TO 200
PLUS FAMILIES. ALTHOUGH AGENCIES
HAVE TRIPLED IN CAPACITY, THEY
DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NEW FUNDING
TO BUILD UP THEIR SIZE. THE
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT AGENCIES ARE
HAVING TO DO MORE WORK WITH LESS
REIMBURSEMENT. WE ASK THAT THERE
BE CONSIDERATION OF INCREASING
THE FUNDING FOR AGENCIES TO
COVER ALL THE WORK NEEDED TO
LIFT UP AND SUPPORT FAMILIES TO
SELF SUFFICIENCY. WE WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE
PRIORITIES OF THE COALITION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANDREW
AVILA ON BEHALF OF EARLY EDGE,
CALIFORNIA THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
CARTY AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
HOSTING TODAY'S MEETING. EARLY
EDGE, THANKS TO GOVERNOR FOR HIS
CONTINUED INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
THE EXPANSION OF TK WE WANT TO
MENTION THAT TO SUPPORT
EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND THE
NEED FOR MORE TK TEACHERS, UM IN
THE CLASSROOM, UM, AND THE NEED
FOR MORE TK TEACHERS DUE TO
EXPANSION. SORRY WE ASKED FOR
THE DEADLINE FOR THE LEAD
TEACHER IN THE TK CLASSROOM BE
EXTENDED BY AT LEAST A YEAR.
EARLY EDGE ALSO SUPPORTS THE
QUALITY CONVERSATION ON
REQUIREMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE
SECOND ADULT IN A T K CLASSROOM
BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE
EMBEDDED SUPPORTS TO HELP AIDS
AND PARAPROFESSIONALS ACHIEVE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WAS
VALIDATION OF PREVIOUS
EXPERIENCES IN EARLY LEARNING
SETTINGS. LASTLY EARLY EDGE IS A
PROUD MEMBER OF THE EC COALITION
AND UPLIFTS THE COALITION'S
REQUEST. TO INCREASE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES AND ADOPTED
AN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT MODEL
THAT COVERS THE FULL COST OF
CARE, INCLUDING WAVERING, WAVING
FAMILY FEES. WE THINK THE
COMMITTEE FOR ITS FOCUS ON THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HOW'S SOFINA? I MEAN
, IT'S NOT TO KNOW WHAT CHILDREN
NOW, UM WANT TO ALIGN OURSELVES
WITH THE EARLY CARE AND
EDUCATION COALITION. UM THAT WAS
SPECIFIC ASK IS PROVIDING A 25%
INCREASE TO CURRENT RATES.
IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND ADOPT AN
ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY USING A
COST ESTIMATION MODEL AND
INCLUDED TIMELINE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE ACTUAL
COST OF CARE BASED ON PROGRAM
ENROLLMENT WITHOUT CHARGING
FAMILIES FEES. WE KNOW THAT THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION ARE COMMITTED TO
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES AND WE
HOPE THAT WE CAN GET A DOWN
PAYMENT THIS YEAR AND BE ON THE
ROAD TOWARDS RATE REFORM. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR,
ROSANNA CARPACCIO ELLIOT HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE EARLY CARE AND
EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, WHICH IS
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. THEY RUN ABOUT 468
CLOSE TO 470 CENTERS AND HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO SERVE 66,000
CHILDREN WANT TO THANK YOU. FOR
ALL THE VERY THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS ON THE IMPACTS OF TK.
I THINK WE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS
PANELISTS TODAY. UM A LITTLE BIT
OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT IN THE
FIELD FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AS
THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF
FOUR YEAR OLDS YOURSELF. MR
CHAIR TALKED ABOUT, UM, HOW YOU
UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS MODELS
OF HOW ALL OF THESE PROVIDERS
WORK, AND, UM E. C C PROVIDERS
ARE BOTH SUBSIDY AS WELL AS
PRIVATE PAY. ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS YOU ALSO ASKED WAS
AROUND STATE PRESCHOOL. AND HOW
DO WE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BLEND
THOSE MODELS WITH PRIVATE PAY
FAMILIES AND YOU KNOW, OUT OF
THE 470 ALMOST CENTERS. ONLY ONE
OF THEM HAS A STATE PRESCHOOL
CONTRACT, RIGHT? SO I THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE
CAN DO HERE TOGETHER AGAIN.
APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL
QUESTIONS FROM YOU, MR CHAIR AND
HOW MUCH TIME YOU'RE SPENDING
BEING THE ONLY ONE STILL HERE
AND JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT,
UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN WHAT WE ARE
SEEING WITH THE IMPACT OF TK ON
OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AND THE
ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO CONTINUE
TO STAY OPEN. EXCUSE ME. UM WE
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO OPPOSE THE
GOVERNOR'S EXPANSION OF, UM
THEIR EARLY TK STUDENTS WITH
SUMMER BIRTHDAYS AND AT
ENCLOSING ONE ALIGN OURSELVES
WITH THE COALITIONS, RIGHT. ASK
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR.
BY NICOLE CHURCHILL RICE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION TRADES
COUNCIL. UM WE WERE DISAPPOINTED
TO SEE THE PAUSE IN CHILDCARE
SLOTS. ACCESS TO CHILDCARE IS
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TO
MAINTAINING AND SUPPORTING THE
RE ENTRANCE INTO THE WORKFORCE
FOR SO MANY AND ALSO ENSURE
DIVERSITY AND EQUITY INTO THE
JOB SECTOR FOR WORKING PARENTS.
THE STATE BUILDING TRADES
REPRESENTS NEARLY 500,000
WORKING MEN, WOMEN AND NON
BINARY INDIVIDUALS. UH 65,000 OF
THOSE ARE ENROLLED IN OUR STATE
OF THE ART APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS AND, UM UNFORTUNATELY,
ONLY 3.5% OF THOSE ENROLLED IN
THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE
WOMEN AS WE WORK TO CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THIS NUMBER ONE MAJOR
OBSTACLE TO RECRUITING AND
RETAINING WOMEN IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS THE
LACK OF ACCESSIBLE QUALITY
CHILDCARE AND AS WELL AS THE
HIGH COST ASSOCIATED WITH FULL
TIME CARE. FORTUNATELY THROUGH
THE LEADERSHIP OF
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TEAM, AND
SENATOR SKINNER AND PREVIOUS
BUDGET CYCLES, THE WOMEN
CONSTRUCTION UNIT WAS CREATED
THE D I R TO ADDRESS THIS
DISPARITY. THAT WORK HAS BEGUN
IN EARNEST THIS YEAR WITH THE
RELEASE OF THE ERIKA GRANT THE
EQUAL REPRESENTATION IN
CALIFORNIA APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM. UM, AND THE CHILDCARE
STIPENDS THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR
WOMEN AND PARENTS ENROLLED IN
STATE APPRENTICESHIP, STATE
APPROVED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
AND PRE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
. WORKING FAMILIES ARE IN DIRE
NEED OF ACCESS TO QUALITY
CHILDCARE, AND WE RESPECTFULLY
ASK THAT YOU REJECTED PROPOSED
PAUSE, INCREASED LOSS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS KHALID. JAMIL I'M
HERE WITH THE FAMILY WOULD
CALIFORNIA FAMILY CHILDCARE
ASSOCIATION AND WITH THE
COLLECTION I'VE BEEN DOING BEEN
IN THE FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDER
FOR 27. PLUS YEARS IN CONTACT
COUNTY. I'M HERE. I'VE BEEN PART
OF THE QDR PDP AND I HAVE MY
CREDIT ATION NATIONWIDE BEEN A
BOARD MEMBER WITH OUR R AND R,
AND THEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DIABLO VALUE COLLEGE. ALSO OUR
LOCAL CONTRA COSTA ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU PLEASE
INCLUDE FAMILY CHILDCARE
PROVIDER IN THE U. P K BECAUSE
THIS PROGRAM ARE DESTROYING US
COMPLETELY. IF YOU TAKE THEIR
CHILDREN AGED THREE AND ABOVE
THEN WE WERE LEFT WITH ONLY
INFANT WITH THE LICENSING. WE
CANNOT HAVE MORE THAN FOR
INFANTS. SO BEING CHANGING MY
MAJOR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL,
TAKING ALL THE COURSES, ALL THE
TRAINING THAT I DID WITH
ACCUMULATES WITH THE D RDP
EVERYTHING NAMED THEM. I'VE BEEN
PART OF IT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF
PROVIDERS LIKE US. SO IF YOU IF
YOU DON'T INCLUDE US WITH THIS,
WHAT'S THAT MEAN? ALL THESE
YEARS AND ALL THE BUDGET THAT
YOU PUT IN THESE PROGRAMS ARE
NOTHING DOWN THE DRAIN AND WE
ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO TAKE CARE
OF THE CHILDREN THREE AND FOUR
YEARS OLD TO GET THEM READY TO
KINDERGARTEN, SO I'M MHM
REQUESTING THAT YOU INCLUDE US,
THE FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDER
AND THE U. P. K PROGRAM. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BEN
HR BRAH. I'M A LARGE LICENSED
FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDER IN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FOR 23 YEARS
AND, UH, BEEN IN THE FIELD OVER
32 YEARS. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT
CALIFORNIA FAMILY, CHILDCARE
NETWORK AND EC COLLISION AS WE
ALL KNOW 90% 95% OF THE BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS AT BEFORE
THE AGE FIVE AND WHO'S TAKING
CARE OF THOSE CHILDREN? WE ARE
WE? WE IN OUR FAMILY, CHILDCARE
HOMES. WE HAVE BABIES FROM SIX
WEEKS OLD AND THEY STAY WITH US
FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF
THEIR LIFE, AND ALSO SOME OF US
TAKE CARE OF THE SCHOOL IS EIGHT
CHILDREN AS WELL AND WE WERE THE
ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD OPEN
DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE MADE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS GET TO WORK
AND WE ARE THE BACK FORCE.
WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.
AND I'M REQUESTING YOU PLEASE
CONSIDER US FAMILY CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS I HEARD EARLIER AND WE
ALL KNOW THAT PROVIDERS LEAVE
THIS FIELD OR EVEN THE EMPLOYEES
. THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR US
BECAUSE THEY CAN GO TO STARBUCKS
. OR YOU KNOW PETE'S COFFEE AND
I HEARD BEFORE TACO BELL TO MAKE
OVER $20 AN HOUR. NOW MANY OF US
INCLUDING ME, WE HOLD DEGREES,
AND I'M ALSO A CALIFORNIA EARLY
CHILDHOOD MENTOR TEACHER WHEN I
HAVE STUDENTS COMING TO ME FROM
THE LAB SCHOOLS WHERE I'M
TELLING THEM THAT I DON'T EVEN
MAKE MINIMUM WAGES AND THIS IS
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET. BUT
AFTER YOU GRADUATE, BUT WE AS A
FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AFTER
WORKING 12 TO 14 HOURS A DAY AND
MANY OF US WORK MORE THAN 20,
PLUS HOURS AND WE'RE STILL KEEP
EDUCATING OURSELVES BECAUSE WE
WANT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES
BETTER AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE
THE QUALITY CHILDCARE. I THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
BUT AFTERNOON CHAIR MY NAME IS
JANET COOPER. I AM ALSO A
CHILDHOOD PROVIDER FOR 21 YEARS
AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE,
UM I AM A MEMBER OF ALSO IS THE
OCEAN AND FAMILY. UM CALIFORNIA
FAMILY CHILDCARE NETWORK. I'M
SORRY. I'M SO NERVOUS. SO I'M
HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE WAVE
THE FAMILY FAITH FOR MY SUBSIDY
FAMILIES BECAUSE THE MAJORITY I
SERVED IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, HALF
OF THEM ARE, UM FROM SUBSIDY.
AND ALSO, I'M HELPING A FAMILY
WHO IS IN THE POSTER. UM THEY
TAKING A POSTER BABIES, SO I AM
HELPING THEM, THOUGH. SO THAT'S
ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. THANK YOU.
HELLO MY NAME IS NANCY WYATT AND
I'M THE PUBLIC POLICY
CHAIRPERSON FOR CALIFORNIA
FAMILY CHILDCARE NETWORK
ORGANIZATION IS WE ARE PROUD
MEMBERS OF THE EC COALITION AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
UNDERSTANDING YOU GET IT. THE
FAMILY FEES ARE DRUG COMPANY IN
AND I'M SO PLEASED TO HEAR YOU
THAT YOU REALIZE THAT AND WHEN
YOU TALKED ABOUT IT WASN'T FAIR
THAT YOU KNOW THE SCHOOLS WERE
GETTING INCREASES. BUT THE
CHILDCARE COMMUNITY WAS NOT YOU.
YOU'RE GETTING THAT IT'S LIKE WE
HAVEN'T HAD AN INCREASE FOR
YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND
YEARS, 25% ASK INCREASE, AS
SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT WE
HAVEN'T BEEN INCREASED FOR YEARS
AND YEARS. IT'S NOT. WE'RE GOING
UNDER. WE ARE IN CRISIS. I WAS
ON THE PHONE LAST NIGHT WITH
PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. HUNDREDS OF THEM
. I PROMISED THEM I WOULD GET UP
AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
AND COME HERE AND TELL YOU WE'RE
IN TROUBLE. THE STATE IS IN
TROUBLE. WE'RE IN CRISIS. YOU'VE
GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE
RATES AND THE WAY THEY'RE
CALCULATED. OKAY AND CHOICE. YOU
APPRECIATED CHOICE. YOU DON'T
YOU WANTED THE PARENTS TO BE
ABLE TO CHOOSE. CAN THEY GO TO T
K? CAN THEY GO TO SEE SPP? OKAY
WE HAVE FANTASTIC FAMILY
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN THE
STATE. AND YOU AND RESOURCES.
DON'T. DON'T IGNORE THOSE
RESOURCES. FIND A WAY TO INCLUDE
US IN THE UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
SYSTEM. FIND A WAY TO APPRECIATE
THE ONES OF US WHO ARE QUALITY
AND DEDICATED. YOU CAN'T JUST
JUST TOSS THE SOCIETY. UM. AND I
GUESS THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR CHAIRS ONGOING AT THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION ARE COMMENTS TODAY
IS FOCUSED ON THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL THAT REQUIRES THE
SECOND ADULT OR PARENT EDUCATOR
AND A T. HEY CLASSROOM TO MEET
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT. WE
CONTINUE TO ASK WHAT PROBLEM IS
THIS PROPOSAL TRYING TO SOLVE WE
HEARD EARLIER. OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE WORKING REALLY
HARD TO EXPAND TK THIS NEW
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT WILL ONLY
DETER OUR PAIR EDUCATORS FROM
ACCEPTING A POSITION IN A T K
CROSS ROOM BECAUSE IN A FEW
YEARS, THEY WILL NO LONGER BE
QUALIFIED TO DO THE SAME JOB
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SO WE
SHOULD NOT BE MAKING IT HARDER
FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOB NOR
CREATE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS FOR
WORKERS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN
EDUCATOR WORKFORCE CRISIS. WE
ASK THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES
THAT YOU PLEASE REJECT THIS
PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ESMERALDA MARTIN SING AND I'M
HERE WITH THE LOW INCOME
INVESTMENT FUND AND BUILD UP
CALIFORNIA. AS A FORMER EDUCATOR
WHO RECENTLY LEFT THE CLASSROOM
IN JUNE 2022. THERE WERE SO MANY
FACTORS THAT FORCED ME TO LEAVE
THE PROFESSION A LACK OF FAIR
WAGES THAT MADE ME FEEL
UNDERVALUED AND OVERWORKED WAS A
HUGE REASON WHY I DECIDED TO
MOVE ON. WE NEED TO INVEST IN SC
PROVIDER RATES AND SHOW THEM
THAT THEIR WORK IS VALUABLE IN
THAT THEY MATTER SO THAT THIS
DOESN'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS CRITICAL CHILD
CARE OF THE CRITICAL CHILDCARE
PRIORITIES WILL SOLIDIFY YOU AS
ALL AS THE CHAMPIONS FOR EARLY
CARE AND EDUCATION THAT WE KNOW
YOU TO BE AT LEAST AND BUILD UP
CALIFORNIA WE THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING THE COALITION'S
REQUEST, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU
SUPPORT IT AS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR. CHILDCARE
FUNDING DECISIONS AFFECT ALL OF
US FROM THOSE WHO DEPEND ON IT
TO PROVIDERS WHO NURTURE THE
NEXT GENERATION AND THE CHILDREN
WHO RELY ON THE CARE TO LEARN
AND GROW. MY NAME IS KARINA LEGO
AND I'M WITH CHILD CARE
LAWCENTER. WE OPPOSED THE
PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE TITLE 22
PROTECTIONS FOR L E. A BASED
PRESCHOOLS FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
TITLE FIVE. UNLIKE TITLE 22
DOESN'T GUARANTEE COME UP
COMPACT, COMPARABLE STRONG
TRANSPARENCY RIGHTS FOR PARENTS
AND HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS
, FOR EXAMPLE, NO GUARANTEES FOR
A TOILET OR DIAPER ASSISTANCE
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS KNOW ANNUAL
UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS FOR ALL
PROGRAMS JUST TO NAME A FEW. WE
ADDITIONALLY ALIGN OUR
PRIORITIES WITH THE EC
COALITION. WE WANT TO THANK THE
LEGISLATURE FOR THEIR PREVIOUS
INVESTMENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC
. CHILDCARE IS A PUBLIC GOOD.
OUR LEADERS CAN HONOR THAT BY
BEING BY PAYING PROVIDERS. FAIR
RATES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN MCCARTY
. THANK YOU FOR FACILITATING
THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. MY
NAME IS LAURIE FIRST AND FELLED
AND I'M DIRECTOR OF LEGAL
ADVOCACY AT THE CHILDCARE,
LAWCENTER, AND WE ALSO ARE PROUD
MEMBERS OF THE E C E COALITION
AND ALIGN OUR COMMENTS WITH
THERE'S I ALSO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF EQUAL RIGHTS ADVOCATES. WE
CAN SET UP A MORE EQUITABLE
CHILDCARE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA
THAT EMBRACES CHILDCARE AS A
PUBLIC GOOD. CALIFORNIA CAN
FULLY FUND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
FOR ALL FAMILIES BY FUNDING
INCREASED ACCESS TO THE CURRENT
COMMUNITY BASED SETTINGS WHERE
PARENTS CAN CHOOSE NO COST CARE
FOR THEIR THREE AND FOUR YEAR
OLDS AND THE SETTING THAT MEETS
THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENTAL
NEEDS AND THE PARENTS NEEDS. WE
CAN INCREASE SUBSIDY PAYMENTS
BASED ON THE TRUE COST OF CARE
AND AN EQUITABLE FEE SCHEDULE,
SO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE PAID
FAIRLY CAN CARE FOR THEIR OWN
FAMILIES AND PARENTS CAN
ACTUALLY AFFORD SUBSIDIZED
CHILDCARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR MCCARTHY.
MY NAME IS JULIA TERRY. I AM
WITH CHILD CARE RESOURCE CENTER
, OR C C. R C, ONE OF THE
LARGEST FAMILY AND CHILD
SERVICES NONPROFITS IN THE STATE
, AND WE ARE A PROUD MEMBER OF
THE COALITION AND STAND PHONE
ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR BUDGETARY
ASKS WHICH MY COLLEAGUE DR
LAWANDA WESLEY, SO KINDLY
DETAILED EARLIER TODAY AND HER
PANEL DISCUSSION. TODAY WE HAVE
HEARD REPETITIVE LEE THE DIRE
NEED FOR THE STATE TO TAKE
ACTION ON THE ISSUE OF RATE
REFORM. THE FACT THAT SO MANY
PROVIDERS SO LITTLE FROM
ESSENTIAL CARE FROM A PROVIDING
THE ESSENTIAL CARE AND EDUCATION
THAT OUR CHILDREN NEED IS
SHAMEFUL. THE FACT THAT THEY
EARNED SO LITTLE FROM THIS
ESSENTIAL CARE THAT THEY HAVE TO
RELY ON OTHER PUBLIC SUBSIDIES
IS SHAMEFUL. èC WORKERS.
DESERVE A LIVING WAGE FOR THE
CRITICAL FOUNDATIONAL CARE THAT
THEY PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES
AND OUR ECONOMY. MANY MANY
FAMILIES HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO
VOICE THEIR TRUTHS IN DETAIL THE
DEVASTATING IMPACTS THAT THE
REINSTATEMENT OF FAMILY FEES
WOULD HAVE ON THEIR LIVES, AND
IT IS CRITICAL THAT FAMILY FEES
REMAINS SUSPENDED WHILE THE
STATE TAKES ACTION TO ADJUST THE
FEE SCHEDULE TO ONE OF THOSE
MORE EQUITABLE AND BUILDS ON
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMIC JUSTICE
EFFORTS. CCRC WOULD LIKE TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO THINK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAJORITY LEADER
, GÓMEZ REYES, FOR AUTHORING A B
596, WHICH ADDRESSES THESE
ISSUES OF CHILDCARE RATE REFORM
AND FAMILY FEES. HEAD ON. CCRC
IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF HB 5 96,
WHICH WOULD CREATE NEW
REIMBURSEMENT RATES STRUCTURE
FOR EASY E PROVIDERS TO GET THE
FULL COST OF CARE COVERED.
REIMBURSED BASED ON ENROLLMENT,
NOT ATTENDANCE AND SHIFT THE
FAMILY FEES SCHEDULED TO A MORE
EQUITABLE ONE THAT PUTS MONEY
BACK IN THE HANDS OF FAMILIES.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
HAVING THIS VERY PRESSING AND
IMPORTANT, UH, HEARING TODAY ON
THESE ISSUES AND A SPECIAL THANK
YOU TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAISE
FOR BEING A TRUE CHAMPION OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON OCCASIONS THEY WERE
WITH THE CALIFORNIA CHILDCARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK.
REMEMBER ELECTING THAT JUST 33
YEARS AGO NOW WE WERE A WEEK
INTO THE QUARANTINE, HAVING NO
IDEA WHAT WE WHAT WAS IN FRONT
OF p
THAT OUR STATE QUICKLY PIVOTED
TO REALLY SAVE CHILDCARE BY
SUSPENDING FAMILY FEES BY PAYING
PROVIDERS BASED ON ENROLLMENT
INSTEAD OF ATTENDANCE AS FEDERAL
FUNDING CAME IN, WE SAW STIPENDS
. UM WE SAW SO MANY SUPPORTS
THAT HONESTLY KEPT OUR CHILD
CARE SYSTEM FROM COLLAPSE, BUT
WE ARE NOW LITERALLY ON THE EDGE
OF COLLAPSE, WITH NONE OF THESE
THINGS PROPOSED TO CONTINUE
ANOTHER THING THAT HELPED, UM,
THAT HELPED US NOT COLLAPSE IS
THROUGH THE CCP. YOU AGREEMENT.
$25 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS WAS
PROVIDED TO THE CALIFORNIA
CHILDCARE INITIATIVE PROJECT,
WHICH MISS MAGNUS DAUGHTER
MENTIONED ON AN EARLIER PANEL.
UM THE TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC, 2018 19 AND 1920 SIP
RECEIVED $5 MILLION INCREASE TO
THEIR FUNDING AND INCREASED THE
NUMBER OF SPACES IN LICENSED
FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES BY 30.
UM IN THE CCP. YOU AGREEMENT
THEY RECEIVED $25 MILLION OVER
THE LAST TWO YEARS IN THE FIRST
YEAR, WHICH, LIKE MANY OTHER
CONTRACTS ONLY STARTED IN
JANUARY OF LAST YEAR IN THE
FIRST YEAR, WHICH WAS ONLY SIX
MONTHS SIP WAS ABLE TO START 945
NEW LICENSED FAMILY, CHILD CARES
CARE HOMES AS WELL AS COMPARED
TO THE TIME. PERIOD IN THE
PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, SO IN 89%
INCREASE IN PARTICIPANTS OPTING
TO REOPEN AFTER THEY HAD CLOSED.
UM SO WE REALLY THINK ALL OF
THESE THINGS ARE NEEDED TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
FALL OFF THE CHILDCARE. CLIFF UM
SO SIP NEEDS TO CONTINUE HAVING
FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $12.5
MILLION A YEAR FROM THE EYE.
INCREASED SEE CDBG FUNDING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, HEIDI KAISER PUBLIC
POLICY OFFICER FOR CHILD ACTION
WHERE THE LOCAL ALTERNATIVE
PAYMENT PROGRAM AND RESOURCE AND
REFERRAL FOR SACRAMENTO COUNTY
I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT BOTH THE EC
RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE SIP
PROGRESSED FROM THE RESOURCE AND
REFERRAL NETWORK. THANK YOU,
CHAIRMAN THE SORRY THANK YOU.
CHAIR MCCARTY FOR THIS GREAT
OPPORTUNITY AND YOUR THIRD
CONSIDERATION OF EARLY CARE AND
EDUCATION. HI MY NAME IS MARVIN
GAMMELL. I'M A MEMBER OF THE
FAMILY CHILD BAY AREA. BE AREA
PROFESSIONAL FAMILY CHILDCARE.
SO I'M HERE TO I WOULD REQUEST
FOR YOU TO PLEASE INCREASE RATES
WITH HIS FAMILY FEES AS A CHILD
CARE IS SECOND LARGEST SPILL ON
PARENTS. AND WE NEED TO MAKE A
LIVABLE AND LIVABLE WAGES. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU WILL PROCEED NOW TO
THE, UM PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE
PHONE. PLEASE BEGIN OPERATOR.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PHONE
LINES IF YOU WISH TO MAKE PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE PRESS ONE,
FOLLOWED BY THE 01, FOLLOWED BY
THE ZERO WILL BEGIN TODAY WITH
LYING 41. 41 YOU ARE OPEN. WHEN
. WHEN I STARTED, SO YOU KNOW MY
VOICE EVEN SOMETHING IN ME, HE
ME FORMULA FOR ME, ME
PROBLEMATIC EDO. IN THE
MAINTENANCE IS APPLICANT AWARE,
AND THEY PUT IN THAT WE'RE GOING
TO DO THAT. BUT ALREADY THINKING
40, INCLUDING. SIMPLE NOISE
CASES WITH ALL OF THE AND SAGHIR
QUARTER FAMILIAR, MADE FAMILIAR.
PROBABLEMENTE MIKA'S IN THE
BOTTOM, INSULTING. TO COMING
SOON FAMILIAR. TOÀN BALART.
WE'LL GO TO LINE 13 YOU ARE
OPEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, CARLOS
ROJAS, WITH THE CURRENT COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OFFICE
, REPRESENTING THE 46 SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND 200,000 STUDENTS
IN CURRENT COUNTY, OF WHICH 70%
QUALIFY AS LOW INCOME ONE
EXPRESSED HER THANKS TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR YOUR ONGOING
INVESTMENT IN UNIVERSAL PRE K
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TK THESE
PROGRAMS HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED
FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN
POVERTY, AND WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THE LEGISLATURE
REINSTATE THE PROPOSED $550
MILLION DELAY TO THE PRESCHOOL
TK AND FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN
FACILITIES GRANT THERE ARE
CURRENTLY JUST OVER 4000
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PK AND
CURRENT COUNTY AND ABOUT A
QUARTER OF THEM ARE BEING SERVED
IN CLASSROOMS THAT DO NOT MEET
STATE REQUIREMENTS. HE CAME
ROMAN IS PROJECTED TO GROW
SIGNIFICANTLY BY 25 26. DELAYING
THESE FUNDS WILL ONLY RESULT IN
DISTRICTS HAVING TO DISPLAY
STUDENTS AND SERVED MANY
STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS THAT DO
NOT MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS.
SOME DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY
REDUCED FULL DAY TK PROGRAMS TO
HALF DAY TK PROGRAMS DUE TO A
LACK OF FACILITIES. AND THIS
DELAY IN FUNDING WOULD JUST
EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION. AND NEXT WEEK
WE'LL GO TO LINE 12, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. HI MY NAME IS JAMES
MOSES, REPRESENTING THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION WITH THE
EDUCATION AND YOUNG CHILDREN. I
JUST WANNA, UM SUPPORT AND
UPLIFT THE ASPCA ET COALITION,
ESPECIALLY AROUND INCREASING THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR OUR
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ASKING FOR
25 30% INCREASE. ADDITIONALLY
WE'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE
ALLOCATION OF THE 20,000 SPACES
THAT THE GOVERNOR IS WORKING TO
POSTPONE. THEY HAVE THAT THAT
REINSTATED IN REALLY RELEASED IN
THE 23 24 BUDGET. THANK YOU. OUR
NEXT PARTICIPANT IS ONE MOMENT,
PLEASE. LINE NUMBER 11, YOU ARE
OPEN. HI I'M BRENDA BROWN. I'M
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CONCORD
CHILDCARE CENTER HERE IN CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY. WE'VE BEEN
ACTUALLY OPEN AND SERVING
SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS FOR 50 YEARS
THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE STILL FULL
. WE HAVE A HUGE WAITING LIST.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE DUE
TO ALL OF THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE
GIVEN US DURING THIS COVID
YEARS, BUT I'M GETTING CONCERNED
NOW. FOR OUR FUTURE. WE REALLY
DO NEED TO HAVE A MIXED DELIVERY
SYSTEM WE NEEDED. CONSIDER THE
WORKING PARENT THAT NEEDS ALL
THEY CARE AND WAS APPROPRIATE
FOR CHILDREN. UM SO I'M GOING TO
ASK FOR THE ECHO EVERYTHING.
LISA WILKINSON'S NUMBER ONE AND
ASK FOR THE RATE REFORM TO
CONTINUE. AKALA DOESN'T WORK FOR
US, RIGHT? WE NEED TO HAVE IT
AND ACROSS THE BOARD, WHITE
RIGHTLY FORM OF 25% INCREASE. WE
NEED TO HAVE THAT ATTENDANCE
ENROLLMENT REIMBURSEMENT BY BY
ENROLLMENT INSTEAD OF ATTENDANCE
, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY
MEANS TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES
WHO HAVE EROTIC ATTENDANCE DUE
TO THEIR WORK SITUATIONS DUE TO
WHETHER OR NOT THEY GET COVID
WHETHER THIS OR THAT WE CAN'T DO
ANYTHING, UM, REGULATION WISE TO
SERVE THAT SPACE. WE HAVE TO
KEEP IT OPEN FOR THEM THE SAME
THING WITH OUR WITH OUR SPECIAL
NEEDS. WE HAVE TO KEEP THOSE
SPACES OPEN. SPECIAL NEEDS NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED IN THAT IT'S NOT
JUST AN I P AND F S PEACE
BECAUSE ELIA'S ARE NOT GOING TO
PLACE A CHILD IN A CENTER BASED
PROGRAM. RIGHT THEY'RE GOING TO
PLACE THEM IN THERE. SEE SPP
CLASSROOM. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
PLACE THEM IN OUR C SPP
CLASSROOM, SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO GET RAM BURST AND BE CREDITED
FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT WERE
SERVING WHO HAVE AUTISM AND ARE
BEING SERVED BY THEIR TALKING.
THEIR INSURANCE PROVIDER AND
THEIR PEOPLE ARE COMING TO OUR
PROGRAMS WERE STILL OPEN FOR
THEM WERE STILL SERVING THEM. WE
NEED TO BE PAID THE COST THAT IT
COSTS US TO SERVE THEM BECAUSE
IT DOES REQUIRE A LOT MORE
TEACHER TÌM. WITH THAT? I THANK
YOU AND JUST CONTINUE TO
CONSIDER ALL PROGRAMS. MIXED
DELIVERY IS IMPORTANT AND WE
NEED TO ALL SURVIVE IN ORDER TO
SUPPORT CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM
OUR PERSON IS MINE. 17 YOU ARE
OPEN. PLEASE GO AHEAD, 17. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THIS IS ALISSA
CORRIGAN, ON BEHALF OF A DINGO
FIRST IS ONE OF THINK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING. YOU JUMP TO THE
FIELD AND FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND
THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS TODAY, UM,
KID INGLEWOOD FIRST FOLLOWED TO
EXPRESS OUR STRONG ALIGNMENT AND
SUPPORT FOR THE ET COALITIONS
REQUEST THIS YEAR AS PART OF THE
TANGO POLICY PROCESS. WE HAVE
LISTENED TO OUR TEACHERS ABOUT
THE CONSTANT STRUGGLE OF BEING
SHORT STAFFED. AND THE BURDEN
THAT IT CREATES FOR THE
WORKFORCE, FAMILIES AND
ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, STAFFING
SHORTAGES, ALSO HUGE
CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO
UNDERUTILIZED NEW CHILDCARE
SPOTS AS WAS DISCUSSED TODAY. WE
CANNOT KEEP EXPECTING TEACHERS
TO HOLD UP THE FIELD IN CRISIS
AND IF WE DO NOT ACT, IT IS OUR
CHILDREN WHO WILL BEAR THE BRUNT
OF THIS IN ACTION. WITH THIS IN
MIND WHO BELIEVE THERE'S ALSO A
NEED TO IMPLEMENT TEMPORARY
IMMEDIATE RELIEF STRATEGIES FOR
STAFFING. ONE SUCH STRATEGY IS
TO PROVIDE AN EATING MONTH
EXEMPTION FROM PERMIT
REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCED
ASSISTANT TEACHERS TO
TEMPORARILY ACT IN THE CAPACITY
OF AN ASSOCIATE TEACHER. THIS IS
NOT PROPOSED AS A LONG TERM FIX
OR POLICY, BUT RATHER IS A COST
NEUTRAL INTERIM SOLUTION THAT
CAN HELP KEEP CLASSROOMS OPEN.
SO THAT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN DO
NOT LOSE ACCESS TO CARE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
YOUR TIME TODAY. AND NEXT, WE'RE
GOING TO GO TO LINE 13 OR 18,
YOU ARE OPEN. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
18. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS JEFF LOCKER
REPRESENTING THE RIVERSIDE
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS. RIVERSIDE COUNTY OFFICE
OF EDUCATION IS CURRENTLY
SERVING OVER 17,000 CHILDREN. IN
A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT
YOU'VE DISCUSSED TODAY. MY
COMMENTS, WHICH WE HAVE PROVIDED
ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON IN A LETTER
TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE PERTAINED TO
THREE ISSUES ON THE QUESTION OF
ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SECOND
PERSON IN TK CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE
NO POSITION ON THAT. BUT WE
BELIEVE THAT IF THE PROPOSAL
MOVES FORWARD, IT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT TO ALIGN THE EARLY
EDUCATION TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
GRANT WITH THE PROPOSAL. WITH
RESPECT TO THE 24 UNITS, EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
. WE WOULD RECOMMEND A DELAY OF
THAT REQUIREMENT TO AUGUST OF
2025, LASTLY WITH REGARD TO THE
LOWER CLASS SIZE RATIO WERE
REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING
TOWARDS A 1 TO 10 RATIO,
ABSENCE, SUFFICIENT GROWTH AND
PROPOSITION 19. PROPOSITION 98
TO SUPPORT THE CHANGE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. 24 YOU ARE OPEN. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ESTHER IN
WING AND I'M WITH BIRTH. FIVE
LOS ANGELES. FIRST BY THE LAY IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS, UH,
WORK TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD IN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY REACHES THEIR
FULL POTENTIAL THROUGHOUT THE
CRITICAL YEARS OF NEIL TO H
FIVE. WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT IN
THE LINER MESSAGE WITH THE
COALITION AND MY FELLOW MEMBER
COLLEAGUES IN ASKING FOR
IMMEDIATE INVESTMENTS IN CHILD
CARE PROVIDER WAGES. THE
ADOPTION OF THE COST ESTIMATION
MODEL WITH THE TIMELINE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE ACTUAL
COST OF CARE BASED ON PROGRAM
ENROLLMENT WITHOUT CHARGING
FAMILY FEES AND THE ALLOCATION
OF ALL 20,000 CHILD CARE SPACES
SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED IN 2023
2024. THANK YOU. LINE 22ND 26,
YOU ARE OFTEN. HELLO EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS EMERALD EVANS AND I'M
WITH GRACE AND IN THE INTEL
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA COALITION
. WE WANT TO ALIGN OUR COMMENTS
FAMILIES REPRESENTING THE
COALITION FAMILIES ARE LIVING
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK TO MEET
THEIR FAMILY NEEDS AND WE NEED
TO SUSPEND FAMILY SEES WAYS
RAGES FOR THE CHILD CARE
WORKFORCE AND KEEP THE PROMISE
CHILDHOOD SPOTS ENSURE THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD
TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF ENDING CHILD
POVERTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. LINE. 30. YOU ARE ALL BUT
PLEASE GO AHEAD. WHEN I STARTED
. CARILLO INVOICES AND MARIA,
EFFECTIVELY END UP FAMILY. COVID
. OKAY WITH THE FAMILIAR THANK
YOU CANNOT GET TO THE YEAH.
GOVERNOR. LINE 40 YOU ARE OPEN.
HOLA. PADRE LEADER, THE MARINE
TOWNIE. IS THE. LEADING PASADO
MAKES HEAVY MAKE EDDIE AND
ALINEA RONDO PLATEAU. MEANINGFUL
FAMILY FOR CASE JUST SO YOU'RE
NOT. IT FROM CUATRO. TENIAMOS UH
, CAÑADA, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR
WHOLE LIFE ELSE. MORE FAMILIES,
TAMBIÉN TRABAJO ONLY NARROW QUÊ
ENTRY GAVIN GAVIN THèC, UM
MOMENTO THERE. CALIFORNIA THEY
GRACIA. AND LINE EIGHT. YOU ARE
OPEN. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
SERENA LIN, A MOTHER OF TWO
CHILDREN THREE AND SIX YEARS OF
AGE AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE
CENTER BASED DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDER WITH CCT RNC SPP
CONTRACT. I'M LUCKY TO ADDRESS
MY COMMENTS TO THE TWO WOMEN
LEFT IN THE ROOM. UM I YOU KNOW,
THE WOMEN MAKE UP THIS E
WORKFORCE, SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE
THERE TO LISTEN. EARLIER CHAIR.
MCCARTHY ASKED HOW MANY FAMILIES
WOULD LEAVE THE SYSTEM IF FAMILY
FEES WERE REINSTATED, AND I HAVE
A SIMILAR QUESTION, AND IF THE
EXTENSION OF HOLD HARMLESS, ALSO
KNOWN AS REIMBURSE PERSON X
FLEXIBILITY IS DISCONTINUED. HOW
MANY MORE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS,
WOMEN OF COLOR SERVING, THEIR
COMMUNITY WILL BE FORCED TO
CLOSE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD
TO SERVE OUR YOUNGEST AND MOST
VULNERABLE CHILDREN AGED 0 TO 3.
ALSO QUICKLY, WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT, FAMILY CHOICE BETWEEN
TWEAK A AND OTHER PRIVATE CSP
PRIVATE PROGRAMS OR STP PROGRAMS
IS NOT RESPECTED OR PRESERVED IN
THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION OF U
P K U T K ONE BARRIER IS THE
POTENTIAL REINSTATEMENT OF THE
FAMILY FEE FOR CST P. ANOTHER IS
THAT LIAISON REFUSING TO SERVE
TK AGE ELIGIBLE CHILDREN WITH
EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS THAT ARE
ENROLLED IN PRIVATE PROGRAMS AND
SEE FTP PROGRAMS, FAMILY FEES
AND REFUSAL TO SERVE CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND ANOTHER
PROGRAM DOES NOT MAKE PARENTAL
CHOICE. LAUGHED AT LAST LEAST,
UM, I WANT TO CENTER MY COMMENTS
BACK ON WHAT IS BEST FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. QUALITY
IS A HUGE PIECE AND BUDGET
INVESTMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON
QUALITY OF CARE, STARTING AT
BIRTH QUALITY, INCLUDING
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS SHOULD
NOT BE SACRIFICED IN ANY PROGRAM
SERVING CALIFORNIA'S YOUNGEST
CHILDREN. I STILL CAN'T
UNDERSTAND WHY CALIFORNIA IS NOT
INVESTING IN EXISTING QUALITY
MIXED DELIVERY SYSTEM. AND I'M
ASSUMING MY TIME IS UP. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE GO AHEAD
LINE 34. HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
YES. HI MY NAME IS LUCY MARQUEZ.
I'M A PARENT FROM PARENT VOICES
IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA I
HAVE A SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY AND A
SIX YEAR OLD GIRL STRUGGLING TO
JOIN THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE OF
THE LACK OF CHILD CARE FOR MY
DAUGHTER. UM. CALIFORNIA IS ONE
OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES AND
IT'S BEEN HAS BEEN TRUE COST OF
CHILD CARE WELL PROVIDERS MAKING
POVERTY, WAGES AND STRUGGLING TO
STAY AFLOAT. I HAVE BEEN ON THE
WAIT LIST FOR SIX SPIRITS. I
BARELY GOT MY SON INTO AN AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM. UM BECAUSE THE
CHILD CARE SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING
ME AND I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THE
WORKFORCE, BUT NOT AT THE
EXPENSE OF MY FAMILY'S WELL
BEING NEEDS TO BE NEXT TO HAVE
ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE. FOR
EVERYBODY. PLEASE PROVIDE A
BUDGET TO INCREASE 25% OF THE
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. MAKE HEALTH
CARE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO
EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME. AND NEXT WEEK, WE'LL
GO TO LINE NUMBER 27 YOU ARE
OPEN. 27, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HELLO. PLEASE GO AHEAD. OH I
THOUGHT YOU TOLD ME THAT I WAS
24 SORRY ABOUT THAT. UH THANK
YOU TO THE TWO THAT ARE STILL
HERE. CALIFORNIA'S WORKING
FAMILY IN THE QUALITY PROGRAMS
THAT SUPPORT THEM ARE COUNTING
ON YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT. MY NAME
IS CHARLENE PRINCETON AND I'M
THE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONAL
ENRICHMENT. WE ARE IN WHAT IS
NORMALLY SUNNY SAN DIEGO ES 19
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO
COUNTY, AND WE SERVE INFANTS
THROUGH FIVE YEARS OLD. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
DURING THE PANDEMIC, E S WAS
ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE TO A
CENTRAL WORKERS AND OPENED FOUR
NEW IN SCHOOLS DURING THE
PANDEMIC, INCLUDING A NEW
INFANTILE GROUP PROGRAMS. WELL
FAMILIES CONTINUE TO WORK THEIR
THEIR ESSENTIAL JOBS. PLEASE DO
NOT PULL THE RUG FROM UNDERNEATH
THEIR FEET, MAKING THEM CHOOSE
BETWEEN FAMILY ESSENTIAL NEEDS
LIKE GROCERIES AND RENT AND
THEIR CHILD CARE TO CONTINUE TO
GO TO WORK. YOU'VE HEARD
WONDERFUL SPEAKERS THIS MORNING
. UH AND THEN AGAIN THIS
AFTERNOON KNOW THAT THERE ARE
FAMILIES WITH VERY FAMILIAR AND
MORE DIRE PERSONAL STORIES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE
SCARED THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO
DROP THE PROGRAM IF SHE'S ARE
REINSTATED. IN SOME CASES, ONE
PARENT IS GOING TO NEED TO LEAVE
THEIR JOB TO CARE FOR THE YOUNG
CALIFORNIAN, EXCLUDING FAMILY
FEES WOULD SUPPORT FAMILIES AND
PLEASE KNOW IT WOULD ALSO
MAINTAIN AN INCREASE EQUAL
ACCESS TO QUALITY PROGRAMS.
PLEASE MOVE FORWARD TO EXCLUDING
HIS FAMILY'S SPEEDS FOR OUR MOST
VULNERABLE WORKING FAMILIES, THE
PROGRAMS LIKE THAT PROVIDE
QUALITY CARE, NEEDS,
REIMBURSEMENT, FLEXIBILITIES AND
NEED TO BE FUNDED BASED ON
ENROLLMENT. ALTHOUGH MASK
MANDATES HAVE BEEN LIFTED AND
THE AVAILABLE AND THE ACCESS TO
THE VACCINES HAVE HELPED PROVIDE
A BASE LEVEL OF SAFETY IN OUR
SCHOOLS, CHILDREN ARE STILL
ABSENT AND THEIR PARENTS ARE ILL
PROGRAMS LIKE ES THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA IS STILL IN SURVIVAL
AND TRIOS FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS
AND FAMILY. WHEN A CHILD IS
ABSENT, WE STILL HAVE RENT
UTILITIES AND HAVE OUR TEACHERS
AT THE SITE FOR THE OTHER 23
CHILDREN IN THE ROOM. OUR
QUALITY PROGRAMS ARE AN
ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF THE ECONOMY.
CALIFORNIA'S PARENTING QUALITY
CHILD CARE TO THEIR CHILDREN CAN
GO TO WORK. OUR STATE SHOULD BE
PROUD OF THE QUALITY EARLY
EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHERE
CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES ARE PLANNED OUT BY
QUALITY STAFF WITH COLLEGE
COURSEWORK. CHILD DEVELOPMENT
PERMITS IN DEGREES WHILE THEIR
PARENTS GET TO GO TO WORK AND
SOMETIMES CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR
EDUCATION. PLEASE MOVE FORWARD
AND THE REIMBURSEMENT
FLEXIBILITIES BY FUNDING THE
DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS BASED
ON ENROLLMENT, THE GOVERNOR
MANDATED A WORKGROUP AND THE
RATE IN QUALITY WORKGROUP SPENT
COUNTLESS HOURS WHOLEHEARTEDLY
DISCUSSING OUR SYSTEM. LOOKING
AT ITS STRENGTH AND WHERE WE
COULD MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. MY HOPE
IS THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
BY IMPLEMENTING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS BY PROVIDING 25%
INCREASE TO THE CURRENT RATE AND
REALLY QUICKLY. I JUST WANTED TO
ADD THAT THE COMMITTEE DID ASK
QUESTIONS ABOUT PAYING, UM ABOUT
PARENTS PAYING FULL TUITION
EARLIER, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT MANY
AGENCIES E S MAIN INCLUDED IN
ROLL FAMILIES THAT PAY A FULL
TUITION, JUST LIKE LISA WILKINS
DESCRIBED. BUT IT DOES TAKE AWAY
FROM THE SPACES THAT WE HAVE TO
MEET OUR CONTRACT. UM I'M SURE
MY TIME IS ALMOST UP. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME LETTING ME
SPEAK. AND THANK YOU FOR STAYING
HERE THIS AFTERNOON. AND OUR
FINAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL COME
FROM LINE. 31, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YES THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KEN
HERON AND MY WIFE. MY SISTER IN
LAW AND MYSELF OPERATES FOR
PRESCHOOLS. IN SELMA. WE JUST
STARTED TODDLERS BECAUSE WITH
THE TK EXPANSION, WE HAVE TO
PIVOT TO SOME DEGREE. I
BASICALLY WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO THE COMMITTEE. I
HEARD SOME REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS
TODAY, AND I KNOW THERE'S A
NUMBER OF VERY STRONG SUPPORTERS
OF THE E COMMUNITY AND WANT TO
THANK ALL OF YOU VERY MUCH,
PARTICULARLY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
KING, I KNOW IS VERY BEEN VERY
HELPFUL AS WELL AS THE WOMEN'S
CAUCUS. BUT PERHAPS NOBODY MORE
SO THAN CHAIRMAN MCCARTY. I WAS
IN THE AUDIENCE YEARS AGO WHEN
YOU SAID YOU WROTE THE LAST
CHECK FOR YOUR LAST CHILD'S
PRESCHOOL, AND YOU TOOK A WHILE,
BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THE
PRESCHOOL FOR ALL EFFECTIVELY
FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS. SO
CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. AND I
KNOW WHEN YOU DID THAT, YOU SAID
THERE'S NO EXPENSIVE WITHOUT
RATE REFORM. BECAUSE YOU GET IT
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU GET
THAT AND REALIZE THAT THE FAMILY
FEEDS WOULD NOT MAKE IT A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD. SO WE APPRECIATE
ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US AND ALL
THAT YOU CAN DO FOR US IN A
DIFFICULT BUDGET SITUATION.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIR. WE HAVE
EXHAUSTED THE QUÊ.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF OUR
CHAIRPERSON CYLINDER KEVIN
MCCARTHY WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN
THE ASSEMBLY. BUDGET SUB TO
COMMITTEE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COLLEAGUES.
OKAY, FINE. HOW YOU DOING? YES.
DID ALL RIGHT FOR A T AND T TO
DISCONNECT THE LINE. IS IT? OKAY
IF WE DISCONNECT? YES THANK YOU
. OKAY THANKS MUCH. WE JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE. RIGHT? YEAH. WE'RE
GOOD TO GO. TO HAVE THE TERM.