(1) The Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Education, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer childcare and development programs that offer a full range of services to eligible children from infancy to 13 years of age, inclusive. Existing law requires the Superintendent to administer all California state preschool programs, which include part-day age and developmentally appropriate programs for 3- and 4-year-old children, as provided. Existing law provides that 3- and 4-year-old children are eligible for the state part-day preschool program if the family meets one of several eligibility requirements, including income eligibility.
This bill would, commencing with the 2020–21 fiscal year, and notwithstanding any other law, authorize a provider operating a state preschool program within the attendance boundary of a public school, except as provided, where at least 70% of enrolled pupils are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, to enroll 4-year-old children meeting specified priorities. The bill would authorize any remaining slots to be open for enrollment to any other families not otherwise eligible, as provided. The bill would prohibit a state preschool classroom from exceeding 24 children.
Existing law requires the full-day state preschool reimbursement rate to be $12,070, as provided.
This bill would instead require the full-day state preschool reimbursement rate to be $14,062.50 commencing July 1, 2020, as provided.
(2) Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish requirements for the issuance and renewal of permits authorizing service in the care, development, and instruction of children in childcare and development programs.
This bill would require the commission, on or before July 1, 2020, to update the permit requirements to include the requirement that, as of July 1, 2028, head teachers in a state preschool program with a teacher permit or higher have earned a bachelor's degree with an emphasis or major in early childhood studies or child development, obtained at least 24 units in early childhood studies or child development, and obtained any other practicum and alternative certificates as determined by the commission, as provided. The bill would establish the California Preschool Teacher Qualifications Program for the purpose of supporting staff of licensed preschool and child development programs in acquiring the qualifications described above to improve the quality of preschool programs in California, increasing the compensation of preschool teachers, and maintaining the diversity of the existing preschool workforce. The bill would require the department, subject to an appropriation, as specified, to provide funding to a licensed child development provider that participates in the program upon meeting specified criteria adopted by the department.
(3) Existing law requires the county board of supervisors and the county superintendent of schools to select members for the local childcare and development planning council, known as a local planning council, for that county. Existing law requires a local planning council, by May 30 of each year, and upon approval by the county board of supervisors and the county superintendent of schools, to submit to the State Department of Education the local priorities the council has identified that reflect all childcare needs in the county.
This bill would require a local planning council, on or before May 30, 2020, and upon approval by the county board of supervisors and the county superintendent of schools, to submit to the department a plan for expanding state preschools based on the specified enrollment priorities described above, as provided. By imposing new duties on local planning councils, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires the department to disburse augmentations to the base allocation for the expansion of childcare and development programs to promote equal access to child development services across the state. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a formula for prioritizing the disbursement of augmentations.
This bill would require the Superintendent to consider the plans submitted by a local planning council, as described above, in determining the disbursement of augmentations to the base allocation for the expansion of childcare and development programs. The bill would require the department to allocate funding within each county in accordance with the priorities identified by the local planning council of that county, as provided.
(4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Statutes affected:
AB123: 8265 EDC, 8363 EDC
12/03/18 - Introduced: 8265 EDC, 8363 EDC
03/26/19 - Amended Assembly: 8265 EDC, 8363 EDC
04/22/19 - Amended Assembly: 8265 EDC, 8363 EDC
04/29/19 - Amended Assembly: 8265 EDC, 8363 EDC