California
2023
For every dollar spent on school-aged students in California, $0.12 was spent on infants and toddlers, and $0.28 was spent on preschool-aged children.
California invested over $8 billion in early care and education in 2023. Of these investments in birth to kindergarten-entry:
– 33% supported infants and toddlers, and 67% supported children aged three to kindergarten-entry.
– 40% came from federal sources, and 60% came from state funds.
ECE Spending by Program Type
Between 2022 and 2023, California increased state-specific spending on children from birth through kindergarten-entry by almost $844 million.
In 2023, California supported early care and education through dedicated programs such as the California State Preschool Program, California Home Visiting Program, and Early Start. Continued investments, such as expansions to the California TK Program, will be reflected in future reports.
Per Capita Spending by Age Group
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