Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Early Education

There are many child care and development programs in California. These programs are for children from birth to age twelve. They offer early learning and after-school services to babies, toddlers, children in preschool, and children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Some programs assist children with disabilities and children of migrant farm workers. Many of the programs were set up to help parents with child care while they work.

Child care and development programs can provide care, education, and food for children. They are paid for with state and federal tax money, and in some cases, parent fees.

The California Department of Education helps manage several child care and development programs in California.


Program Overview
Descriptions of and budget information about child development programs administered by the Department.
Contractor Information
Resources and important information for early education contractors, including Desired Results, management bulletins, forms, fiscal services, child development permits, and data reporting.
Laws, Regulations, & Requirements
Legal and regulatory requirements contained in Education Code, California Code of Regulations, Funding Terms & Conditions, Compliance Review Instrument, California School Accounting Manual, and Audit Guide.
Quality Rating and Improvement System
A Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs.
Resources
Resources for child development contractors, families and the child care community.
Interest Holder Groups
Leadership bodies that ensure statewide collaboration among early childhood programs that will help to define future policy for children birth to kindergarten.
Recently Posted in Early Education
  • CDMIS Update #34 Instructions (added 08-Feb-2024)
    Provides instruction on how users can export existing CDD-801A data from the Child Development Management Information System (CDMIS), copy their records to the “CDD-801A Microsoft Excel Template”, and save as a text file to upload to the CDMIS.
  • Management Bulletin 24-01 (added 29-Jan-2024)
    Guidance on California State Preschool Program Neighborhood School Eligibility
  • CDMIS Update #32 (added 22-Jan-2024)
    Child Development Management Information System (CDMIS) Update Regarding New Reason Codes U (CSPP Early Enrollment) and V (Means-Tested Government Program)