Why child care could be 'at a standstill' as California plans not to expand subsidized spaces

"In my mind, I plan to pay for child care until she doesn't need it anymore,"

"That's not until high school, pretty much."

"But realizing that this is our child-care governor, there was a lot that was promised to the early care and education field, which I feel is half-done."

"The median cost for full-time care for an infant in Los Angeles County is $1,209 a month at a family child-care home and $1,818 a month at a center in 2024, according to data from the California Budget & Policy Center."

Jazmine Locke, a middle-income worker in Antelope Valley, qualifies for California-subsidized day care for her 7-month-old daughter but remains on a long waitlist and expects to pay for child care until high school. Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget did not fund the promised expansion of subsidized child care for the second straight year amid an estimated $3-billion deficit. Demand far outstrips supply, leaving many eligible families on waitlists for years and causing numerous children to age out before securing spots. State and federal budget uncertainty and unfinished commitments have left early-care leaders disappointed. Median monthly costs in Los Angeles County range from roughly $884 to $1,818 depending on age and setting.

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