California State Preschool Program (CSPP) QRIS Block Grant FY 2026-27

Funding Description

As of 2014-15, Senate Bill 858 (Chapter 32, Statutes of 2014) authorized $50 million of Proposition 98 funds annually for California State Preschool Programs (CSPP) participation in and implementation of a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). The CSPP QRIS Block Grant provides annual funds for the support of local early learning QRIS that increase the number of low-income children in high-quality CSPPs that prepare those children for success in school and life. The Request for Applications (RFA) encompasses funding for the years 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants	Local educational agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria	Applicants must be a part of a local QRIS consortium; consortia must implement a QRIS incorporating the Quality Continuum Framework; consortia must use a shared Tiered Rating Matrix.
Other Eligibility Considerations	The funding will be allocated for the CSPP QRIS Block Grants in fiscal year (FY) 2026-27. Applicants awarded a QRIS Block Grant will receive funding subject to quarterly fiscal reporting.
Eligible Grade Level(s)	Pre-K
Eligible Age Level(s)	2, 3, 4

Funding

Legal Authority	California Education Code Section 8203.1
Source / Type	State / Grant
State Fiscal Year	2026-27
SACS Resource / Revenue Codes	6127 / 8590
Total Available	$50,000,000
Recipient Amount	Variable
Match Requirement	No
Allocation Formula	Based on the 2024-25 Contracted Child Days of Enrollment Child data from (March 2024 CDD-801A Enrollment data) CDE's Child Development Management Information System, the CSPP QRIS Block Grant allocations for 2025-26 were determined using a formula that accounts for the proportion of CSPP slots allocated to each consortium including a $5000 operational base for addressing small county needs. Amounts are organized by the current CSPP QRIS Block Grant grantees. For FY 2026-27, grant allocations will remain the same and will be re-evaluated during the next RFA cycle in FY 2027-28. The annual CSPP QRIS Block Grant allocation is subject to appropriation each year in the California State Budget.

Important Dates

Date Application Available	January 10, 2025
Due Date	March 14, 2025
Expected Notification Date	May 1, 2025

Additional Information

Application	Unavailable
Background	CSPP QRIS Block Grant  [http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/op/csppqrisblockgrant.asp]
Fiscal	Unavailable
Other	Unavailable

Contacts

Program	Joanna Englehardt, 916-322-6233, qcc@cde.ca.gov
Fiscal	Fiona Lavelle, 916-322-6233, qcc@cde.ca.gov
Division	Early Education Division, 916-322-6233 (phone), 916-322-6233 (fax)