Continued Funding Application FAQs

Application Submission, Due Date, Signature

How many copies of the CFA do I need to submit?

Only the original application is required whether submitting by email or by US mail. No additional copies need to be submitted.

When is the CFA due?

The completed CFA packet must be received by the Early Education Division (EED) on or before 5 p.m., November 14, 2025, regardless of submittal method.

Can I submit the CFA with a digital or electronic signature?

Yes. A digital signature, which is a user's authenticated electronic signature applied through Adobe, DocuSign, or similar software, may be applied to the CFA and associated forms. Alternatively, an electronic signature, which is signature applied electronically, may be applied to the CFA and associated forms. With either method, the authorized representative signing must also send an email to authenticate their signature by emailing CFA@cde.ca.gov the following: “I have electronically submitted the Continuing Funding Application (CFA) to the California Department of Education on behalf of my agency/organization. I certify that I was authorized to submit the CFA for [Insert Contractor Name], vendor number [XXXX]. [Insert Contractor Name] intends for the CFA transaction to be completed by electronic means, which shall have the same effect as if it were signed in ink on a piece of paper, and all signatures included with the CFA are intended to be binding upon [Insert Contractor Name].”

Who can sign the CFA?

The CFA must be signed by a person with the legal authority to contractually bind the agency, or the contractor's "authorized representative." For Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), this is typically the County Superintendent. For non-public agencies, this is typically the agency's Executive Director, Owner, or President/Chief Executive Officer. See details below under "Board Resolution."

Where can I find my Vendor Number?

The Vendor Number is assigned by the California Department of Education (CDE). It can be found in the Child Data Management Information System (CDMIS), or you may request it by sending an email to CFA@cde.ca.gov.

Does the Early Education Division (EED) accept CFAs for programs other than the California State Preschool Program (CSPP)?

The EED can only accept the CFA for the CSPP and Prekindergarten and Family Literacy Support (CPKS) contracts. Contractors should visit the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) website for instructions on how to submit a CFA for other state subsidized early learning programs.

Is there a different application to apply for a new California State Preschool Program (CSPP)?

Yes. The CFA process is to continue contracting with the California Department of Education (CDE) to provide services under CSPP and Prekindergarten and Family Literacy Support (CPKS) contracts. The Request for Applications (RFA) process is to apply for funding for a new CSPP or to apply for additional funding for an existing CSPP.

Extensions

How can I request an extension if we cannot submit the CFA and/or associated documents on time?

Please submit a request for an extension of time to the CFA inbox at CFA@cde.ca.gov. Include the specific reason(s) why you are requesting an extension. If requesting an extension due to late board approval, please describe the circumstances that resulted in the late approval. Extension requests must be received no later than the CFA due date. Contractors who request a time extension may experience delays in receipt of their contract.

Board Resolution

Is a Board Resolution Required?

Yes, if you are an LEA or other type of public agency (see definition below). Non-public agencies have different requirements, see below.

The State Administrative Manual defines a public agency as any state agency, city, county, special district, school district, community college district, county superintendent of schools, charter school, or federal agency. Any California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractor that does not meet these criteria is considered a non-public agency.

Public Agencies

If the contractor is a Local Educational Agency (LEA) or other public agency, the CFA must be accompanied by a board resolution from the governing body authorizing execution of the CFA and identifying the individual(s) authorized to sign the CFA and related contract documents on behalf of the agency.

For county offices of education (COEs), a resolution is not required only if the County Superintendent signs the CFA and all related contract documents. If anyone else signs, a board resolution or minutes authorizing delegation of signature authority is required.

Non-Public Agencies

Non-public agencies such as nonprofit, community-based organizations should follow their agency’s bylaws and legal requirements pertaining to authorizing contracts on behalf of the agency. Non-public agencies are not required to submit a resolution if the CFA and all related contract documents are signed by the contracted agency’s Executive Director, Owner, or President/Chief Executive Officer. If an individual with a different title than above signs the CFA and related contract documents, provide (1) a letter on company letterhead, (2) board resolution, or (3) board meeting minutes indicating the signee has been delegated the legal authority to sign the CFA and related contract documents on behalf of the agency.

Is there a specific form that LEAs need to provide to meet the requirement for the authorizing Board Resolution?

Contractors must use the Board Resolution template provided on the CDE CFA web page to ensure their resolution meets all requirements. The CFA must be signed by a person who has been delegated the authority to sign the CFA and related contract documents on behalf of the agency.

Does our Board Resolution have to be current, or can it be from a previous year? We may not be able to obtain the Board Resolution prior to the CFA due date.

The Board Resolution must be current and must refer to the correct fiscal year in order to satisfy the requirement. Contractors must use the Board Resolution template provided on the CDE CFA web page to ensure their resolution meets all requirements. If the contractor is unable to obtain the Board Resolution prior to the CFA due date, the contractor may request an extension of time.

Our county office is governed by the Superintendent of Schools not the Board of Education. Can the CFA be signed by the Superintendent's designee?

For county offices of education (COEs), the CFA should be signed by the Superintendent. If a person with a different title signs the CFA or any related contract documents, provide (1) a letter on company letterhead, (2) board resolution, or (3) board meeting minutes indicating the signee has been delegated the legal authority to sign the CFA and related contract documents on behalf of the agency.

Program Narrative and Minimum Days of Operation

I do not have changes to my program narrative or minimum days of operation (MDO). Do I need to complete a Program Narrative Change (EED 3704A)?

No.

If there is an increase or decrease to the MDO for our California State Preschool Program (CSPP), do I need to complete a Program Narrative Change (EED 3704A)?

Yes. Any deviation from the MDO currently approved in your signed and executed contract constitutes a program narrative change.

Are we required to include a program calendar in the CFA packet if there are no changes to our MDO?

Yes. All CSPP contractors must include a program calendar for each type of CSPP operated (i.e., full-day and/or part-day) as applicable. CSPP contractors will complete and attach the Program Calendar (Form EED 9730) with the CFA packet.

What MDO are allowed?

California Education Code (EC) Section 8207 states:

(b) A part-day California state preschool program shall operate for a minimum of (1) three hours per day, excluding time for home-to-school transportation, and (2) a minimum of 175 days per year, unless the contract specifies a lower number of days of operation. (c) A full-day California state preschool program shall operate for a minimum of 246 days per year, unless the contract specifies a lower number of days of operation.

At my site I have a full-day program that runs 248 days and a part-day program with both a.m. and p.m. classes that run 175 days. Do I need to submit two program calendars?

Yes. If the contractor operates both a full-day and a part-day program, a separate Program Calendar (Form EED 9730) must be submitted for each.

We have several subcontractors that run a part-day/part-year program. Do I need to include each of their calendars individually or do I submit one calendar with all their days of operation represented? They all meet MDO but may have different start and end dates and different closures throughout the program year.

Calendars are not required from each subcontractor. Contractors with more than one site should submit a calendar that reflects all days that one or more sites will be open, even if all sites are not open on that date.

We have three different sites that offer part-day preschool. They have different days of operation and different start and end dates. Do we have to submit a calendar for each one?

Calendars are not required from each site. If all three sites are part of the same contract, you may only submit one part-day calendar that represents all the days that one or more sites will be open, even if all sites are not open on that date.

We have a site that has closed, and we are licensing a new site. Do we need to complete a Program Narrative Change (EED 3704A)?

Yes. The new site needs to be approved by your agency's assigned Program Quality Implementation (PQI) office consultant. Please send your assigned consultant a Program Narrative Change and a copy of your new license, and your consultant will either approve or deny the new site and advise you on other next steps.

We are planning to open a new site next year. We have not yet completed building the site, and do not have a license for it yet. Should I add this site to the Child Data Management Information System (CDMIS) now and include it in the CFA as a narrative change?

Changes should be reported when they happen, and changes can be reported throughout the year. In this case, you do not need to include this site on the CFA. You can submit a Program Narrative Change to your assigned Program Quality Implementation (PQI) consultant once you have the license.

Board of Directors

Do I need to submit the names of my Board of Directors?

Yes, if you are a non-public agency. Non-public agencies such as nonprofit, community-based organizations are required to attach a list of the agency’s current officers and board of directors or governing individuals. The list must include each person’s name, title, telephone number, mailing address, and email address.

Can my agency's Officers and Board of Directors have the same information listed for all members?

No. Include each member's name, title, mailing address, email, and phone number associated with the organization they are affiliated with.

Subcontractors

I do not have a subcontractor; do I need to sign and return the Subcontract Certification form (EED 3704B)?

No.

Are Board Resolutions required by subcontracting entities if they are public agencies?

No.

Federal Certifications (Form CO.8)

Federal Certifications (Form CO.8): For Place of Performance, do we include the addresses of the three different sites that we operate?

Yes. Include all sites where services are provided, as well as the contractor’s headquarters. An additional page may be added, as necessary.

Child Data Management Information System

The Child Data Management Information System (CDMIS) asks for license capacity. We operate a part-day program (a.m. and p.m.). For license capacity, do you want the capacity for the number of children allowed at one time?

The licensed capacity is indicated on the facility license issued by the Child Care Licensing Division and that number must be entered in this section of the CDMIS. If you are a Local Educational Agency (LEA) and have an approved license exemption from the CDE EED, include the capacity of the number of children allowed in the facility at one time.

The Child Data Management Information System (CDMIS) asks for the breakdown by age of children served. Is this an estimate?

No, the breakdown of children served in your program is not an estimate. Please enter the exact number of children served per age, as of the date the CDMIS is updated.

When updating Child Data Management Information System (CDMIS) for the CSPP CFA, do we delete the other contract types listed under the same site? Some of our sites serve CSPP and General Child Care (CCTR) contracts.

Please do not delete any of the other contract types listed in CDMIS because the CDMIS is also currently being utilized by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). It is important that all your contract type information remains in CDMIS.

Contract Renewal

How do I know if I am a contractor who needs to complete the CFA? Is my agency's contract renewed automatically?

All California State Preschool Program (CSPP) and Prekindergarten and Family Literacy Support (CPKS) contractors are required to complete and submit the CFA in order for their contract to be renewed for the next fiscal year.

Will our agency's contract number be the same as last year?

No. Your contract number will change every fiscal year. The first digit in your contract number represents the fiscal year of the contract.

Will the automatic renewal process be ongoing, or just for this year?

Automatic renewal via the CFA process is intended to be offered each year.

In the transition to Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK), should we submit the CFA based on current program operations and plan to submit an update for current California State Preschool Program (CSPP) operations later in the year?

If you are aware now that there will be changes to your CSPP because of UTK, those changes should be included on your Program Narrative Change Form (EED 3704A). If you are not aware of any changes that might be made, and changes occur later, then you would submit a Program Narrative Change Form (EED 3704A) to your assigned EED, Program Quality Implementation (PQI) office consultant at the time that those changes are going to be made.

Should we complete a separate CFA for our General Child Care (CCTR) contract with California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and our California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contract with the California Department of Education (CDE)?

Yes. The CDE only accepts CFAs for CSPP and CPKS contracts. The CCTR and other contract types are administered by CDSS. Please contact CDSS at CFA@dss.ca.gov if you have questions regarding CDSS’s CFA process.

If we have a site name change, can we submit our CFA with the new name or should we use the name from the original application?

If the site name change is not approved by your assigned Program Quality Implementation (PQI) consultant prior to submitting the CFA, include the name from the original application. Please contact your assigned PQI consultant to discuss what you will need to submit to have the name change approved.

Holidays and Professional Development Days

Are the two professional development days (PDDs) still available?

Yes, two PDDs are still available.

If we use the two professional development days (PDDs), are they counted toward our total days of operation?

“Days of operation” is defined as days that certified children will be served within the fiscal year. Any days when the contractor closes for a full day to provide training to staff are not counted toward this total. The program calendar should reflect only days that a contractor provides services to at least one certified child. The California Department of Education (CDE) is aware of proposed legislative changes to PDDs; however, as of this web page’s posting date, no changes have been made. If the proposed legislative changes do become law, the CDE will update this guidance to reflect such a change.

On the Program Calendar (EED 9730), should I check the box for the two professional development days (PDDs) we will use, or leave those days blank?

The program calendar should reflect only days that a contractor provides services to at least one certified child. If these PDDs are days certified children will not be served, these boxes should not be checked on the program calendar.

Does Juneteenth impact how many days that are considered full year?

The addition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday does not change the California state law regarding California State Preschool Program (CSPP) minimum days of operation. Even with the addition of a new federal holiday, part-day CSPP is still required to operate a minimum of 175 days per year and full-day CSPP is required to operate for a minimum of 246 days per year, unless the contract specifies a lower number of days of operation.