Management Bulletin 26–10
Fiscal Year 2027-28 Continued Funding Application information, forms, and instructions for California State Preschool Program contractors.Early Education Division
Subject: Continued Funding Application (CFA), Fiscal Year (FY) 2027-28
Number: 26-10
Date: October 13, 2026
Expires: When Rescinded
Authority: California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR) Section 17726
Attention: Executive Officers and Program Directors of California State Preschool Programs (CSPP) and Prekindergarten and Family Literacy Support (CPKS) Programs
Purpose
This Management Bulletin (MB) provides information and guidance to current California Department of Education (CDE), Early Education Division (EED), CSPP and CPKS contractors regarding how to request continued funding for fiscal year (FY) 2027–28 CSPP and CPKS contracts. This MB supersedes the CFA information found in MB 25-08.
Policy
To be considered for continued funding for FY 2027–28, CSPP and CPKS contractors must complete and submit the FY 2027–28 CFA on or before 5 p.m. on December 18, 2026. The FY 2027–28 CFA and associated forms are available on the CDE CFA web page.
By completing and returning the FY 2027–28 CFA, your agency indicates that it wishes to renew its CSPP contract for FY 2027–28, and CPKS contract, as applicable, and accepts all of the terms and conditions of such contract(s), which will be provided to all contractors being renewed for funding no later than June 1, 2027.
CSPP and CPKS contractors who apply for and are approved for continued funding will not need to sign and return a CSPP and/or CPKS contract to provide services for FY 2027–28, as contractors who apply for and are approved for continued funding through the CFA process will be automatically renewed in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, as well as all contract terms and conditions that will be incorporated into the FY 2027–28 contract.
If CSPP and CPKS contractors do not wish to have a contract in 2027–28, they may reject the terms of the new contract(s) and opt not to renew their services under the terms of the new contract(s). Contractors that wish to reject the terms of the FY 2027–28 contract(s) must provide written notice that the terms of the contract are rejected by sending an email to EarlyEducationContracts@cde.ca.gov on or before June 30, 2027. Such email should come from the Executive Director/Superintendent of the contracting entity or their authorized representative and state that the terms of the FY 2027–28 CSPP contract, and CPKS contract if applicable, are rejected. Contractors providing such notice to CDE of the rejection of the terms of the contract will not have a contract in effect for FY 2027–28.
Note: Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and other public agencies must include a board resolution authorizing execution of the CFA and identifying the individual(s) authorized to sign the CFA and related contract documents on behalf of the agency. It is important that your agency use the template board resolution provided on the CFA web page and seek board approval as soon as possible to ensure timely submission of the CFA. Note that previous years' resolutions may not be re-used. A new resolution is required each year. Please review the CFA Instructions for signature authorization requirements.
The EED will host an instructional webinar for CSPP and CPKS contractors regarding MB 26-10 and the FY 2027–28 CFA on November 3, 2026. The purpose of this webinar is to provide an overview of the CFA process, highlight changes and reminders for this year's application, and answer frequently asked question. Advance registration is required.
FY 2027–28 Continued Funding Application Instructional Webinar
Date: November 3, 2026
Time: 10–11 a.m Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Registration: Register for the November 3 Webinar
Implementation Directives
Applications must be received by the CDE, EED, on or before 5 p.m., December 18, 2026, regardless of the method of application submission.
Option 1: Submit CFA Online with Electronic Signature
The CFA will be administered electronically via software called Snap Survey. The CFA signature page must be digitally signed by the CSPP contractor’s authorized representative. Please refer to details in the CFA Instructions document posted on the CFA web page. Upon completing the electronic CFA online, an email must be sent to CFA@cde.ca.gov stating:
“I have electronically submitted the Continued 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].”
Your application will be incomplete without this email certification.
Option 2: Submit Hard Copy by US Mail
If submitting by US mail, send the completed and signed CFA and all required attachments to the following address:
California Department of Education
Early Education Division
Attention: Continued Funding Application 2027–28
1430 N Street, Suite 3410
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
Background and Authority
Per California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR) Section 17726(d), “Contractors that intend to accept the offer to continue services in the subsequent contract period shall respond to a Continued Funding Application request from the Early Education Division in accordance with the instructions and timelines specified in the request.”
In addition, 5 CCR Section 17726(e) states, “Failure to respond within the timelines specified in the continued funding application request shall constitute notification to the Early Education Division of the contractor’s intent to discontinue services at the end of the current contract period unless the contractor has received a written extension of the original timeline from the Early Education Division.” Failure to respond to requests from the EED for additional information will result in the application being deemed incomplete.
Resources
If there are any questions regarding the application process, contact the CFA team by email at CFA@cde.ca.gov. Include your agency’s name, vendor number, and phone number on all inquiries.
If you have any programmatic questions regarding the information in this MB, please contact your assigned EED, Program Quality Implementation (PQI) office consultant by using the CDE Consultant Regional Assignments directory web page.
If you have any fiscal-related questions regarding the information in this MB, please contact your assigned Early Education and Nutrition Fiscal Services fiscal analyst by using the Fiscal Apportionment Analyst Directory web page.