UNITE-LA has been closely monitoring the discussions reflecting the legislature and Gov. Newsom's administration priorities. The legislature met its constitutional deadline of passing a state budget, but we have yet to see the final outcomes of trailer bills that will dictate cradle-to-career investments. A few key items we do know that are aligned to our investment priorities include:

• Adoption of the Cal Grant Equity Framework, which will make state financial aid more equitable;
• $500 million for Golden State Pathways, including $200 million for dual enrollment programs;
• Allocation of $20 million to further support the Educator Workforce Investment Grant program to coordinate and support free professional learning opportunities for educators;
• A cost-of-living adjustment of 6.56 percent for Local Control Funding Formula—the largest cost-of-living adjustment in the history of LCFF;
• And $65 million General Fund total to establish the California Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program, which will develop new, or expand on existing, apprenticeship programs for 16- to 24-year-olds who are unhoused, in the welfare or juvenile justice system.

We look forward to working with the Governor and legislature on ensuring we support early care and education providers by seeing through the much needed increase in reimbursement rates in California.