6110 Department of Education
Program Descriptions

30 - SPECIAL PROGRAMS

30.10 - Child Development:
Provides a full range of child care and development services, including part- and full-time child care and development and supportive services to children from low-income families and families with special needs. Several different programs exist to target resources to specific populations or to address specific needs. The State Preschool Program provides a wide range of educational services in part-day settings for pre-kindergarten (three-four year old) children from low-income families and parent education for the parents of eligible children. The After School Education and Safety program provides students in grades K-9 with academic support, homework assistance, and enrichment programs, in a safe after-school environment. Child care services for families participating in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program help public assistance recipients achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. The Department administers child care for CalWORKs Stages 2 and 3.

30.20 - Child Nutrition:
Assists participating public and private schools, county offices of education, public and private residential child care institutions, camps, family day care homes, and non-residential adult day care centers in serving nutritious meals by providing educational and technical assistance, and federal and state subsidies. Subsidies are received from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, Child Care Food Program, Adult Day Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, After School Meals Program, and the Nutrition Education and Training Program. Subsidies also are provided by the state through the state-mandated Child Nutrition Programs, the School Breakfast Start-Up Grants Program, and the Meal Supplement for Pregnant and Lactating Students Program.

30.50 - Food Distribution:
Makes surplus USDA donated food available to certain California public, private, and nonprofit agencies. The Department is designated as the California state agency for USDA surplus food distribution.