惠及1200万儿童，中央财政资金已到位

Core Viewpoint - The implementation of free preschool education is a significant milestone in China's early childhood education development, aimed at reducing the financial burden on families and promoting a birth-friendly society [3][4][8]. Group 1: Policy Implementation - The State Council has issued an opinion to gradually implement free preschool education, starting from the autumn semester of 2025, which will exempt public kindergartens from charging care education fees for children in their final year [3][6]. - The policy is expected to benefit approximately 12 million children, with an estimated increase in national fiscal expenditure of around 20 billion yuan for the upcoming semester, effectively reducing family education expenses by the same amount [5][7]. Group 2: Financial Support and Mechanism - The financial burden resulting from the exemption of care education fees will be shared between central and local governments, with the central government covering 80%, 60%, and 50% of the costs in western, central, and eastern regions, respectively [7][10]. - The national fiscal expenditure for preschool education has significantly increased from 86.2 billion yuan in 2013 to 315 billion yuan in 2023, reflecting an annual growth rate of 13.8% [11]. Group 3: Future Considerations - There are plans to extend the free education policy beyond the final preschool year and potentially into high school, depending on economic and demographic factors [8][11]. - The government aims to create a comprehensive support system for families, which includes economic, service, and cultural support to alleviate the burden of child-rearing and education [14][15].