Funding for Key Early Learning Programs, FY2027

Each year, Congress determines funding levels for all of the federal defense and non-defense discretionary programs, including those that support the care and education of children from birth through age five. Traditionally, subcommittees within the House and Senate Appropriations Committees develop their own legislation that sets funding levels for the programs within their jurisdiction, which is then taken up by the full Appropriations Committees, and later the full legislative body, before a negotiation process between the two chambers of Congress and ultimately the president’s signature. 

Over the past fifteen years, federal early learning programs have seen steady, significant progress through increased, bipartisan investments from both Congress and the White House.

Below is a timeline of recent funding decisions by Congress for Fiscal Year 2027:

• June 5: The House Appropriations Committee approved the Labor-H bill. See all proposed funding levels for child care and early learning programs here. 
  • CCDBG: Increase of at least $3.57 billion, for a total of at least $12.4 billion
  • Early Head Start/Head Start:Increase of at least $1.91 billion for a total of at least $14.27 billion
  • PDG B-5: At least $315 million
• June 4: The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) Appropriations Subcommittee released its FY2027 funding proposal, including:
  • Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $10 million increase at $8.8 billion;
  • Early Head Start/Head Start: $10 million increase at $12.3 billion;
  • Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5): Eliminated.
• April 20: Democratic Senators submit a Dear Colleague letter in support of federal funding for child care and early learning programs.
• April 3: White House Budget Proposal released.
• March 27: Deadline for House Dear Colleague letters in support of FY27 child care and early learning funding. Note: The FY27 Dear Colleague letters showed record levels of support for federal child care and early learning programs.
• March 25: 89 National and State organizations submit a letter to Appropriators in support of federal funding for child care and early learning including:
  • CCDBG: Increase of at least $3.57 billion, for a total of at least $12.4 billion
  • Early Head Start/Head Start:Increase of at least $1.91 billion for a total of at least $14.27 billion
  • PDG B-5: At least $315 million
• March 17: FFYF’s hosts “FFYF’s ABCs of Federal Early Learning” briefing on the Hill for Members and staff.  

What’s Next

• Floor vote on House Labor-H proposal
• Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee releases its proposal.
• September 30: End of the Fiscal Year. Congress must pass a spending package by midnight, a temporary “Continuing Resolution” to buy more time to pass a package, or face a government shutdown.

The chart below includes proposed FY2027 funding levels for the key early learning programs.

DownloadEarlyLearningFunding_FY2027 (111.36 kB)

HISTORIC RESOURCES

Below you will find links to charts from previous fiscal years:

• FY26
• FY25
• FY24
• FY23
• FY22
• FY21
• FY20