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References: 2026 State Fact Sheets

  1. This figure includes beneficiaries of CCDF, Head Start Preschool, Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, AIAN Head Start, MIECHV, state-funded pre-K, and IDEA Parts B Sec. 619 and C. In some cases, children and families are served by more than one program.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024: ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table B09001.
  3. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024: ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table B09001.
  4. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024: ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table B23008.
  5. Child Care Trust, “Child Care Gaps Assessment” (2026).
  6. Child Care Aware of America, “Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply” (2026).
    • NOTE: CO, DC, NM, and SC use data from 2024
  7. Child Care Aware of America, “Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply” (2026).
    • NOTE: CO, DC, LA, NM, and SC use data from 2024
  8. ReadyNation, “The Child Care Crisis Costs the U.S. Economy $172 Billion Each Year’” (2026)
    • NOTE: For IL, ME, and PA a full, state-specific study has not been completed yet. Data for these states is from the 2023 ReadyNation report, which accounts for lost earnings, productivity, and revenue from infant/toddler child care challenges.
  9. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2026
    • NOTE: Children from birth to age five in families with incomes at or below the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start. Programs may also serve a limited number of children from higher-income families—up to 10% above the poverty guidelines and an additional 35% below 130% of the federal poverty level—if specific program requirements are met.
  10. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “CCDF Family Income Eligibility Levels By State” (January 2025)
    • Note: Federal eligibility guidelines allow states to serve families with incomes up to 85% of SMI, but many states set it lower. States serving families over 85% SMI are using other funding sources to do so.
  11. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “Approved CCDF Plans (FY 2025-2027)” and U.S. Census Bureau, “American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample 2024“
    • NOTE: This number/percentage is based on federal eligibility guidelines.
  12. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “FY 2023 Preliminary Data Table 1 – Average Monthly Adjusted Number of Families and Children Served”, “FY 2023 Preliminary Data Table 9 – Average Monthly Percentages of Children in Care by Age Group”,
    • NOTE: This number/percentage is based on federal eligibility guidelines.
  13. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “Approved CCDF Plans (FY 2025-2027)”; U.S. Census Bureau, “American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample 2024”; ACF, “FY 2023 Preliminary Data Table 1 – Average Monthly Adjusted Number of Families and Children Served”; ACF, “FY 2023 Preliminary Data Table 9 – Average Monthly Percentages of Children in Care by Age Group”
    • NOTE: This number/percentage is based on federal eligibility guidelines.
  14. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 Table B17001 – Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Age
    • Note on Methodology: Head start eligibility is estimated using the best available data. The Census 2024 ACS 5-year estimate is the most recent and accurate population estimate for children under 6 in poverty. Table B17001 disaggregates the data by age 0 to age 5, age 5, and age 6+. FFYF added the number of children in poverty ages 0 through age 5, and then divided by 6, evenly pro-rating this population of children into single-year age categories. Head Start eligibility is calculated as children ages 3 through 5 living in families with incomes below the federal poverty level.
  15. Office of Head Start, Performance Indicator Report, Program Year 2025.
    • Note: This number includes children served in American Indian and Alaska Native programs and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. 
  16. Office of Head Start, Performance Indicator Report, Program Year 2025; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024  Table B17001  – Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Age.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 Table B17001 –Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Age
    • Note on Methodology: Head start eligibility is estimated using the best available data. The Census 2024 ACS 5-year estimate is the most recent and accurate population estimate for children under 6 in poverty. Table B17001 disaggregates the data by age 0 to age 5, age 5, and age 6+. FFYF added the number of children in poverty ages 0 through age 5, and then divided by 6, evenly pro-rating this population of children into single-year age categories. Head Start eligibility is calculated as children ages 0 through 2 living in families with incomes below the federal poverty level.
  18. Office of Head Start, Performance Indicator Report, Program Year 2025.
    • Note: This number includes children served in American Indian and Alaska Native programs and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start.
  19. Office of Head Start, Performance Indicator Report, Program Year 2025; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024  Table B17001  – Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Age.
  20. Allison H. Friedman-Krauss, Ph.D.; W. Steven Barnett, Ph.D.; Katherine S. Hodges, M.A.; Karin A. Garver, M.A.; Jennifer K. Duer, Ph.D;, M.Ed G.G. Weisenfeld,Ed.D.; Jessica Siegel, Ph.D., “The State of Preschool 2025,” National Institute for Early Education Research NIEER (2026).
    • NOTE: Includes IN and VA programs even though they do not meet NIEER’s definition of a state-funded preschool program because they have a parent work or education requirement for eligibility.
  21. Allison H. Friedman-Krauss, Ph.D.; W. Steven Barnett, Ph.D.; Katherine S. Hodges, M.A.; Karin A. Garver, M.A.; Jennifer K. Duer, Ph.D;, M.Ed G.G. Weisenfeld,Ed.D.; Jessica Siegel, Ph.D., “The State of Preschool 2025,” National Institute for Early Education Research NIEER (2026).
  22. U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 Data Products: Static Tables Part C Child Count and Settings Table 4 (2023-2024)
  23. U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 Data Products: Static Tables Part B Child Count & Educational Environments Table 2 (2023-2024)
    • NOTE: NM’s data is from 2022-2023
  24. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Dashboard (2025)
  25.  Internal Revenue Service, SOI tax stats – Historic Table 2, Tax year 2022: Historic Table 2
  26. Allison H. Friedman-Krauss, Ph.D.; W. Steven Barnett, Ph.D.; Katherine S. Hodges, M.A.; Karin A. Garver, M.A.; Jennifer K. Duer, Ph.D;, M.Ed G.G. Weisenfeld,Ed.D.; Jessica Siegel, Ph.D., “The State of Preschool 2025,” National Institute for Early Education Research NIEER (2026).
  27.  Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “GY 2025 CCDF Allocations (Based on Appropriations)“
  28. First Five Years Fund, “Mapping PDG B-5 Participation Over Time” (2026)
  29.  Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “GY 2025 CCDF Allocations (Based on Appropriations)“
  30. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Head Start.gov, Head Start Program Facts: Fiscal Year 2024
    • NOTE: The U.S. fact sheet includes Migrant and Seasonal Head Start funding, but the state-level fact sheets do not.
  31. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Head Start.gov, Head Start Program Facts: Fiscal Year 2024
    • NOTE: This does not include Migrant and Seasonal Head Start.
  32. First Five Years Fund, “Mapping PDG B-5 Participation Over Time” (2026)
  33. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), FY25 Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Awards
  34.  U.S. Department of Education, State Tables by Program, Fiscal Year 2025-2027 President’s Budget (2026 Estimates)
  35.  U.S. Department of Education, State Tables by Program, Fiscal Year 2025-2027 President’s Budget (2026 Estimates)
  36. Administration on Children and Families (ACF), TANF Financial Data – FY 2024
  37. Administration on Children and Families (ACF), TANF Financial Data – FY 2024
  38. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “CCDF Family Income Eligibility Levels By State” (January 2025)
    • NOTE: States setting eligibility over 85% SMI are using state funding or other funding sources outside of federal dollars to serve families earning over 85% SMI.
  39. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “CCDF Family Income Eligibility Levels By State” (January 2025)
  40. Child Care Aware of America, “Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply” (2026)
  41. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), “CCDF Family Co-Payments by State,” (January 2025)  
  42. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Care, FY 2023 Preliminary Data Table 7 – Number of Child Care Providers Receiving CCDF Funds
  43. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Query System (May 2025)
  44. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Care, FY 2025-2027 State/Territory CCDF Plans
  45. First Five Years Fund, Mapping Head Start Across States and Districts (2025)
  46. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2026
    • NOTE: Children from birth to age five in families with incomes at or below the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start. Programs may also serve a limited number of children from higher-income families—up to 10% above the poverty guidelines and an additional 35% below 130% of the federal poverty level—if specific program requirements are met.
  47. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), HeadStart.gov, Head Start Service Location Datasets (2026)
  48. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), HeadStart.gov, Head Start Service Location Datasets (2026)
  49.  Office of Head Start, Performance Indicator Report, Program Year 2025
  50.  Office of Head Start, Performance Indicator Report, Program Year 2025
  51.  First Five Years Fund, Mapping PDG B-5 Participation Over Time (2025)
  52.  The PDG B-5 accomplishments draw from various sources, including Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five Report to Congress: PDG B-5 Grant Activities For 2023 (2025), Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five Report to Congress: Highlighting a Sampling of PDG B-5 Grant Activities Between 2019–2021 (2024), ACF’s PDG B-5 State and Territory Map, Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) State Profiles (2021), and state webpages.
  53. Internal Revenue Service, SOI tax stats – Historic Table 2, Tax year 2022: Historic Table 2
  54. First Five Years Fund, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC): Overview, (2025)

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