Bipartisan Congressional Conference Committee Approves Increases to ECE Funding

Yesterday, a Congressional Conference committee made up of bipartisan representatives from the House and Senate announced it had reached agreement on a funding “minibus” package that included the combined fiscal year (FY) 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) programs. This bipartisan agreement increased or sustained funding for all of the federal early childhood education programs, including Head Start/Early Head Start, Child Care, and more.

Year after year, regardless of which party holds power in Congress or the White House, we see bipartisan support for our federal early childhood education programs and again this year they came out as big winners from this Conference negotiation. Both the House and Senate bills included increased or sustained funding for these programs.

The funding levels included in this bill will ensure more children and families, particularly low-income families in communities across the country, are able to benefit from federal support across multiple programs birth through five.  This bill is expected to pass the U.S. Senate next week and the U.S. House of Representatives the following week before reaching the president’s desk.

Take a look at the final FY2019 numbers approved yesterday:

Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)

• $5.3 billion
  • $50 million above FY2018

Early Head Start / Head Start

• $10.1 billion
  • $200 million above FY2018

Preschool Development Grants

• $250 million
  • Level with FY2018

Child Care Means Parents in School

• $50 million
  • Level with FY2018

IDEA Part B Preschool Grants

• $391.12 million
  • $10 million above FY2018

IDEA Part C Grants for Infants and Families      

• $470 million
  • Level with FY2018

Also attached to the funding package is FY2019 funding for the Department of Defense, as well as a short-term Continuing Resolution to fund the rest of the government through December 7, 2018.

FFYF will be following the upcoming House and Senate action on this funding package, so stay tuned for updates and further analysis.