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Head Start & Early Head Start

Data & Analysis

The Biden Administration Gives Added Flexibility to Serve More Children in Head Start

On March 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law two changes that give Head Start programs additional flexibility to enroll children in Tribal communities and children of farmworkers.  Tribal Head …

Data & Analysis

The Fundamental Role of Child Care in Supporting Women

Last month, the Center for American Progress (CAP) published a new report, “Playbook for the Advancement of Women in the Economy.” Aligning with Women’s History Month, this “playbook” provides a …

Data & Analysis

GAO Report: Opportunities Within Head Start to Better Align Resources with Child Poverty

Recently, GAO released a report on the availability of Head Start throughout the nation. The report finds that the availability of Head Start programs varies widely across states and counties …

Policy Letters

ED and HHS Urge States to Make Headway on Mixed Delivery Preschool

Earlier this week, the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) released a joint Dear Colleague letter urging leaders to work with local education agencies (LEAs) …

Policy Letters

FFYF Submits Comments on 2023 Head Start NPRM

Last week, the First Five Years Fund (FFYF) submitted comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming, published by …

Data & Analysis

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: A Deep Dive Into Dual Language Learners

As FFYF commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month, we take a moment to reflect on the remarkable contributions of Latinx communities across the United States.  In recognizing and celebrating our nation’s Latinx …

Press Releases & Statements

STATEMENT: FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling on Senate Markup of FY24 Funding Levels for Child Care and Early Learning Programs

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a bipartisan mark up on proposed funding levels for child care and early …

Press Releases & Statements

STATEMENT: First Five Years Fund Executive Director Sarah Rittling on Proposed FY24 Funding Levels for Child Care and Early Learning Programs

“Federal funding provides the foundation for child care and early learning programs. Now is the time to bring greater support for working families and children, not reverse course. We urge …

Data & Analysis

Unprecedented Bipartisan Support for Robust Early Learning and Care Funding

As House and Senate appropriations requests come to a close, an unprecedented number of House members from both sides of the aisle have signed onto Dear Colleague letters calling for …

Photo of Sarah Rattling
Press Releases & Statements

FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling Testifies Before Key House Committee On Child Care Funding

WASHINGTON – Today, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) Executive Director Sarah Rittling appeared before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) to testify about …

Policy Letters

FFYF, Major Organizations Call for Increased Funding for Child Care Programs in FY24 Appropriations

WASHINGTON – Today, the First Five Years Fund (FFYF) and a coalition of 44 major early education advocacy organizations wrote to Congressional appropriators calling for increased funding for federal early learning and care …

Events & Hearings

FFYF Hosts Congressional Appropriations Briefing Highlighting Importance of Child Care Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Congressional staff for a bipartisan briefing on the importance of federal early learning and child care programs and the need …

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