Appropriations
Overview
Child care is expensive, and there’s a massive difference between what providers need to charge to keep doors open and what parents can afford. Each year, Congress allocates federal funding which serves as the foundation for early learning and child care programs in all 50 states.
This funding increases child care and early learning options for parents and families through a variety of federal programs, including: CCDBG, Head Start and Early Head Start, PDG B-5, and more. These programs benefit families, businesses, and local economies in all 50 states. Stable federal funding is essential to keeping child care services strong while helping more parents afford the care they need to go to work.
While federal investments for early learning and care have garnered strong bipartisan support for years, current federal investments only reach a fraction of income-eligible families. Congress must continue to support working families by protecting and prioritizing federal funding for early learning and child care programs.
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News and Resources
FFYF Capsule Collection: Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations
A one-stop-shop collection of the top facts, resources, and data around the FY27 Appropriations process.
2026: ABCs of Federal Early Learning & Child Care Funding Streams
An overview of the top federal child care and early learning programs and how they are funded.
FY27 Early Learning and Child Care ‘Dear Colleague’ Letters
“Dear Colleague” letters are a key way for lawmakers to convey and generate support for child care and early learning programs.
TOOLKIT: FY27 Appropriations
Congress: Please sign on to “Dear Colleague” letters to show your support for early learning and child care funding. These letters build momentum for programs like Head Start, CCDBG, and PDG B-5
FY2027: Community Letter to Appropriators Calls For increased Funding for Child Care and Early Learning
Signed by 87 organizations across 32 states, this letter outlines priorities for the FY27 Appropriations process.
Lawmakers Show Record Support for Child Care and Early Learning Programs
An overview of the FY27 Dear Colleague letters with statistics on number of signers.
The First Five Things to Know: Appropriations FY27
What you need to know about FY27 appropriations and it’s impact on child care and early learning.
