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FEATURED PRIORITIES

Appropriations FY2027

For FY2027, Congress should protect, prioritize, and expand these investments in programs including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Early Head Start/Head Start, and the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5).

Child Care is an Affordability Issue

“Affordability anxiety” is particularly high for parents of young children, where child care consistently stands out as one of the most significant and unavoidable expenses.

Modernizing Child Care

Modernizing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is essential to ensuring more working families can access the quality, affordable child care care they need.

2026 Early Head Start and Head Start

Head Start has a long history of giving kids a strong start through comprehensive early learning, health, and nutrition services. We are focused on continuing to bolster overall support for this essential program at the federal level.

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Events & Hearings

FFYF Hosts Congressional Appropriations Briefing Highlighting Importance of Child Care Funding

March 16, 2023

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 …

In the News

ACF Announces New PDG B-5 Grantees Totaling Approximately $300 Million

January 30, 2023

On January 27th, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced the latest round of Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) grantees. Approximately $300 million in funding will …

Press Releases & Statements

Congress Set to Approve Critical Funding Increases for Key Federal Early Childhood Education Programs

December 20, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressional leaders released their final FY2023 omnibus spending package, which includes prioritizing more than $2.8 billion in funding increases for core federal early learning and care programs, …

Press Releases & Statements

Ahead of End-Of-Year Deal, Bipartisan Lawmakers & Members-Elect Agree Congress Must Work to Double Funding for CCDBG

December 5, 2022

As negotiations for the FY2023 spending bill continue, House and Senate members from across the aisle, members-elect for the 118th Congress, and leading national organizations agree that Congressional Appropriators must …

Report Highlights

Guidance for States to Leverage PDG B-5

November 1, 2022

On September 13, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced $266 million in Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5) renewal and planning grants. PDG B-5 grants assist …

In the News

ACF Releases Guidance to Increase ECE Workforce Compensation and Supports

September 14, 2022

On September 12, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released three information memoranda that emphasize sustainable strategies to support the workforce across three federal funding streams: Head Start, Child …

In the News

ACF releases New Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Funding Opportunity Focused on Supporting the Workforce

September 14, 2022

On September 13, the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) announced $266 million Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5) renewal and planning grants. The Notices of Funding Opportunity, …

Factsheets

FFYF’s 2022 Child Care & Early Learning State Fact Sheets

August 2, 2022

Our analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. shows that the existing patchwork of federal and state early learning and care programs only reaches a fraction of income-eligible families. Federal …

Press Releases & Statements

House Appropriations Committee Approves Bill With Proposed FY2023 Funding Levels for ECE Programs

June 30, 2022

Today, the House Appropriations Committee voted to pass the FY2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill, which provides funding for many of the core federal …

In the News

Administration Forecasts New Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Funding Opportunities for States

June 30, 2022

Great news from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)! On June 24, 2022 ACF released a Funding Forecast for …

US Capitol building
Events & Hearings

FFYF Co-Hosts Congressional Briefing Highlighting Importance of Federal ECE Funding

April 22, 2022

On Thursday, First Five Years Fund (FFYF), together with the National Head Start Association (NHSA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Child Care Aware of …

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