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Policy Priority
Child Care and Early Learning Programs

Child Care & Development Block Grant

Overview

Child care is a necessity for working parents, yet the cost of quality care often places it out of reach for many families.

The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) provides federal funding to states for child care subsidies for low-income families with children under age 13.

Additionally, CCDBG allows for flexibility to match state and federal funds to improve the overall quality of child care within existing state and local systems.

Current Funding Level: CCDBG is funded at $8.83 billion for FY2026. Combined with the Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) annual mandatory funding of $3.55 billion, total Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) funding is $12.38 billion.

Top News and
Resources

Factsheets

CCDBG: Overview

The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act provides federal funding to states for child care subsidies for low-income families with children under age 13.

Toolkits & Talking Points

Capsule Collection: Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)

What is CCDBG? The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is a federal program that helps parents with low incomes afford child care while they work or attend school. …

Factsheets

First Five Things To Know About: The Child Care Modernization Act

Parents want child care options that meet their family’s unique needs and support their child’s healthy development. Yet today, far too many working families struggle to find and afford the …

Factsheets

Cost Estimation Models: Increasing Child Care Stability Through More Accurate Provider Payment Rates

Cost Estimation Models allow states to better align provider payment rates with the actual cost of providing quality child care. This strengthens the workforce, enhances the quality of care children …

Polling

New National Poll Shows Strong Bipartisan Support for Federal Child Care Programs

New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies …

Data & Analysis

Side-by-Side Analysis: Comparison of the 2025 Child Care Modernization Act to Current Law

The following is a summary of key revisions the Child Care Modernization Act of 2025 would introduce to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. Among other …

Factsheets

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.

Events & Hearings

FFYF Hosts Bipartisan Child Care and Early Learning Briefing on Capitol Hill

FFYF was joined by providers, experts, and a bipartisan pair of Members of Congress in a briefing to highlight child care and early learning programs.

What You Can Do
about CcDBG


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