Funding for Key Early Learning Programs, FY2026

Each year, Congress determines funding levels for all of the federal defense and non-defense discretionary programs, including those that support the care and education of children from birth through age five. Traditionally, subcommittees within the House and Senate Appropriations Committees develop their own legislation that sets funding levels for the programs within their jurisdiction, which is then taken up by the full Appropriations Committees, and later the full legislative body, before a negotiation process between the two chambers of Congress and ultimately the president’s signature. 

Over the past fifteen years, federal early learning programs have seen steady, significant progress through increased, bipartisan investments from both Congress and the White House.

Below is a timeline of recent funding decisions by Congress:

May 2, 2025: Also known as the “skinny budget,” the White House released a letter providing President Trump’s request on discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026.

May 14, 2025: FFYF was joined by 146 major early education advocacy organizations from 36 states in sending a letter to Congressional appropriators calling for increased funding for federal early learning and care programs, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program, Head Start and Early Head Start, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program, and Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS).

May 30, 2025: The White House sent Congress its full budget proposal with requested discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The proposal included level finding for CCDBG and Head Start and eliminated funding for PDG B-5.

Late May 2025: Members of Congress submitted Dear Colleague letters showing support for child care and early learning programs. For FY2026, 285 Members of Congress called for increased funding for federal early childhood education and care programs including 238 Democrats and 47 Republicans.

Below you will find links to charts from previous fiscal years:

• FY25
• FY24
• FY23
• FY22
• FY21
• FY20

The chart below includes final funding levels for the key early learning programs.

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