2026: ABCs of Federal Early Learning & Child Care Funding Streams
Each year, millions of children from birth through age five benefit from an array of federal early learning and care programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education (ED).
While there are different early learning settings and certain programs have distinct requirements, together they form a mixed-delivery system that strives to support the care, education, and healthy development of children, prioritizing children from low-income families, parental choice, and children’s individual needs.
Federal funding accounts for the majority of overall investment in child care and early learning. Each year, approximately $31.26 billion in federal funds support these programs for children from birth through age five, compared with about $13.39 billion in state spending on similar programs.
Previous years:
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