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STATE OF PLAY: Appropriations
Update – 1/20/26 The House of Representatives released a Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations package that includes funding increases for federal early learning and care programs. The …
FFYF Briefing Room: Safeguarding Access to Affordable Child Care
January 12, 2026 – The federal child care program has a long history of bipartisan support, with a proven track record in strengthening families, fostering child development, and fueling the …
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 …
TOOLKIT: Prioritize Child Care Programs
On The Hill: Increased attention on child care and early learning this month means increased outreach from advocates needed. This is a critical moment to remind lawmakers of the importance …
UPDATE: 23 States Receive Grants To Strengthen Child Care
Good news for child care this week. Twenty-three states have been awarded new federal grants to strengthen their child care and early learning programs. The Preschool Development Grant Birth through …
Through the Years: Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five
The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program is a $315 million competitive federal grant designed to improve collaboration and quality in states’ early childhood systems by building …
STATE OF PLAY: Child Care Accountability and Oversight
Update: 1/10/26 On Friday, January 9, a federal judge ruled that the White House “cannot block federal money for child care subsidies and other programs aimed at supporting needy children …
A Year of Progress: 10 Bright Spots for Child Care & Early Learning
Even in a year marked by a government shutdown, political turbulence, and general unpredictability in Washington, 2025 gave us plenty to celebrate for child care and early learning. Families, advocates, …
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 …
The First Five Things to Know About: Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45F)
In the United States, two-thirds of young children live in households where all available parents are working. meaning child care is essential for families’ ability to stay in the workforce. …
TOOLKIT: FY26 Appropriations
The Ask Congress: Please act quickly to provide increased stability for families, children, and programs by passing the Senate FY26 Labor-H appropriations bill that prioritizes funding for child care and early learning programs for a full year. Step …
NEW: “High Cost of Child Care Shapes Families’ Choices and Futures”
A new 2025 American Family Survey shows a sharp shift in how Americans view the cost of raising children. Seven in ten respondents now say raising kids is too expensive, …
