Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a competitive grant program run by the Department of Education and HHS to fund career and technical education programs focused on training early childhood educators. Local partnerships between schools, colleges, childcare providers, and community organizations can apply.
• Grant funds can pay for scholarships, stipends, paid internships, transportation, childcare assistance, and other supports for students working toward credentials or degrees in early childhood education.
• Priority goes to applicants in areas with childcare provider shortages, those serving rural and urban communities, and those offering care for infants and toddlers, nontraditional hours, or children with disabilities.
• Programs must include training on infant and toddler development, including children with disabilities, and can fund initiatives that boost pay for early childhood educators who earn new credentials or degrees.
• Each grant lasts up to five years, with the option to extend for two more years if the program shows it is improving student outcomes. Grantees must submit annual reports with performance data broken down by student subgroups.