The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Education, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants to partnerships for creating or expanding career and technical education programs focused on early childhood education. The grants would support various activities including classroom instruction, apprenticeships, educator recruitment and training, student support services like child care assistance and scholarships, and professional development for teachers and counselors. Eligible partnerships must include a school district or other educational institution plus at least one partner such as a college with early childhood programs, child care providers, Head Start programs, or local workforce boards. The bill gives priority to applicants in areas with child care shortages, those serving rural and urban communities, and those aligned with state early childhood goals. Each grant would last up to five years with a possible two-year extension, and recipients must submit annual reports tracking program performance and student outcomes.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.