PROSPECT Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a federal grant program to expand free infant and toddler care for student parents and build educator career pipelines across community colleges and minority-serving institutions. It focuses on boosting access in child care deserts and diversifying the early childhood workforce.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Changes to child-care block grant rules
If enacted, the bill would change Child Care and Development Block Grant rules in several ways. It would let parents in college, secondary education, or high school equivalency programs qualify as in an "educational program." States would have to promise not to impose stricter child care eligibility rules than federal rules. For infant and toddler subsidies, States that pay at least 75% of market rates could get a 90% federal match for those payments; other child-care spending would get the normal FMAP. These changes could raise funding and expand eligibility for low-income families.
Free on-campus care for student parents
If enacted, access grants could pay for free infant and toddler care for community college and MSI student parents at on-campus centers, licensed off-campus centers, or registered home providers. On-campus centers supported must be state licensed, meet high-quality standards, give priority to student parents (first to low-income students), and provide free care for children under age 3 of student parents. Centers must pay living wages to staff, keep care during reasonable breaks, follow background checks, and report anonymized usage and outcome data each year.
Grants to grow child care supply
If enacted, impact grants could help create new licensed infant and toddler child care slots and improve quality. Grants could pay for technical help, family child care networks, licensure costs, trainer pay, and microgrants to licensed providers or qualified professionals to open or expand programs. No more than 30% of funds may go to professional development, and some training must be open to unlicensed providers. Grantees must report provider and slot counts each year.
New federal grants and rules
If enacted, the bill would create a new competitive federal grant program for community colleges and minority-serving schools to expand infant and toddler care. The program would be authorized about $9 billion for fiscal years 2026–2030. Grants would usually run four years, with planning grants for one year, and awards to single institutions would be capped ($20 million) and consortia capped ($220 million). The Secretary would try to give at least 80% of funds to eligible institutions and aim to award at least one grantee per State. Programs funded under the title would also be covered by strong nondiscrimination rules.
Support to build educator pipelines
If enacted, pipeline grants could fund associate degree programs and other training for early childhood educators focused on infants and toddlers. Grants could pay for faculty, practicums, on-campus lab schools, articulation agreements, and microgrants to students for tuition, books, licensing, transportation, apprenticeship, or practicum time. Grantees must report enrollment, microgrant uses, and completion outcomes each year.
Local planning rules and reports
If enacted, recipients of one-year planning grants would have to form a community infant and toddler child care committee and do a detailed needs assessment. They must start outreach and planning and submit their assessment and a detailed proposal within 30 days after the planning grant ends. This helps make later projects tailored to local needs.
Student aid info on dependent care
If enacted, federal student aid materials would have to explain that students with dependents may be able to include a dependent care allowance in their cost of attendance. Materials must explain how that allowance can affect institutional aid and how to apply.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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