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119-hr-5524119th CongressWALLET

Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Introduced

Summary

Creates competitive federal grants to expand universal full-day public prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds. It would fund states to set up or grow school-based, voluntary pre-K programs that run the regular school year.

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  • Families and children: Parents could voluntarily enroll any 3- or 4-year-old in a local public pre-K program that runs full school days, defined as at least 6 hours per day.
  • States and districts: States could compete for grants that cover up to 80% of the costs to establish or expand full-day pre-K, and grant funds must supplement existing federal early childhood funding.
  • Teachers and schools: Programs must be located in public schools and require teachers with qualifications similar to other grades; the bill’s purpose explicitly references public charter schools and excludes private schools.
  • Federal administration: The Department of Education would award and oversee the competitive grants and the bill authorizes sums necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out the program.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

State grants for universal full-day prekindergarten

The Department of Education would run competitive grants to states. If your state wins a grant, public schools could start or expand full-day prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds. Enrollment would be voluntary and open to all, and classes would run the full school year with qualified teachers. The federal share would cover up to 80% of costs, and states would fund the rest. Money must add to, not replace, other federal early-childhood funds, and Congress could fund this for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.

What full-day and public school mean

The bill would set what counts as full-day: at least 6 hours each day. Prekindergarten funded by these grants would be offered only in public schools, not private schools. It would use existing federal education law meanings for terms like State and parent. These rules would define where services can run and how long the day must be.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

DC • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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