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119-hr-8937119th CongressWALLET

Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create competitive grants to grow training and career pathways for early childhood educators. It focuses on building a strong early childhood education workforce through new career and technical education programs in early childhood education.

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  • Students and jobseekers gain local CTE pathways to earn credentials like the Child Development Associate (CDA), apprenticeships, and ECE degrees, with scholarships, stipends, and supports for child care and transportation.
  • Early childhood programs and educators get funding for recruiting, training, mentoring, and higher pay tied to credential or degree attainment.
  • Colleges, Head Start programs, family child care networks, employers, and workforce boards form partnerships that must align with Perkins Act needs assessments and local employer demand.
  • Rural and high-shortage areas receive priority, and projects that serve infants and toddlers, provide nontraditional hours, or include services for children with disabilities are favored.
  • Grants may run up to 5 years with a possible 2-year extension and require independent evaluation, annual reporting, and data sharing consistent with federal privacy laws such as FERPA.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More training grants for early educators

If enacted, this bill would create a competitive federal grant program run by the Secretary of Education in coordination with HHS. Grants would go to partnerships of Perkins recipients with colleges, child care providers, Head Start, family child care networks, CCR&Rs, or community groups. Grants could last up to 5 years and may get one 2‑year extension if the partnership shows improved outcomes. Funds could pay for classes, credentials like the Child Development Associate, apprenticeships, work‑based learning, and instructional materials. Grants could also fund scholarships or stipends, child care or dependent‑care help, transportation, and pay increases tied to credential attainment. Each grantee would do an independent evaluation and submit annual reports on Perkins indicators and program effectiveness.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

GA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

  • Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

  • Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

  • Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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