Child Care Workforce Development Act
Sponsored By: Representative Clark (MA)
Introduced
Summary
Strengthen pay and retention for early childhood educators by pairing a loan-repayment program with college grants that require service in licensed early learning programs. The two programs would link money for education directly to multi-year work commitments in childcare settings.
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- Early childhood educators would be eligible for loan repayment of up to $6,000 per year for each year they serve, tied to a five-year service commitment and capped at the educator's outstanding loan balance. Annual certification of eligibility would be required.
- Students enrolled in qualifying early childhood educator programs would be eligible for grants of up to $4,000 per academic year, renewable for up to four years, with service obligations after completion; failure to meet the obligation converts the grant to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan under specified repayment terms and allows limited hardship extensions.
- Institutions and licensed childcare providers would participate in competitive grant awards and hiring; grant disbursement rules require at least 85 percent of funds be advanced to institutions unless an alternate payment system is adopted, and grant program administration is capped at 3 percent of annual funding.
*Authorizes up to $25.0 million per year for the loan repayment program for 2026–2031 and $10.0 million per year for the grants program for 2026–2030, which would increase federal spending by those amounts if appropriated.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for early childhood education students
This bill would create a new grant for students in approved early childhood educator programs. You could get up to $4,000 per academic year, for up to four years. You would agree to work in a licensed early learning program for at least one academic year within four years after finishing. Each renewal adds four months of required work, and work while enrolled could count. If you do not meet the work rule, the grants would turn into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with no interest, repaid on income-driven terms if you qualify. Money would go to your school for tuition, fees, and required materials; the Department could pay you directly if your school does not participate. The program would start within 180 days of enactment and has $10 million a year authorized for 2026–2030.
Loan help for early educators
This bill would let the Health and Human Services Department repay up to $6,000 of your federal student loans for each year you serve as an early childhood educator. You would sign a contract to work five years with a qualified employer, such as a child care provider that receives or is eligible for Child Care and Development Block Grant help. You must have Federal Direct loans for approved early childhood degrees or credentials, be in good standing, make timely payments, and certify your eligibility each year. You could get payments for up to five years, but total help could not exceed what you owe in principal and interest. The program would use standard federal loan-repayment rules for applications and contracts and has $25 million a year authorized for 2026–2031; a report to Congress would be due within five years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Clark (MA)
MA • D
Cosponsors
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov