Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Builds career pathways for early childhood educators through competitive grants. This bill would fund partnerships to create, expand, or support career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education aligned with the Carl D. Perkins framework and demonstrated local employer needs.
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- Families and children: Would expand training focused on infant/toddler care, extended or nontraditional hours, and inclusive services for children with disabilities to help address local childcare shortages.
- Early childhood educators and staff: Would get support for credentials, apprenticeships, mentoring, paid internships, alternative certification routes, and retention efforts including compensation initiatives and wraparound supports like child care and transportation.
- Local colleges, child care providers, employers, workforce boards, and other partners: Would be eligible to form grant partnerships that must align with Perkins local needs assessments, include institutions of higher education where possible, and provide independent evaluation and annual, Perkins-aligned performance reporting. Grants generally run up to 5 years with one possible 2-year extension.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to train early childhood educators
If enacted, the bill would create competitive federal grants to local partnerships. The grants would set up or expand career and technical education programs in early childhood education. Funds could pay for coursework, validated credentials, work-based learning (including paid internships and apprenticeships), and staff training. Grants could also pay for scholarships or stipends, child care and dependent care during training, transportation, advising, and other supports that lower household costs. Grants would last up to 5 years and could be extended one time for up to 2 more years. Recipients would have to fund independent evaluations and submit Perkins-aligned reports on student outcomes.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov