--- title: An Uneven Start 2026 description: "A new report from CCAoA, An Uneven Start 2026: Where Child Care Funding Falls Short—And Why It Matters, examines fiscal year 2026 state funding for child care and preschool across 44 states and Washington, DC." image: https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Uneven%20Start%202026%20Cover.jpg --- [![Child Care Aware of America Logo](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png?width=690&height=350&name=usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png "Child Care Aware of America Logo")](https://www.childcareaware.org/) - [English ](https://info.childcareaware.org/an-uneven-start-2026#) - [Español (Spanish) ](https://www.childcareaware.org/?lang=es) - [Child Care Career Center](http://careers.childcareaware.org/) - [Help for Military/DoD Families](https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/) Search ![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/ChildCareAware_October2019%20Theme/Images/menu_img.png) # An Uneven Start 2026 ## Where Child Care Funding Falls Short—And Why It Matters   ##### Jump To: ## Our nation remains an uneven patchwork when it comes to early childhood care: Looking at total FY 2026 state investments in child care and preschool (including federally required matching and maintenance of effort funds) states are investing less than $500 per child under age 5 to more than $5,000 per child. Washington, DC is an outlier, investing over $9,800 per child. On top of this, families across the country continue to shoulder outsized costs to cover child care. Robust, equitable investment in child care ignites opportunity for families, communities, and the workforce to thrive. [![Uneven Start 2026 Cover](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Uneven%20Start%202026%20Cover.jpg?width=300&height=388&name=Uneven%20Start%202026%20Cover.jpg "Uneven Start 2026 Cover")](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Uneven-Start-Where-Child-Care-Funding-Falls-Short-2026.pdf?hsLang=en) #### [Download *An Uneven Start 2026*](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Uneven-Start-Where-Child-Care-Funding-Falls-Short-2026.pdf?hsLang=en) In order to better understand the current state-by-state funding landscape, Child Care Aware® of America conducted a study of Fiscal Year 2026 state child care and preschool funding, focusing on investments from state general funds above federally required matching and maintenance of effort (MOE) funds. The report’s central finding is clear: **America’s early childhood system gives children an Uneven Start because of stark state-by-state funding disparities. **  [ Download Report ](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Uneven-Start-Where-Child-Care-Funding-Falls-Short-2026.pdf?hsLang=en) ### The Findings Several key findings emerged across the states: ##### 1. ##### Children, families, and communities across America remain on an uneven playing field when it comes to state child care and preschool funding. Looking at total state investments in child care and preschool in FY 2026 (state general funds plus expected federal match and MOE, among the states who responded), funding ranged from less than $500 per child to more than $5,000 per child. Washington, D.C., was an outlier, investing over $9,800 per child. The average across all states with data for FY 2026 was $1,575. ##### 2. ##### Year-over-year, some states are increasing funding for child care and preschool. Total per child investments in child care and preschool increased from FY 2025 to FY 2026 in most states that had data for both years. The average increased to about $1,700 per child birth to age 5 in FY 2026, from about $1,400 in FY 2025. Twenty-six states and Washington, D.C. had data on their investments (state general funds plus expected federal match and MOE) for both fiscal years. Funding increased across the two years in 20 of these states and Washington, D.C. Per child average funding also increased across the 26 states. ##### 3. ##### States are still coming up short for young children. While total state investments in child care or preschool vary widely from state to state, the highest per child state child care and/ or preschool investment in FY 2026 (California, $5,994) is lower than all but seven states’ per child state K-12 investment in FY 2023. Birth to age 5 is a period of rapid, intense brain development, creating an unparalleled opportunity for learning and growth. Underspending during this critical window means missing a vital chance to  support and strengthen children’s long-term development and success. ##### 4. ##### Tracking and reporting state child care and preschool funding remain challenging, due to fragmented governance and funding streams. This reduces transparency and accountability. Funding for child care and preschool is often spread across multiple state agencies or departments.Further, states often blend and layer funding from state and federal sources  to piece together their child care systems. This complexity makes it difficult to describe funding and programs simply and advocate for increased investment. ### What We Recommend - ##### **Increase Investments:** States should significantly boost child care and preschool funding and strengthen their child care systems by reducing family costs, supporting the workforce, and expanding the supply of quality programs. - ##### **Improve Transparency:** Policymakers should streamline and align funding data across agencies so stakeholders can clearly understand current investments and identify opportunities for improvement. - ##### Strengthen Coordination: States should restructure or better coordinate the agencies overseeing child care and preschool to create more efficient, unified systems that better serve children and families.   [![Uneven Start 2026 What We Learned and Recommend Fact Sheets](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Uneven%20Start%202026%20What%20We%20Learned%20and%20Recommend%20Fact%20Sheets.png?width=150&height=194&name=Uneven%20Start%202026%20What%20We%20Learned%20and%20Recommend%20Fact%20Sheets.png "Uneven Start 2026 What We Learned and Recommend Fact Sheets")](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/UnevenStart26_WhatWeLearned_Recommend_FactSheet.pdf?hsLang=en) ### What We Learned Download the [*What We Learned and Recommend*](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/UnevenStart26_WhatWeLearned_Recommend_FactSheet.pdf?hsLang=en) fact sheet. 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