Congress and the White House have officially approved federal funding for the remainder of FY2020, reaching a bipartisan agreement that provides more than $1 billion in increased funding for federal early childhood programs, including:
- $5.826 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) — a $550 million increase from FY2019;
- $10.613 billion for Head Start/Early Head Start – a $550 million increase from FY2019; and
- $275 million for Preschool Development Grants – a $25 million increase from FY2019.
In response, Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) Executive Director Dr. Lynette M. Fraga released the following statement:
“Children and families will benefit from more than $1 billion in new federal funding in FY2020 that supports safe, high-quality child care and early learning programs. This investment represents a step forward toward the much larger infusion of support the child care system needs. Child Care Aware® of America applauds Congress and the White House for continuing to show their support for federal child care and early learning programs.
“These gains are, in part, thanks to advocates who have worked tirelessly to educate federal, state and local policymakers on the positive impacts these programs have in their communities. Just last week, CCAoA attended the White House Summit on Child Care and Paid Leave and called for increased federal investment.
“With more funding, states can build on the progress they have made over the last several years. This means more families at work knowing their child is in a safe environment, more providers accessing workforce supports and professional development opportunities, and more young children experiencing high-quality development opportunities that yield lifelong benefits such as increased earnings and improved health outcomes.
“Despite historic investments over the past two years, the child care system remains severely underfunded and many children and families cannot access or afford care. In fact, between 2000 and 2017, the average number of children served in CCDBG programs declined by more than 25 percent. While recent increases in federal funding will help close this gap, we encourage Congress to continue to increase support for these programs.
“Recent investments have been promising for children and working families and represent a step forward for the early childhood system. However, more needs to be done. Child Care Aware® of America looks forward to working alongside advocates and lawmakers to ensure that every family in the United States has access to a high-quality, affordable child care system.”
