For a child, the first five years last forever.
FEATURED PRIORITIES
Appropriations FY2027
For FY2027, Congress should protect, prioritize, and expand these investments in programs including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Early Head Start/Head Start, and the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5).
Child Care is an Affordability Issue
“Affordability anxiety” is particularly high for parents of young children, where child care consistently stands out as one of the most significant and unavoidable expenses.
Modernizing Child Care
Modernizing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is essential to ensuring more working families can access the quality, affordable child care care they need.
2026 Early Head Start and Head Start
Head Start has a long history of giving kids a strong start through comprehensive early learning, health, and nutrition services. We are focused on continuing to bolster overall support for this essential program at the federal level.
FFYF’S Sarah Rittling Named to TIME Magazine’s First Ever Visionaries List
TIME named First Five Years Fund Executive Director Sarah Rittling to the inaugural TIME Visionaries list recognizing leaders driving meaningful impact in the lives of children across education, health and wellness, technology, economic opportunity, and more.
State Of Play: The Head Start NPRMs (Rules and Regulation Changes)
On August 6, 2026, the Administration released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Head Start.
The proposed rule is open for a 60-day public comment period, providing stakeholders the opportunity to review the proposal and submit feedback. (The 60-day comment period will end at midnight on October 6, 2026.)
July 2026 National Child Care Poll
A new national survey finds that families see child care as a key driver of the nation’s affordability challenges and believe policymakers should take action to make child care more accessible and affordable.
Latest News
& Resources
STATEMENT: First Five Years Fund’s Sarah Rittling in Opposition to Reported Expansion of Eligibility for Federal Child Care Subsidy
According to recent reporting in the New York Times, the White House is considering a new rule that expands eligibility of the federal child care subsidy program to now include married couples with one stay-at-home parent. This is a statement from First Five Years Fund Executive Director Sarah Rittling.
HEARING: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing Highlights Importance of Federal and State Partnership in Addressing the Child Care Crisis
The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing on September 2, 2026 to highlight how states are leveraging federal, state, and local funds to address the pervasive need for affordable, quality child care.
Funding for Key Early Learning Programs, FY2027
A chart explaining the funding timeline of FY27 funding decisions from the White House and Congress.
