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FEATURED PRIORITES

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.

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Data & Analysis

NIEER’s Annual Report Shows Uneven Progress for State Preschool

May 2, 2024

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) recently released the 2023 State of the Preschool Yearbook, their annual report detailing state preschool policies. This edition provides comprehensive data on …

Events & Hearings

Child Care This National Small Business Week 

May 1, 2024

This Small Business Week, there’s one surprising issue that’s keeping small business owners from thriving: child care challenges. A number of recent polls from employers and employees have found that …

Factsheets

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program Overview

April 24, 2024

TANF provides grants to states to help design and operate programs that support low-income families, including through increased access to child care and early education opportunities, which helps parents to …

Factsheets

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Overview

April 23, 2024

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 7 million eligible children and youth with disabilities across …

Factsheets

Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships: An Overview

April 23, 2024

Early Head Start–Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP) build on the existing strengths of Early Head Start and Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidies, which allow low-income families to access high-quality child care. 

Factsheets

Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships: Overview

April 23, 2024

Early childhood education apprenticeship programs provide an accessible way for educators to acquire the knowledge and skills they need, along a pathway to the credential or degree needed to advance …

Events & Hearings

White House Highlights Wide Range of Approaches for Child Care Support

April 19, 2024

On the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers (Care EO), the White House brought together governors, advocates, and business leaders …

Press Releases & Statements

FFYF Statement on White House’s “Making Care Work” 

April 18, 2024

On Wednesday, April 17, the White House brought together governors, advocates, and business leaders to underscore the important role child care plays not only in supporting working families but in …

Data & Analysis

New Poll: Small Business Owners Need Federal Action on Child Care 

April 11, 2024

(Washington, DC) – A new report from Small Business Majority – a national small business organization with a network of 85,000 small businesses – has found that more than two-thirds …

Videos

First Five Questions For Reps. Tenney and Schneider

April 11, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The First Five Years Fund (FFYF) hosted Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Congressman Brad Schneider (D-Il) as part of our First Five Question Series – a monthly …

Press Releases & Statements

FFYF Statement on POTUS Care Economy Event

April 9, 2024

Today, President Biden joined care workers to discuss his administration’s focus on expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care and other care priorities. FFYF’s Executive Director Sarah Rittling released the …

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