Funding for Key Early Learning Programs, FY2025

Each year, Congress determines funding levels for all of the federal defense and non-defense discretionary programs, including those that support the care and education of children from birth through age five. Traditionally, subcommittees within the House and Senate Appropriations Committees develop their own legislation that sets funding levels for the programs within their jurisdiction, which is then taken up by the full Appropriations Committees, and later the full legislative body, before a negotiation process between the two chambers of Congress and ultimately the president’s signature. 

Over the past fifteen years, federal early learning programs have seen steady, significant progress through increased, bipartisan investments from both Congress and the White House.

Below is a timeline of recent funding decisions by Congress:

March 2024: The White House released details of President Biden’s FY2025 budget request to Congress, which includes increased funding for many federal early learning programs, with increases for programs including an additional $500 million for CCDBG and an additional $544 million for Head Start. The Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) program, however, includes a $65 million decrease from FY24 funding levels. In addition, the White House FY25 budget includes $14.9 billion in mandatory funding over 10 years for initiatives to expand access to high quality child care ($9.9 billion) and preschool ($5 billion).

June 2024: The House Appropriations Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies released its proposed funding levels for child care and early learning programs, including an additional $25 million for CCDBG and an additional $25 million for Head Start. The House proposed a $65 million cut to PDG B-5 and the elimination of the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. 

August 1, 2024: The Senate released its Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill, which included a $2.3 billion increase in funding for early learning programs. The Senate increased CCDBG funding by $1.6 billion (18%) over FY24, to a total of $10.35 billion. It also provided $12.97 billion for Head Start, a $700 million increase over FY24. The Senate proposed keeping the funding level for PDG B-5 and increasing funding by $5 million for CCAMPIS, after it was eliminated in the House.

September 25, 2024: In lieu of passing an FY25 budget, however, Congress passed a Continuing Resolutions to extend FY24 funding, at current levels, until December 20, 2024.  

December 20, 2024: Congress passed a Continuing Resolution to extend funding, at current levels, through March 14, 2025.

March 14, 2025: Congress passed a Continuing Resolution extending funding, at current levels, through September 30, 2025, the end of FY25.

Below you will find links to charts from previous fiscal years:

• FY24
• FY23
• FY22
• FY21
• FY20

The chart below includes final funding levels for the key early learning programs.

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