Early childhood training grants could boost child care staffing

Would-be early childhood workers could get help with training, tutoring, transportation and child care costs under a House bill from Representative Lucy McBath. The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026 would direct the Education Department, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants for early childhood career and technical education programs.

The idea is to help more students move from training into jobs in a field where staffing shortages can ripple out quickly. When child care centers cannot keep enough workers, families can face fewer openings, shorter hours and more turnover.

How the grants would work

The money would not go to a lone school or employer. It would go to eligible partnerships. Those partnerships could include colleges, child care providers, labor organizations, workforce boards, Child Care Resource and Referral organizations, staffed family child care networks, Head Start programs and early intervention providers.

The bill says the partnerships would need to explain how the money would be used, who would do what, and how the program would stay in place over time. It also calls for independent evaluation and annual reporting so the results can be measured, not just described in theory.

What the programs could pay for

The grants could support classroom instruction, work-based learning, dual enrollment, preapprenticeships, apprenticeships and industry credentials such as the Child Development Associate. They could also help recruit, hire and train early childhood educators, including people who come through alternative certification routes.

The bill also makes room for support that often determines whether a student finishes. That includes tutoring, test prep, transportation, dependent care help, child care assistance and financial aid such as scholarships or stipends. It would also support efforts to improve retention, professional development and counselor training so more students understand early childhood careers.

Who could benefit

The proposal would steer grants toward communities with documented child care shortages and would look for balance between rural and urban areas. It also gives attention to infant and toddler care, care during nontraditional hours and inclusive care for children with disabilities.

For students, the bill is trying to make the route into the field more practical. For child care providers, it could help enlarge the pool of trained workers. For families, the hoped-for result is more reliable access to care and a steadier workforce behind it.