Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act of 2026”.

The purpose of this Act is to provide assistance to States to improve the knowledge, credentials, compensation, and professional development of early childhood educators working with children in early childhood education programs.

In this Act:

(1) Early childhood education program.— The term early childhood education program has the meaning given the term in section 812 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161i–1).

(2) Institution of higher education.— The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

(a) In general.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, is authorized to award grants to States to implement and administer the activities described in section 6.

(b) Duration.—

(1) In general.— Each grant awarded under this Act shall be for a period of 5 years, with funding provided annually subject to the availability of appropriations and continued compliance with the terms of the grant.

(2) Renewal.— A State awarded a grant under this Act may apply for renewal of the grant at the end of the 5-year grant period. The Secretary may renew the grant if the State demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this Act and satisfactory program outcomes.

(a) In general.— Each State desiring a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary of Health and Human Services—

(1) that includes the information described in subsection (b); and

(2) at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, may reasonably require.

(b) Contents.— Each application submitted under subsection (a) shall include a description of the State’s comprehensive early childhood professional development system, including the following:

(1) A description of how the State’s system was developed in collaboration with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care designated or established under section 642B of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837b), the State agency responsible for administering childcare, the State Head Start collaboration director, the State educational agency, institutions of higher education, organizations that represent early childhood educators, child care resource and referral organizations, staffed family child care networks, and credible early childhood education professional organizations.

(2) A designation of a State agency to administer the grant program.

(3) A description of how the State’s comprehensive early childhood professional development system provides—

(A) an oversight structure for such system;

(B) early childhood educator standards and competencies;

(C) a career and wage lattice;

(D) coordination with State higher education agencies, higher education accrediting bodies, and accredited 2- and 4-year institutions of higher education;

(E) articulation agreements between 2- and 4-year institutions of higher education and credit-bearing opportunities and articulation agreements that recognize prior learning, early childhood educator credentials, and expertise in early childhood education and development;

(F) accessible higher education for working students through offering of college courses at accessible time and locations, with particular attention to rural areas;

(G) support to students who are dual language learners, or come from low-income or minority communities;

(H) training and expertise that reflects linguistically and culturally appropriate education and practices;

(I) use of workforce data to assess State and local workforce needs; and

(J) financing over time.

A State that receives a grant under this Act shall ensure that grant funds are used to carry out the following:

(1) To provide scholarships to cover the costs of tuition, fees, materials, transportation, paid substitutes, and release time for early childhood educators employed in an early childhood education program to pursue a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a closely related field.

(2) To support early childhood educators employed in an early childhood education program, and who have obtained a bachelor’s degree in a field other than early childhood education or a closely related field, to attain a credential, licensure, or endorsement that demonstrates competence in early childhood education.

(3) To increase compensation for early childhood educators who are enrolled and making progress toward a degree in early childhood education and to provide parity of compensation upon completion of such degree and retention in the early childhood education program.

(4) To provide ongoing professional development opportunities to early childhood educators and teacher assistants employed in an early childhood education program that address—

(A) all areas of child development and learning (cognitive, social, emotional, and physical);

(B) teacher-child interaction;

(C) family engagement; and

(D) cultural competence for working with a diversity of children (including children with special needs and dual language learners) and families.

Grant funds provided under this Act shall supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds that are available for early childhood educator preparation and professional development.

A State that receives funds under this Act for a fiscal year shall maintain the fiscal effort provided by the State for the activities supported by the funds under this Act at a level equal to or greater than the level of such fiscal effort for the preceding fiscal year.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2027 through 2032.