Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026

This bill would require the U.S. Secretary of Education, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants to partnerships that set up or expand career and technical education programs in early childhood education. Partnerships must include a career and technical education grant recipient plus at least one other partner, such as a college, child care provider, Head Start program, or local business or labor group. Grant money could pay for classroom instruction, apprenticeships, credentials, teacher training, and student supports like tutoring, child care, transportation, and scholarships. Grants would last up to 5 years, with a possible 2-year extension, and each grantee would need an independent evaluation and annual report.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jeff Merkley Democrat sponsor
• 5 cosponsors