H.R. 10057: Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act of 2026

This bill would create a federal grant program for states to improve training, credentials, pay, and professional development for early childhood educators who work in early childhood education programs.

What the federal government would do

• The Secretary of Health and Human Services, working with the Secretary of Education, would be allowed to give grants to states.
• Each grant would last 5 years, with annual funding depending on congressional appropriations and the state continuing to meet the program’s rules.
• States could apply to have their grants renewed after 5 years if they are following the requirements and showing satisfactory results.

What states would have to include in their applications

To receive funding, a state would need to describe its overall early childhood professional development system, including:

• How the system was developed with relevant state agencies, higher education institutions, educator organizations, and child care support organizations.
• Which state agency would administer the grant.
• How the system includes oversight, educator standards, and a career-and-wage structure.
• How it coordinates with colleges, accrediting bodies, and state higher education agencies.
• How it helps create agreements so credits, prior learning, credentials, and expertise can count toward further education.
• How it makes college courses accessible for working students, including in rural areas.
• How it supports students from low-income, minority, and dual-language-learning backgrounds.
• How it provides culturally and linguistically appropriate training.
• How it uses workforce data to identify local and state needs.
• How the system will be financed over time.

How states could use the money

States that receive grants would have to use the funds for activities such as:

• Scholarships for early childhood educators to cover tuition, fees, materials, transportation, paid substitutes, and release time so they can earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a closely related field.
• Helping educators who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field obtain the credential, licensure, or endorsement needed to show competence in early childhood education.
• Increasing compensation for educators who are working toward a degree, and providing pay parity after they complete the degree and continue working in the program.
• Ongoing professional development for educators and teacher assistants covering child development, teacher-child interaction, family engagement, and cultural competence for diverse children and families, including children with special needs and dual language learners.

Funding rules

• Grant money would have to supplement, not replace, other federal, state, or local funding already used for early childhood educator preparation and professional development.
• States would have to maintain at least the same level of their own spending on these activities as they had in the previous year.
• The bill authorizes whatever money is needed for fiscal years 2027 through 2032.

Relevant Companies

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