H.R. 5524: Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025, aims to establish a grant program that helps states set up or expand full-day prekindergarten programs in public schools and public charter schools. Here’s a summary of the key points:

Grant Program Authorization

The U.S. Secretary of Education is permitted to award grants to states on a competitive basis. These funds are intended to help cover the federal share of costs associated with establishing or expanding full-day prekindergarten programs.

State Application Process

To receive a grant, a state must submit an application to the Secretary of Education that meets specific requirements, including timing and content as dictated by the Secretary.

Use of Grant Funds

States that receive grants must use the funds for programs that meet certain criteria, including:

• The program must be located in a public school within the state.
• It must allow voluntary enrollment for all 3- and 4-year-old children in the state, regardless of family income, at the school where they may eventually enroll for kindergarten.
• The program needs to be a full-day program for the duration of the regular school year.
• The teachers must have qualifications comparable to those of teachers in other grades at the school.
• Any additional criteria required by the Secretary must also be met.

Federal Share of Costs

The federal government will cover up to 80% of the costs associated with the approved prekindergarten activities described in the bill.

Supplementing Existing Funding

Funds obtained through this grant must be used to supplement, not replace, existing federal funds allocated for early childhood education within the state.

Authorization of Appropriations

The bill authorizes necessary funds for the implementation of the program for fiscal years 2026 through 2031, although the specific amounts are not detailed in the text.

Definitions

The bill includes specific definitions to clarify terms used in the legislation, such as:

• Full-day: A program that operates a minimum of 6 hours per day.
• Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Education.
• State: Defined as per the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
• Parent: Also defined according to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
• Public school: Defined similarly to elementary or secondary schools in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, excluding private schools.

Relevant Companies

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