Start Early applauds Congress for passing legislation to reopen the federal government and fund critical federal programs that support young children, families, and the early childhood workforce. H.R. 1032, passed the House and was signed by the President earlier this week. This legislation represents three important wins for young children and their families:
WIN #1: A Path Forward for Stability and Continuity
With this vote, Congress chose stability over disruption for early childhood and maternal health programs—advancing funding for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Education (ED) programs even amid ongoing disagreement over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding.
This compromise signals a clear understanding of how essential these funds are to states and communities across the country, and we appreciate lawmakers’ efforts to ensure funding can be mobilized quickly in support of children and families.
WIN #2: Level and Increased Funding for Prenatal-5 Programs
H.R. 1032 includes the following funding levels for home visiting, services for children with disabilities, and Head Start:
Home Visiting:
- $818.7 million for the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant, including a $5 million increase for Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS)
- $145.25 million for Healthy Start, restoring and increasing funding and rejecting proposals to eliminate the program
Services for Children with Disabilities:
- $15.2 billion for Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state and preschool grants, including Parts B and C: state grants ($14.2 million) + preschool grants ($420 million) + Part C grants ($540 million)
- $205.06 million for the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), a $1 million decrease from FY25 levels
Head Start and Child Care:
- $12.357 billion for Head Start, an $85 million increase
- $8.831 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), an $85 million increase
- $315 million for Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5)
Together, these funding streams strengthen early childhood systems across the country and are often blended and braided to increase flexibility, improve quality, and expand access to comprehensive services for children and families
WIN #3: Strong Guardrails to Protect Programs and Families
Start Early also applauds the inclusion of critical administrative guardrails that ensure federal funds reach their intended beneficiaries—young children and their families. New provisions prevent the Department of Education from transferring funding or statutorily required responsibilities to other agencies, helping preserve stability and an education-driven approach to administering IDEA programs. Additional safeguards ensure Head Start grantees receive funds in a timely manner, reducing uncertainty for families and the workforce. These guardrails provide greater confidence and continuity for federally funded programs delivering essential services during children’s earliest years.
