Early Childhood Care and Education Programs: Background and Funding

Karen E. Lynch
Analyst in Social Policy

Gail McCallion
Specialist in Social Policy

Federal support for child care and education comes in many forms, ranging from grant programs to tax provisions. Some programs serve as specifically dedicated funding sources for child care services (e.g., the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG) or education programs (e.g., the Preschool Grants Program and Infants and Toddlers Program funded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). For other programs (e.g., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF), child care is just one of many purposes for which funds may be used. In many cases, federal programs target low-income families in need of child care, but in the case of certain tax provisions, the benefits reach middle- and upper-income families as well. This report provides an overview of federal child care, early education, and related programs, and their current funding statuses. 

Funding for many child care, early education, and related programs is provided each year as part of the annual appropriations process for the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education (ED). This report briefly summarizes funding requests for a selection of early childhood care and education programs in the Obama Administration's FY2011 President's Budget, which was released on February 1, 2010. In addition, this report reviews funding developments in FY2010 and provides a six-year funding history for select early childhood care and education programs and tax provisions that are discussed throughout this report. 

Several early childhood care and education programs have funding authorizations that have already expired or are due to expire soon. The Child Care and Development Block Grant, for instance, expired in FY2002. However, it has continued to be funded through appropriations legislation. Authorization for many programs under the No Child Left Behind Act expired at the end of FY2008, though they have also continued to receive funding. Head Start, however, was reauthorized by the 110th Congress in legislation that was signed into law (P.L. 110-134) by the President on December 12, 2007. .


Date of Report: March 18, 2010
Number of Pages: 21
Order Number: R40212
Price: $29.95

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