First Five Years Fund

06/24/2026

The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released their 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book with striking data on young learners nationwide.

This report helps reinforce that quality child care and early learning support children’s healthy development and school readiness.

06/22/2026

A recent survey of states by the National Institute for Early Education Research shows how the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program helps boost child care access and quality at the local level.

Future federal investment in PDG B-5 is essential for states and territories to build and maintain effective mixed-delivery early childhood systems that expand access to quality early learning and care for children and families.

States use PDG-5 for program evaluation, data system development, child care and early learning spots, and more. Check out how states have used PDG B-5 funding to improve child care and early learning in their state.

Dig into the data here: https://www.ffyf.org/2026/06/17/pdg-b5-impact/

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day from everyone here at FFYF!

06/20/2026

The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5): The essential federal child care program you might not know about.

This program uses federal dollars to expand access to safe, quality child care and early learning that sets children up for success. This funding helps maximize parental choice, open doors for children who are most in need, and optimizes the reach of state and federal investments.

These are the First Five Things you need to know about PDG B-5: https://www.ffyf.org/2026/06/17/the-first-five-things-to-know-pdg-b-5/

06/18/2026

The Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) makes a real impact at the state level.

This grant empowers states to strengthen, align, and expand their early learning programs. Learn how 10 states are using this program to improve child care at the local level.

06/16/2026

FFYF’s Sarah Rittling has been named to TIME's inaugural Visionaries list!

This list of leaders recognizes those driving meaningful impact in the lives of children across education, health and wellness, technology, economic opportunity, and more.

As Sarah told TIME, “There's too much work to do right now: to continue to build support amongst lawmakers, and to continue to highlight the realities that we face as families and economies. We have to keep showing everything we know that’s going to move and change hearts and minds in our political system and in our legislative bodies, to try to shake something loose.”

We’re proud to have Sarah leading FFYF’s work to advance bipartisan solutions that support children, families, and our economy. Congratulations, Sarah, on this well-deserved recognition!

You can find the full list here https://time.com/collection/visionaries/2026/

06/12/2026

The appropriations process can be complicated. Julia breaks down how it works, what’s at stake, and what’s next for lawmakers.

And be sure to watch to the end to find out which federal child care and early learning programs may see funding increases this year. 👀

06/09/2026

BIG NEWS: The Child Care Modernization Act has been introduced in the House!

Led by U.S. Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, Congresswoman Susie Lee, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, this bill would strengthen CCDBG and expand access to affordable, quality child care for working families across the country.

06/05/2026

There was good news this week from the House!

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies released the text of their Appropriations bill for FY27, determining funding levels for child care and early learning programs, among other priorities.

Their proposal includes increases for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start that will help ensure these critical programs continue to support families with access to affordable care.

Get all the details:

On June 4th, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee released its FY2027 funding proposal,

06/03/2026

READ THIS: Op-ed in The Daily Independent from a working mom on the importance of CCDBG.

She urges Senator Mark Kelly and Senator Ruben Gallego to sign onto the Child Care Modernization Act to build on CCDBG’s success and serve working families in Arizona!