Early Edge Updates

Early Edge Statement on White House Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

April 8, 2026 | For Immediate Release

April 8, 2026
For Immediate Release

The Trump Administration’s FY 2027 budget proposal, released on April 3, signals a troubling direction, one that falls short of meeting the needs of young children and the families who rely on early care and education (ECE) to work and thrive.

The proposal includes:

• Level funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which does not address the rising child care costs or growing demand.
• Level funding for Head Start, despite ongoing concerns about program standards that could impact access for children with the greatest needs.
• Elimination of Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), a program that supports campus-based child care for student parents.
• Elimination of all funding for the English Language Acquisition (Title III) program, cutting off federal support for English learners and undermining the role of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA).
• Elimination of Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5), which help states improve quality and coordination across early childhood systems.

For young children, these decisions are especially concerning. Early childhood is a critical window for development, and cuts or stagnant funding to these programs limit access to stable and enriching learning environments, particularly for multilingual learners, children from low-income families, and those already facing systemic barriers.

These choices also reflect a broader shift, reinforced by the President’s earlier remarks suggesting the federal government should not fund programs like Medicaid or child care, leaving it to states instead. But these are not optional services, they are essential infrastructure. We must invest in expanding access to child care, strengthening early learning systems, and supporting families, not scale back the very supports children need to succeed.

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Early Edge California advocates for accessible, high-quality early learning and care, with a focus on the earliest years. Through targeted advocacy and policy development, we champion nurturing environments for children and promote the professional growth of teachers and trusted caregivers, establishing a foundation for community resilience and economic mobility.