Early Childhood Education Grants

Early Childhood Education Grants is sponsored by Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE). The DCCECE offers various financial programs and resources to childcare providers, including the Child Care Assistance Program which subsidizes the cost of care for eligible families and Better Beginnings Quality Incentives to support quality standards.

Child Care and Early Learning in Arkansas 2026 Early Head Start/Head Start Federal Child C. A. R.

E Coalition Child Care and Early Learning Programs Child Care & Development Block Grant Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five Head Start & Early Head Start Additional Child and Family Initiatives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Every Student Succeeds Act Maternal, Infant, & Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Child and Adult Care Food Program Tax Policy and Child Care Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Employer-Provided Child Care Credit - Section 45F Dependent Care Assistance Program Last Updated: April 16, 2026 Working families in Arkansas need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.

Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Arkansas. But too many working families in Arkansas are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Arkansas economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.

In the state, 62% of children have all available parents participating in the workforce, while the average cost of care is $9,178 a year (or $765 per month ). More than 12,500 children ages 5 and under have child care costs subsidized through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), or 21% of those eligible . The average copay with a CCDBG subsidy is $28 a month .

10K children receive care, learning, nutrition, and other services at no cost through Early Head Start/Head Start (or 17% of those eligible for Early Head Start and 19% of those eligible for Head Start ). And 43. 4K working families have the cost of their child care offset through the Child + Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).

However, many working parents still struggle to access affordable, quality child care, which costs the state’s economy an estimated $1. 2 billion each year in lost earnings and productivity.

Click here for data sources Arkansas: In The Headlines Opinion: Two boys, two paths: Why early childhood education can’t wait Arkansas Advocate | aPRIL 16, 2026 As the child care crisis shows no signs of abating across the country and in Arkansas, early childhood educators such as myself see a constant divide.

Child care costs preventing Arkansas mothers from seeking or retaining full-time work, report says Arkansas Advocate | maRCH 10, 2026 More than a third of mothers surveyed said the availability of child care providers is a problem. Education officials say Preschool Development Grant will be used to improve early childhood education Arkansas Democrat Gazette | January 6, 2026 A $14.

75 million federal grant recently awarded to Arkansas will be used to improve early childhood education and make it more accessible, according to state education officials. Arkansas Resources & News PDG B-5: Success Stories from the States Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) is a federal grant that supports quality statewide early childhood services for children from birth through age five.

This grant empowers states … UPDATE: 23 States Receive Grants To Strengthen Child Care Good news for child care this week. Twenty-three states have been awarded new federal grants to strengthen their child care and early learning programs.

The Preschool Development Grant Birth through … Through the Years: Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program is a $315 million competitive federal grant designed to improve collaboration and quality in states’ early childhood systems by building … JOINT STATEMENT: Groups Call on Congress to Protect Head Start, End the Shutdown WASHINGTON, D. C.

– Families with young children are feeling the pain of the federal shutdown, and without immediate Congressional action, tens of thousands of children could lose access to Head … ANALYSIS: FFYF’s 2025 State Fact Sheets FFYF’s 2025 State Fact Sheets show how federal investments in child care impact working parents, children, and the economy.

These federal programs not only benefit families nationwide, they also serve … State-By-State: A Look At How Many Families Receive the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) helps millions of working families cover a portion of their child care costs. In 2022, more than 5.

7 million families nationwide benefitted … The First Five Things to Know About: Head Start In Every Congressional District Head Start has been making a difference in the lives of children and families for more than 60 years.

Since its beginning, the program has reached more than 40 million … How a Lack of Affordable Child Care Impacts the Economy Two-thirds of all children ages five and under need some form of child care because all of the adults in their home are working.

But child care remains both expensive … Total Federal TANF & State MOE Expenditures for Child Care and Early Learning The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides federal grants to states to design and operate programs that help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency.

TANF plays a crucial role in … 2024 Child Care and Early Learning State Fact Sheets FFYF’s 2024 State Fact Sheets from 50 states and Washington, D. C. show how federal investments in child care impact working parents, children, and the economy.

Federal funding and programs benefit … New BPC Report: A Look into Child Care Workforce Licensing Requirements Every day, early childhood educators play a crucial role in nurturing and shaping the minds of our youngest learners.

Yet, the qualifications required for this essential workforce vary drastically across … Total Federal TANF & State MOE Expenditures for Child Care & Early Learning in FY2022 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides federal grants to states to design and operate programs that help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency.

TANF plays a crucial role in … How States Are Using PDG B-5 Grants to Support Career Pathways The BUILD Initiative, ZERO TO THREE, and Start Early, recently released a new brief highlighting the strategies states are using to improve career pathways in their Preschool Development Grant Birth … New Rural Child Care Policy Framework The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) recently released a Rural Child Care Policy Framework, which outlines core challenges families living in rural areas face when accessing child care, including a lack … FFYF’S 2023 State Fact Sheets Our new analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.

C.

shows that child care and early learning programs have tremendous impacts on young children, their families, and the economy at … New 50 State Analysis Shows Impact of Federal Child Care Program New analysis of all 50 states and the District of Columbia from First Five Years Fund (FFYF) shows that while the nation’s main federal child care program – the Child … How CCDBG Benefits Families in Your State The Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the primary federal grant program that provides child care assistance to low-income working families with children under age 13.

The majority … FFYF’s 2022 Child Care & Early Learning State Fact Sheets Our analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D. C. shows that the existing patchwork of federal and state early learning and care programs only reaches a fraction of income-eligible families.

Federal … Arkansas — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … Learn About the Positive Impact of MIECHV in Your State The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program provides federal funds to states, territories, and tribal entities for voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services.

This program was reauthorized in … 2021 State Fact Sheets: Examining the Impact and Unmet Need of Federal & State ECE Funding FFYF has released the latest iteration of its annual state fact sheets, which draw on numerous data sources to offer details about the early childhood opportunities in each state made … Arkansas — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … FFYF Releases State Fact Sheets, Highlighting Unique Local Landscapes This summer, FFYF released updated state fact sheets, which draw on numerous data sources to offer details about the early childhood opportunities in each state made possible through federal and state … Arkansas: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … Updated Fact Sheets Show Opportunities for States On Monday, the Center for American Progress (CAP) released their 2019 Early Learning Fact Sheets which provide an overview of early learning in each state.

As in previous years, CAP’s … See How All 50 States Use CCDBG Funding to Support Working Families Access Quality Child Care Yesterday, our friends at Child Care Aware of America released a series of state fact sheets on the status of funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) … Arkansas: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security.

To … 46 States and Territories to Receive Preschool Development Grants Big news! 46 states and territories have been awarded funding through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5), a $250 million competitive federal grant designed to improve states’ existing early … Receive monthly updates on the latest news, policy, and actions to advance federal investment in children and their families.