Last progress May 8, 2025 (7 months ago)
Introduced on May 8, 2025 by Katherine M. Clark
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
This bill would help grow the child care workforce by easing school costs and student debt for early childhood educators. It creates two programs: one to pay down existing student loans for people working as early childhood educators, and another to give grants to students training for these jobs. The loan help can cover up to $6,000 per year for five years, as long as the educator works for a qualified child care employer that accepts or qualifies for child care assistance vouchers .
The student grant program would give up to $4,000 per academic year for people in certificate or associate’s degree programs in early childhood education. In return, recipients must work in a licensed early learning program for at least one academic year after finishing school, plus four extra months for each year their grant was renewed. If they don’t meet this service promise, the grant turns into a no-interest federal student loan that can be repaid on an income-based plan. Work in the field while still in school can count toward the service time. Grant funds can pay tuition, fees, and needed class materials, and the Education Department can pay students directly if their school doesn’t participate .