The Strong Start for America's Children Act builds on the framework put forward by President Obama in his 2013 State of the Union Address and fiscal year 2014 budget proposal. It  accelerates the progress already made by states, pushed for by Democratic and Republican governors alike, and will help states that want to start or expand high-quality early learning programs. It will also build on investments in Head Start and improve access to high-quality early childhood care and education for infants and toddlers.

Here are the highlights:

The Strong Start for America’s Children Act provides:

Access to Preschool for 4-Year Olds

  • Formula funding is provided to states, with a state match, for high-quality, full-day pre-kindergarten for four-year old children from families earning below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

  • States in turn provide sub-grants to local entities to offer children high-quality prekindergarten, which includes: 

    • Teachers with high qualifications;

    • Rigorous health and safety standards; 

    • Small class sizes and low child-to-staff ratios;

    • Instruction that is based in evidence and is developmentally appropriate;

    • Evidence-based child-staff comprehensive services for children, including strong parent and family engagement, nutritious meals, and health screening and referrals. 

Early Learning Quality Partnerships

  • New Early Head Start and child care partnerships are supported to improve the quality of child care for infants and toddlers through age three. 

  • Local Early Head Start agencies contract with local center-based child care programs and family child care homes serving infants and toddlers to raise child care program quality through training and technical assistance.

  • These partnerships will meet the high-quality performance standards of Early Head Start and blend federal funds to provide high-quality, full-day care. 

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Child Care

  • $100 million is reserved to support child care training, licensure, and professional development and workforce incentives to expand quality. 

  • All children supported by the Child Care and Development Block Grant receive care for at least a year before a family has to re-determine its eligibility. 

Home Visitation

  • The bill expresses a sense of the House that federal funding for voluntary, evidence-based home visitation programs be continued.

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