This bill creates two programs to recruit and keep early childhood educators. One program, run by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, would make contracts with eligible early childhood educators who agree to work at qualifying childcare providers for 5 years. For each year of service, the Federal Government may repay up to $6,000 of the educator's federal student loan principal and interest, subject to the educator's remaining loan balance. The program borrows several administrative rules from the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. The Secretary must recertify participants each year and report to Congress within 5 years. The bill authorizes $25 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2031 for this loan repayment program.
The second program, run by the Secretary of Education, would give payments to colleges with approved early childhood programs so those colleges can award competitive grants to enrolled students. Grants may be up to $4,000 per academic year and may be renewed for up to four academic years. Grant recipients must agree to work in a licensed early learning program for a specified period (generally at least one academic year within 4 years after completing the program, plus additional months for each renewal). If a recipient does not meet the service requirement, the grant amount is converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (with no interest accrual) and must be repaid, generally under income-driven repayment rules if eligible. The grant program is authorized at $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030, with up to 3 percent of those funds available for administration.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.