119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 5524

Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill creates a grant program to help states establish or expand universal pre-kindergarten programs in public and charter schools. The program aims to make full-day pre-kindergarten available to all 3- and 4-year-old children, regardless of income, and ensures that teachers meet similar qualifications to kindergarten teachers. Funds provided through the program are intended to supplement, not replace, existing early childhood education funding.

Key provisions

Establishes a grant program for states to create or expand pre-kindergarten programs.
Grants are awarded competitively to states.
Programs must be full-day (minimum 6 hours) and available to all 3- and 4-year-olds.
Teachers must have qualifications comparable to kindergarten teachers.
Programs must be located in public schools.
Federal share of grant costs is capped at 80%.
Grant funds are intended to supplement, not supplant, existing early childhood education funding.

Who is affected

States
Public Schools
Public Charter Schools
3- and 4-year-old children
Parents of young children

Notable changes

Expands access to pre-kindergarten programs for all children.
Provides federal funding to support state-led initiatives.
Establishes minimum standards for pre-kindergarten programs.

Fiscal impact

Positions across the country

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Arguments in favor

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Arguments opposed

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Legislative history

2025-09-19House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

2025-09-19

Introduced in House

2025-09-19

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E882)

2025-09-19

Introduced in House

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Sep 19, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 5524

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To establish a grant program to assist States to establish or expand universal prekindergarten in public schools and public charter schools.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025

2.Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education grant program

(a)Program authorizationFrom amounts appropriated under section 3, the Secretary of Education is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to States to pay the Federal share of establishing or expanding full-day prekindergarten programs.

(b)State applicationTo receive a grant under this Act, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c)Use of fundsA State that receives a grant under this Act shall use such grant funds to establish or expand a prekindergarten program that, at a minimum—

(1)is located at a public school in the State;

(2)permits each 3- or 4-year-old child in the State to be voluntarily enrolled by the child’s parent, regardless of income, in the program at a school in which the child may be enrolled for kindergarten;

(3)

is a full-day program that runs the length of the regular school year;

(4)

is taught by teachers who possess equivalent or similar qualifications to the qualifications of teachers of other grades in the school involved; and

(5)

meets any other criteria that the Secretary may require.

(d)Federal shareThe Federal share of a grant under this Act shall be not more than 80 percent of the costs of carrying out the activities described in subsection (c).

(e)Supplement not supplantGrant funds received under this Act shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal early childhood education funds in the State.

3.Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.

4.Definitions

In this Act:

(1)Full-dayThe term full-day used with respect to a program, means a program with a minimum of a 6-hour schedule per day.

(2)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.

(3)StateThe term State has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(4)ParentThe term parent has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(5)Public schoolThe term public school has the meaning given the term elementary school or secondary school in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801), except that the term does not include private schools.

HR 5524

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Fiscal impact

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Bill text

Positions across the country