Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2025

This legislation authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states for establishing or expanding full-day universal prekindergarten programs . The primary goal is to support states in making early childhood education accessible to more children, with federal funds covering up to 80 percent of the program costs. These grants are intended to supplement, not replace, existing federal early childhood education funding within a state. To receive funding, states must submit an application detailing how they will implement programs that meet specific criteria. These programs must be located in public schools , including public charter schools, and offer voluntary enrollment to all 3- and 4-year-old children in the state, irrespective of their family's income. Each program must operate for a minimum of six hours per day throughout the regular school year and be taught by teachers with qualifications comparable to those teaching other grades. The Act authorizes the appropriation of necessary sums for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out this grant program. This initiative aims to significantly increase access to high-quality early childhood education, ensuring that more young children are prepared for kindergarten.