Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act of 2026

This bill, titled the "Early Childhood Educator Professional Improvement Act of 2026," authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to award grants to States. The primary purpose of these grants is to improve the knowledge, credentials, compensation, and professional development of early childhood educators working in early childhood education programs. Each grant will be awarded for a period of five years, with the possibility of renewal based on compliance and satisfactory program outcomes. To receive a grant, States must submit an application detailing a comprehensive early childhood professional development system, developed in collaboration with various stakeholders including State Advisory Councils, childcare agencies, and institutions of higher education. This system must include early childhood educator standards, a career and wage lattice , coordination with higher education, and provisions for accessible higher education, particularly for working students and those from diverse backgrounds. Grant funds are specifically designated to provide scholarships for educators pursuing bachelor's degrees, support those attaining credentials or licensure, increase compensation for educators making progress toward or completing degrees, and offer ongoing professional development opportunities. The bill also mandates that grant funds must supplement, not supplant , existing State and local funds, and States must maintain their fiscal effort for these activities.