Federal Early Education Update: September 2026
The latest in federal early education news
Latest
Big ideas, bold solutions. Explore the latest research, analysis, and policy insights from our experts.
Five Things States Can Do to Support High-Quality Kindergarten and the Early Grades
Laws signal what matters, and funding, capacity, prepared adults, and aligned systems determine whether anything changes for children.
Earning and Learning Where You Live Through Apprenticeship
MiraCosta College builds apprenticeships in property management and other fields to better meet the needs of students and area employers.
High Cohort Default Rates May Be Looming. Here’s What You Need to Know.
The Cohort Default Rate measures whether institutions leave significant shares of their borrowers unable to repay.
Current Head Start Program Performance Standards Protect Children with Disabilities
The proposed rule, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs, would make it m…
New Report Offers Bipartisan Solutions to State Child Care Woes
The report offers examples of bipartisan steps that can be taken at the state level to move the needle forward on child care poli…
What to Know About DOL’s New Pre-Apprenticeship Guidance
DOL’s new guidance offers a practical framework for quality pre-apprenticeship, but overlooks key equity considerations.
Tracking the AI Economy: Seven Charts Every Presidential Candidate Should Study
The next president must harness AI investment to create jobs, expand opportunity, and build an economy that works for more people.
Five Places to Watch: Where Kindergarten Is Being Rediscovered
These bright spots show what's possible when leaders begin to establish the right conditions for young learners.
How Colleges Can Use Workforce Pell to Level Up
With Workforce Pell approvals underway, here's what strong college implementation looks like at three levels of ambition.
Rethinking the Four-Year Default
Three year bachelor's degrees, community college baccalaureates, and degree apprenticeships are worth considering alongside each other, because they're being asked to answer…
Transitions Don’t End at the Schoolhouse Door
Gwinnett County is a bright spot for transitions to kindergarten and beyond.
Where Is There Progress in Meeting ADA Digital Accessibility Standards and What New Challenges Are Emerging?
An early 2026 50-state scan reviews progress toward reaching compliance with ADA digital accessibility standards.