The Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2026 creates a new federal tax credit to support individuals working in licensed child care facilities. This credit provides up to $4,500 annually for workers with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or related fields, $3,000 for those with an associate's degree, and $1,500 for other eligible providers. To qualify, workers must perform at least 1,200 hours of child care services per year at a licensed facility that is not primarily their home, and the bill limits the credit to a maximum of three consecutive years per individual. The legislation applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.
The Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act creates a new public website and database to help schools and school districts find cybersecurity tools, training, and federal funding opportunities. It also establishes a voluntary registry where schools can report cyber incidents to help identify trends and improve national monitoring. Additionally, the bill authorizes a program to deploy specific cybersecurity strategies and services to protect school systems from threats like ransomware. The Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is tasked with running these initiatives in partnership with various government agencies and school leaders. Congress has authorized $10 million for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to fund these efforts.
The Daycare Not Detentions Act of 2026 provides additional funding to the Department of Health and Human Services to support child care programs, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, and preschool development grants. These funds are intended to help states and organizations cover necessary expenses for these programs through fiscal year 2029. The bill also rescinds $70 billion in previously allocated money for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that has not yet been spent. Overall, the legislation redirects federal resources toward early childhood education and care rather than immigration enforcement activities.
The Improving America's Literacy Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide grants to states that implement specific reading instruction methods. These funds are restricted to programs that use evidence-based strategies focusing on phonics and other core literacy skills while explicitly prohibiting the use of the "three-cueing model," an approach that relies on context and pictures for word recognition. The bill also requires states receiving these grants to undergo annual reviews of student outcomes and mandates that school improvement funds be directed only to districts utilizing approved literacy activities. Additionally, the legislation directs the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct research on effective literacy strategies and submit findings to Congress within five years. Finally, the act includes a provision ensuring that these new requirements do not limit protections for students with disabilities or allow the federal government to dictate specific local curriculum content.
This bill establishes the Native Children's Commission Implementation Act of 2026 to improve health, education, and safety outcomes for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children and families. It creates several new advisory committees within federal agencies to provide ongoing guidance on issues such as juvenile justice, maternal health, substance abuse, and environmental protection. The legislation also authorizes grants and pilot programs to expand access to mental health services, increase the perinatal workforce, support Native language schools, and provide housing assistance for homeless youth and families. Additionally, it modifies existing laws to allow Tribes greater flexibility in administering nutrition and child care programs while ensuring they receive adequate funding for administrative costs.
The Prison to Proprietorship Act amends the Small Business Act to require entrepreneurship counseling and training for incarcerated individuals in federal prisons classified as minimum, low, or medium security. This program mandates that women's business centers and small business development centers provide specific services, including classroom instruction, self-study materials, and one-on-one coaching to help participants develop business plans and access capital. The bill establishes a matching plan to connect these centers with inmates who will be released within 18 months and allows services to continue after release. Additionally, the legislation requires annual reporting on the number of participants and their demographics, along with funding provisions to reimburse centers for delivering these educational services.
The National Fab Lab Network Act of 2026 creates a new nonprofit corporation to establish and connect a national network of digital fabrication facilities, known as fab labs, across the United States. These labs are designed to provide communities with access to advanced manufacturing tools that allow individuals to create goods and products from digital designs, with a specific goal of placing at least one lab in every congressional district while prioritizing underserved areas. The corporation will coordinate this network by setting operational standards, maintaining a registry of labs, and distributing funds to support the creation and sustainable operation of these facilities. Its board of directors will be composed of representatives from diverse sectors, including education, tribal communities, and the private sector, and will be appointed by Senate and House leadership. Additionally, the organization is required to submit annual reports to congressional committees detailing its activities and progress.
The Less Bureaucracy, Better Tribal Education Act transfers federal programs and funding for tribal education and job training from the Department of Education to the Department of the Interior. This shift includes specific initiatives such as grants for American Indian and Alaska Native children, language preservation programs, and career and technical education support for Native-serving institutions. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Education consult with Indian Tribes within six months of enactment before the transfer takes effect one year later. Additionally, the law ensures that existing contracts, grants, and legal proceedings continue without interruption during the transition period.
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The WINGS Act of 2026 expands federal financial aid eligibility to cover specific aviation training expenses for students enrolled in qualifying aviation programs at colleges and universities. Under this bill, students could use federal funds to pay for costs such as flight simulator hours, aircraft instruction, aviation training materials, and licensing exam fees. The legislation defines eligible programs as those offering associate's or bachelor's degrees in aviation-related fields and includes professional degree programs that meet specific regulatory training standards. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2027, allowing students to access financial support for practical aviation training components starting with the 2027-2028 award year.
The Seizure Safe Schools Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Education to create guidance for elementary and secondary schools on how to ensure safety for students with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. This guidance, developed in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services, must be issued within six months of the bill's enactment and will outline steps for schools to support students through their existing Section 504 plans or Individualized Education Programs. The act also allows the Secretary of Education to update this guidance as needed in the future.
