Ccdf-2026 - child care and development fund mandatory & matching

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Florida Department of Education $124.776 million on October 1, 2025, under the Child Care and Development Fund Mandatory & Matching formula grant program (CFDA 93.596), with performance continuing through September 30, 2028.

The award funds the provision of child care and early learning services to low-income families across Florida. The recipient, Florida Department of Education, passes funding through to 35 Early Learning Coalition and School Readiness Coalition organizations operating in counties statewide, including coalitions serving Osceola, Palm Beach, Orange, Manatee, Okaloosa and Walton, Northwest Florida, Indian River/Martin/Okeechobee, Hillsborough, Flagler and Volusia, Escambia, Marion, Brevard, Broward, Alachua, Pinellas, St. Lucie, Seminole, Pasco and Hernando, Sarasota, the Big Bend Region, the Nature Coast, Alachua, Miami-Dade/Monroe, Polk, Lake, Florida's Gateway, Duval, Southwest Florida, and North Florida (Putnam County), plus Redlands Christian Migrant Association.

Sub-recipients administer child care subsidies for low-income families, operate preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, provide school readiness services, conduct developmental screening and assessment, deliver professional development and training to early childhood educators and child care providers, facilitate family engagement, manage quality improvement initiatives for child care centers and preschools, and coordinate access to early learning resources. The coalitions serve as administrators of both mandatory and discretionary CCDF funding streams at the county level, connecting eligible families with affordable child care options and supporting the early childhood workforce. Most sub-award agreements to Early Learning Coalitions were executed July 1, 2026, with earlier sub-awards to Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Miami-Dade/Monroe, Okaloosa and Walton, Osceola, Manatee, Lake, Orange, Florida's Gateway, Broward, Alachua, the Nature Coast, Seminole, Florida's Heartland, Sarasota, Duval, Santa Rosa, Brevard, Polk, the Big Bend Region, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando, Northwest Florida, North Florida, Marion, and Indian River/Martin/Okeechobee executed July 1, 2025.