Federal Grant Award Summary

The Florida Department of Education received a $124.8 million Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Mandatory & Matching formula grant (CFDA 93.596) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. This funding supports the state's provision of subsidized child care services and quality improvement initiatives for low-income families across Florida. The award represents mandatory and matching allocations under the CCDF program, which operates as a formula grant distributed to states to help low-income families access affordable child care while enhancing quality standards for all children.

The Florida Department of Education administers these federal funds through 28 Early Learning Coalition sub-awardees operating across Florida counties, including coalitions in Southwest Florida, Palm Beach, Alachua, Miami-Dade/Monroe, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and other regional areas. Sub-awardees deliver direct services including child care subsidies for eligible low-income families, professional development and training for child care providers, quality rating system implementation, preschool program administration, developmental screenings, and school readiness coordination. These services ensure children from disadvantaged backgrounds have access to quality early learning environments while preparing them for kindergarten entry and supporting the state's comprehensive early childhood education infrastructure.