Preschool development birth-five systems building grant - arkansas has identified PDG B-5 outcome strategies and related activities that build long-term capacity and strengthen essential system…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Arkansas Department of Education $29.502 million on January 1, 2026, under the Preschool Development Birth-Five Systems Building Grant (CFDA 93.434) to build statewide early childhood education system infrastructure and capacity.

Arkansas will deploy funding across seven outcome strategies aligned with the program's priorities of developing a shared comprehensive vision for early childhood education (ECE), building a unified statewide ECE system, and maximizing family choice for ECE options. The strategies include sustaining and expanding local lead work; conducting third-party classroom observations; providing quality enhancement grants during transition to a new quality system; providing bonuses or stipends to support and retain the early childhood workforce; modernizing licensing training modules; creating a Child Care and Development Fund budgeting and forecasting tool; and building a unified and coherent early childhood data system. These investments strengthen essential system infrastructure across the birth-through-five continuum to support young children, families, providers, and communities in Arkansas's mixed-delivery ECE system.

Performance occurs in Arkansas with a period of performance from January 1, 2026, through December 30, 2026. The award is structured as a project grant, the assistance type for PDG B-5 recipients implementing systems-building activities rather than providing direct services.

Preschool development birth-five systems building grant - arkansas has identified PDG B-5 outcome strategies and related activities that build long-term capacity and strengthen essential system infrastructure. These investments will help arkansas continue moving toward a unified and seamless ECE system that supports young children, families, providers, and communities across the mixed-delivery system. Arkansas will use PDG B-5 funds to support seven outcome strategies central to its vision for access, quality, and sustainability across the birth-5 continuum: (1) sustain and expand local lead work; (2) conduct third-party class observations; (3) provide quality enhancement grants during the transition to a new quality system; (4) provide bonuses or stipends to support and retain the early childhood workforce; (5) modernize licensing training modules; (6) create a ccdf budgeting and forecasting tool; and (7) build a unified and coherent early childhood data system. Arkansas will pursue these strategies to meet the PDG B-5 priorities of developing a shared, comprehensive vision for ECE; build a unified, coherent statewide ECE system; and maximize family choice for ECE options. PDG B-5 is an opportunity for arkansas to propel its work forward towards every child being prepared for kindergarten and lifelong success.