Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5)

The 2025 Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Systems Building Grants for fiscal year 2025 involved a competitive grant application process with a December 1 deadline. Twenty-three states have been awarded grants ranging from $1,376,813 (Hawaii) to $14,751,000 (AR, FL, MD, OH, and OK). Funds support the development of a shared statewide vision to inform all early care and education (ECE) decisions, build a unified ECE system, and maximize family choice.

2025 PDG B-5 Systems Building Grants

State Agency	State	Federal Award Amount
Department of Health and Social Services	AK	$8,000,000
Department of Early Childhood Education	AL	$3,877,350
Department of Education	AR	$14,751,000
Department of Education	AZ	$8,428,558
Office of Early Childhood	CT	$11,951,276
Department of Education	DE	$11,312,542
Department of Education	FL	$14,751,000
Executive Office on Early Learning	HI	$1,376,813
State University	ID	$10,602,330
Family and Social Services Administration	IN	$14,680,302
Education and Work Force Development Cabinet	KY	$5,931,231
Division of Administration	LA	$13,723,445
Department of Education	ME	$1,933,007
Department of Early Education and Care	MA	$11,971,330
State Department of Education	MD	$14,751,000
Department of Health and Human Services	NE	$4,036,709
State Executive Office	NJ	$3,250,719
Department of Children and Youth Services	OH	$14,751,000
Partnership for School Readiness Foundation, Inc.	OK	$14,751,000
Department of Early Learning and Care	OR	$7,355,305
Department of Health and Human Services	UT	$7,269,293
Agency of Human Services	VT	$12,706,625
Department of Children and Families	WI	$13,921,165

The Alliance for Early Success, the BUILD Initiative, EducationCounsel, and Start Early hosted a webinar on November 21, 2025, to support state leaders as they prepared their applications. After the webinar, we were able to support many states in the application process. As a next step, we’d like to assist states in their PDG B-5 activities. We want to highlight common themes in the applications, identify trends in specific areas, and create a narrative around the activities these funds will support, which are vital for children and families. For states interested in and engaged with similar work, we can facilitate peer connections to share strategies and solve problems together. To help make this happen, please share your final application with us at info@buildinitiative.org.

Resources for State PDG B-5 Applicants

These resources were shared during the November 21 webinar.

PowerPoint Deck
Application Checklist: Submission Requirements and Merit Criteria
Guide for avoiding DEI language

Words prohibited in Head Start grant applications include: Racism, Race, Racial, marginalized, institutional, historically, bias, Equity, equitable, diversity, diverse, belong, belonging, inclusion, inclusivity, gender, chestfeeding, pregnant people, or LGBTQIA.

For PDG B-5 policy updates and additional resources, visit First Five Years Fund’s website.

Archived resources for past PDG B-5 application cycles and resources can be found here.

Resources to Support State PDG B-5 Systems Building

Systems Building

People, Money, Progress: Activating Strong Public Early Learning Systems Findings and Insights from an Evaluation of the Early Childhood Governing and Finance Project’s Direct Investment in States and Territories
Public Early Learning Systems Roadmap for Change: A tool to support leaders in building stronger early learning systems
Systems Building Resource Guide | Child Care Technical Assistance Network
Building a Comprehensive Early Care and Education System | The Administration for Children and Families
Early Childhood System Building Strategies | Child Trends

The Nuts and Bolts of Building Early Childhood Systems through State/Local Initiatives
Although primarily focused on alignment and governance, this paper also covers vision development and engagement.
Head Start’s Footprint: A Focus on Rural Communities, Children with Disabilities and Vital Health Services
This report reviews data and research to explore Head Start’s footprint in the United States, with a focus on: The role Head Start plays in rural communities, particularly in access to child care and health services; The benefits of Head Start in the lives of children with disabilities, especially those in rural communities; The foundational support Head Start provides to children and families through food and nutrition, universal screenings, and connections to health care services.