(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser previewed a portion of her Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget proposal by announcing full FY26 funding for the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP), the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund (Pay Equity Fund), and the DC Child Care Subsidy Program. These three critical investments support high-quality early learning and care for DC’s youngest residents and their families.
“We know that when we invest in our children and families there are many benefits – for our children’s learning and development, for our neighborhoods, and for keeping families in DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “With the fiscal 2026 budget, we’re not standing still. While our economy is shifting, we’re still focused on the people, programs, and economic growth that make Washington, DC a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The FY26 budget will fully fund the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP) at $19.5 million in local funds, reinforcing the District’s commitment to high-quality pre-K. PKEEP supports pre-K seats for 3- and 4-year-olds outside of DC Public Schools and DC public charter schools, ensuring more access and options for families across all eight wards. In the current fiscal year, 26 PKEEP community-based organizations (CBOs) serve 1,050 children across all eight wards…