Child Care in Florida in 2026: Trends, Changes, and What to Expect - post

As Florida moves through 2026, child care continues to be a key concern for families, providers, employers, and policymakers. Across the state, legislative proposals, workforce efforts, food and nutrition programs, and early childhood planning initiatives are shaping how care is delivered and who benefits from services.

In this article, we’ll break down the big child care #developments happening in Florida in 2026, including legislation under consideration, state plans, workforce supports, food programs, and broader early learning policy priorities.

1. Legislative Landscape and New Child Care Policies

Child Care Law Changes and Licensing Updates

Florida’s child care regulatory and legislative environment is shifting in ways that could affect providers and families in 2026.

• Legislative proposals: House Bill 765 (filed in late 2025) includes revisions to child care facility licensing requirements. Among other things, it proposes establishing a Florida Endowment for Early Learning to support child care funding and setting up a Center for Early Childhood Professional Recognition. 

• Child care assistance program study: Senate Bill 946 (2026 session) requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to study public and private employee child care assistance programs and deliver findings by late 2026. This could influence future employer-based care supports in the state. 

Together, these legislative activities signal increased attention on licensing frameworks, professional development, and child care access for working families.

2. Early Learning Planning and Long-Term Strategy

Florida’s Early Learning Roadmap

Florida’s Early Learning Roadmap, #developed with input from parents, educators, advocates, and policy experts, continues to guide early learning decisions across the state through 2026 and beyond.

• The Roadmap outlines long-term goals to strengthen early learning programs, support family access, and prioritize high-quality education from birth to kindergarten. 

• Emphasis is placed on safe, nurturing, and stimulating environments for young children, as well as expanding tuition assistance and options for both center-based and #home-based programs. 

Implementation of the Roadmap in 2026 can influence future state policy and funding priorities.

3. Workforce Development: Training, Recruitment, and Support

Expanding Opportunities for Educators

A strong workforce is critical to quality child care, yet many regions struggle with staffing shortages and insufficient training pipelines. In Florida:

• Recent awards through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program have invested tens of millions into workforce education programs. These funds help expand training and #career pathways — potentially including early childhood fields — though the initiative is broader than child care alone. 

• As workforce investments continue to grow (with cumulative funding reaching hundreds of millions over recent years), this could create more training opportunities and career pathways relevant to the early care workforce. 

In 2026, advocates are likely to press for continued expansion of training and support tailored specifically to early childhood educators.

4. Nutrition and Wellness in Child Care Settings

Child Care Food Program Supports

The Child Care Food Program (CCFP) — supported by the USDA and administered in partnership with the Florida Department of Health — remains a key resource for ensuring children in care receive #healthy meals and snacks.

• The program reimburses participating providers for nutritious foods served to children in child care centers, family day care homes, afterschool or enrichment programs, and certain shelters. 

• Healthy eating habits have been tied to improved attention, learning, and long-term health outcomes, making the CCFP a valuable component of child care settings throughout Florida.

In 2026, this long-running nutrition program continues to benefit thousands of children and supports providers in meeting wellness standards.

5. Access and Affordability Challenges

Despite progress in planning and funding, access to affordable, high-quality child care remains a challenge in many parts of Florida.

Cost and Capacity Concerns

• Families in Florida often face high out-of-pocket costs for child care. While statewide data is updated periodically, high costs relative to income remain a concern for many households.

• Workforce shortages in #early-childhood-education have also strained provider capacity, potentially limiting available seats when demand is high.

Efforts to address affordability and access through licensing flexibility, assistance studies, and early learning planning continue to be central in statewide discussions.

6. Broader Budget and Policy Context

How State Funding Affects Children and Families

Florida’s Floridians First 2026-2027 budget includes education and children’s services funding that indirectly impacts child care systems:

• Significant allocations to early childhood education — including Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) — continue to strengthen early learning overall. 

• Additional support for foster care, adoption subsidies, and services that benefit children and their families may also intersect with child care access and stability.

These broader investments in children’s services can influence family outcomes and ultimately affect child care needs.

7. What Families and Providers Need to Know

Key Takeaways for 2026

Here are important trends and developments to watch if you’re a Florida family or a child care professional:

• Legislation matters: Proposed bills may reshape licensing standards, create new funding structures, and require studies that can inform future child care assistance programs.

• Early learning strategy: The State’s Early Learning Roadmap continues to guide long-term investments in care quality and access.

• Workforce efforts: Funding for workforce training programs may expand opportunities for educators, but targeted early childhood supports remain a priority.

• Nutrition programs: The Child Care Food Program supports wellness in care settings, contributing to better #health-and learning outcomes.

• Access and affordability: High costs and staffing shortages continue to be central challenges that policymakers and advocates are trying to address.

8. More Learning and Support Resources

Whether you’re a child care provider, educator, or family, these resources can help you stay informed and connected:

• Training offered at ChildCareEd.com: https://childcareed.com/trainings

• Resource offered at ChildCareEd.com: https://childcareed.com/resources

• Article posted on ChildCareEd.com: https://childcareed.com/articles/

• Follow updates on child care and early learning on Instagram

Conclusion

Child care in Florida in 2026 is at a dynamic point. Between legislative changes, early learning strategy implementation, workforce development efforts, and essential wellness programs, the state is exploring several avenues to improve child care quality and access.

Although challenges remain — especially around cost and staffing — ongoing public policy and programmatic developments show a continued commitment to supporting children, families, and providers. Staying informed and engaged with local coalitions and professional networks will be important as these trends unfold throughout the year.