WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services released fiscal year 2026 grant competitions for the Ready to Learn and Promise Neighborhoods programs as part of a broader Trump administration effort to shift family engagement and school support initiatives toward literacy, tutoring and community-based student services.
The competitions mark the beginning of a partnership between the Education Department’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Under the arrangement, HHS will administer awards for the programs.
The administration said the programs will prioritize evidence-based literacy instruction, high-impact tutoring, career-connected learning and family support initiatives aimed at improving academic outcomes.
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said additional grant competitions tied to the partnership are expected later this spring.
“This collaboration is focused on supporting the systems closest to students — families and communities,” said Kirsten Baesler. She said the partnership is intended to strengthen family engagement and early childhood development efforts.
Alex J. Adams said the agencies are working to align federal resources to improve early learning, school readiness and family support programs.
The administration also criticized the prior administration’s handling of the programs, saying earlier grant competitions emphasized race- and identity-based initiatives rather than literacy and school readiness programs.
According to the agencies, the partnership was formalized through an interagency agreement that allows HHS to manage grant funds, provide technical assistance and coordinate Education Department community engagement programs with existing HHS services.
The Ready to Learn Program supports educational television and digital media programming for preschool and elementary-age children and their families. The Promise Neighborhoods Program funds place-based initiatives that provide early childhood education, academic support, college and career preparation and health services in high-poverty communities.
The Education Department said it has now established 10 interagency agreements with five federal agencies as part of the administration’s broader effort to decentralize federal education operations and shift more responsibility to states and partner agencies.
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