Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey this week highlighted two major initiatives aimed at strengthening Alabama’s early childhood education system, voicing support for legislation that would limit screen time in early learning environments while also announcing new federal funding to support statewide early childhood programs.
On Monday, Ivey announced her support for the Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act, legislation that would limit electronic screen access in certain early childhood education and licensed childcare facilities. The governor identified the bill as a priority during her State of the State address on January 13, 2026.
“As technology penetrates ever deeper into the lives of our youngest children, their exposure to electronic devices, particularly smart phones and tablets, risks harming critical social and cognitive development,” Ivey said. She described the legislation as a follow-up to the FOCUS Act, which restricted cell phone use in elementary and secondary school classrooms, citing positive feedback from parents and teachers regarding improved academic performance and classroom interaction.
The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act was introduced by Rep. Jeana Ross (R-HD-27) and Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-SD-29). The bill would require the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education to work in collaboration with the Department of Human Resources and the State Department of Education to develop guidelines for appropriate screen-based media use in early childhood education settings. These settings include day care centers, day care homes, group day care homes, night care facilities, and prekindergarten and kindergarten programs.
The legislation also directs the Department of Early Childhood Education to create a training program on appropriate screen time use for teachers and staff who supervise young children. If passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the act would take effect January 1, 2027.
On Wednesday, Ivey announced an additional investment in early childhood education, revealing that the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) has been awarded a $3.8 million federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) from the Administration for Children and Families.
“Investing in our youngest Alabamians is one of the most important things we can do to strengthen our state’s future,” Ivey said. She noted the funding will support efforts to build a more coordinated and efficient early childhood education system that supports families, strengthens the workforce, and expands opportunities for children from birth through age five.
The PDG B-5 is a competitive federal grant designed to help states improve early childhood systems by better coordinating and maximizing existing federal, state and local funding. The most recent round of grants, announced in December, emphasizes system efficiency, parental choice, and quality improvement across early learning programs.
“This funding allows Alabama to continue building a strong, coordinated early childhood system that puts families first,” said Ami Brooks, secretary of the ADECE. She said the initiative will benefit children from birth through age five, their families, and the early childhood workforce across multiple settings, including First Class Pre-K, licensed childcare, home visiting programs, early intervention services, Head Start, and community-based programs, with particular emphasis on rural and historically underserved communities.
According to the governor’s office, the ADECE plans to use the funding to increase the supply and stability of early childhood professionals, strengthen alignment across mixed-delivery programs, expand family engagement efforts, and develop cross-agency data systems to guide policy, funding, and service delivery.
During her State of the State address, Ivey referenced recent gains made in Alabama’s early childhood education system, noting that the PDG B-5 grant will further support those efforts as the state continues to focus on early learning outcomes.
