Kim Kofron, Senior Director of Education, testifies in support of SB 972/HB 2294 during the March 17, 2025 Senate Economic Development Committee Hearing.
ADVOCATING IN SUPPORT OF SB 972/HB 2294
We, the undersigned early childhood professionals, educators, employers, parents, and advocates, urge you to support SB 972 (Zaffirini)/HB 2294 (Thompson) to address the critical child care crisis impacting Texas families and our economy.
Current Texas law restricts local workforce boards from effectively meeting the needs of their workforce, hindering economic growth. Mandating reimbursement based on published tuition rates, rather than the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) established rates, creates unsustainable financial burdens for child care providers and exacerbates the problem of child care deserts.
THE PROBLEM
- Restricted reimbursement: Current regulations force workforce boards to reimburse child care providers based on their published tuition rate, even if it’s lower than the TWC’s established rate.
- Financial disincentive: This creates a financial disincentive for providers, particularly in low-income areas, to participate in child care scholarship programs.
- Provider losses and closures: Many child care and education providers lose money, leading to closures and contributing to “child care deserts” where demand far exceeds supply.
THE IMPACT
- Workforce barriers: Lack of affordable, quality child care prevents many families, particularly low-income families, from entering or staying in the workforce.
- Economic weakening: This directly impacts workforce productivity and weakens the Texas economy.
- Child Care Deserts: 41% of Texas zip codes are considered Child Care Deserts.
THE SOLUTION
Support SB 972/HB 2294
- This legislation would allow local workforce boards to use existing dollars to reimburse child care providers at the TWC’s established rate, regardless of their published rate and better meet local needs.
- This change would provide much-needed financial stability and encourage participation in scholarship programs.
- This legislation will not result in fewer children being served.
- This would increase access to quality child care, enabling more families to work and strengthening the state’s economy.
We believe that supporting SB 972/HB 2294 is a crucial step towards ensuring that all Texas families have access to affordable, quality child care. This will not only support our children’s development but also strengthen our workforce and economy.
We respectfully request your support for this vital legislation.
Signed by:
Kym Shaw Day, Executive Director | Early Learning Alliance
David Feigen, Director of Early Learning Policy | Texans Care for Children
Kurt Hutson, Owner | Rise Academy – Allen, TX
Kerrie Judice, Director of Policy and Advocacy | TexProtects
Dominqiue McCain, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Educational First Steps
William H. Koehler, Ph.D., Provost Emeritus, Retired | Texas Christian University
Ronald Tobin Rivera, Teacher Trainer | Educational First Steps
Shanta Bell, Trainer/Assessor | Educational First Steps
sharlene Abraham, Director of Early Education Workplace Learning | Camp Fire First Texas
Yaneth Bright, Education Specialist | Educational First Steps
Cynthia Gardner, Director | MAGICAL MOMENTS DAYCARE CENTER
Angela James, Owner//Director | Children Education Station Learning Center
Katheryn Webb, Education Specialist | Educational First Steps
Juanita Hawkins, Director | Zion Kidz Academy and Learning Center
Shantay Coleman, Owner | Taytor Tots childcare
Dawn Hallman, Teacher trainer /professional development/ parent educator | Dallas Association for Parent Education
Jennifer Carpenterm Chief Program Officer | Lena Pope Early Learning Center
Jerletha McDonald, Founder – CEO | ADFW Family Child Care Network
Delia Merritt, Director | Happy Days School Garland Texas
Maria Dominguez, Director/Owner| Cielito Lindo Spanish Immersion Preschool
Ilisa Mitchell, ECE Advocate with CDA | ADFW – Supporter
Gloria J Simmons, Director | Lil’ Hopper’s Learning Center
Chasity Syas, Director | Polly Wog Early Learning Academy
Linda Jackson, Owner | Linda Jackson
Gloria Norman, Director | Pleasant Place Childcare
Barbara Aguillard, Dean In Home State Registered Provider | Barbara Aguillard Dean/Designed Family Child Care
Roxanne Jones, President/CEO United Ways of Texas
Karen Nichols, Owner/Director Creative Steps Academy
Nora Porter, Owner/Director | pcpmf learning academy
Dr. Jessie Pelts, Director | Poised for Success Learning Academy
Dr. Shaunise Alford, Teacher | Poised for Success Learning Academy
Anu Gupta, Owner | Oak Leaf Kids Academy
Ann Zimmerman | Anna Zimmerman
Nicholy Johnson, Early Childhood Education Consultant | Educational First Steps and SOURCE Consulting
Fatima Sayler, Director | NoWorries Childcare and Preschool
Michael Mizell, Director | Kaleidoscope Child Development Center, Inc.
Tamitha Blackmon, Director | Nehemiah Christian School
Racquel Washington, Consultant | Care First Consulting
Alison May, State Govt Relations Rep | KinderCare Learning Companies
Shaneka Hogg, Director | Olive’s Lil’ Angels Learning Center
Kamikka Hughes, ECE Quality Manager | EFS
Greg Hartman, CEO, Texas YMCAs Texas | Alliance of YMCAs
Denisse Baldwin, Assoc. VP of Early Learning Advancement | United Way for Greater Austin
Calenthia Cheatham, Quality Manager| Educational First Steps
Cheryl Blanton, Owner | Little Red School House of Texas
Sherice Betts, Owner/Director | Betts Busy Bodies
Laura Horner, Owner/Director | Little Tykes Learning Center
Breanna Horner, Director | Little Tykes Learning Center
Alicia Angton, Director | Ready Set Jump Learning Center, LLC
Cheryl Page, Director | Tot’s Haven Christian Academy
Kenyatta Henderson, Owner/Director | YaYa’s Yuniversity
Sondra Lawton, Director | COMMUNITY OF HOPE CHILDREN CENTER
Veronda Durden, President and Chief Executive Officer | Any Baby Can
Audrey Rowland, Owner/CEO | Green Space Learning
Allease Lynch, Education Specialist | Educational First Steps
Teresa Granillo, Chief Executive Officer | AVANCE
Sheena Gaines, Director | The Ivy League Child Development center, Inc
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