Early Childhood Education
The brain’s architecture is built during a child’s first 1000 days
Early Childhood Education lays the foundation for a child’s future. CHILDREN AT RISK is working to ensure every child and family has access to affordable high-quality early education programs and strengthening an early childhood workforce that is prepared, rewarded, and supported.
Children under 5 live in Texas
Low-income children 0-6 live in a child care desert
%
of child care workers qualify for at least one form of public assistance
Exposure to high-quality early childhood education is the foundation to future academic success, especially for children from low-income backgrounds. In the early stages of development, a child’s brain is malleable, and early engagement can buffer the adverse effects associated with growing up in poverty. Children who participate in high-quality early childhood programs on average have higher high-school graduation rates, lower enrollment in special education programs, and lower rates of behavioral issues later in life.
CHILDREN AT RISK’s Early Childhood Education team works to ensure every family has access to high-quality, affordable child care and an early education workforce that is prepared, rewarded, and supported.
The C@R Early Childhood Education Team...
Analyzes the current state of Early Childhood Education in Texas, maps child care deserts, identifies innovative practices and monitors government regulations and funding streams.
Connects early education providers and fellow advocates with information on innovative practices and builds consensus to develop a common policy agenda.
Advocates for state and federal policies that increase access to affordable, quality child care and early education workforce that is prepared, rewarded, and supported.
Our Latest Early Childhood Education Research & Resources
Child Care Closure Map
Our Latest Early Childhood Education Research & Resources
2024 Annual Report
Dear Friends and Advocates, At CHILDREN AT RISK, we believe that every child deserves a fair shot at success—and we know that it takes all of us to make that happen. Whether you’re a policymaker, educator, donor, volunteer, or advocate, your partnership has helped...
Connecting Across the Lone Star State: Reflections from CHILDREN AT RISK’s Spring 2025 Texas Tour
This spring, CHILDREN AT RISK’s early childhood team had the incredible opportunity to connect with our early learning family across Texas! While virtual tours may not physically transport us to the stunning beauty of an East Texas wildflower patch or the vibrant hues...
Texas Child Care Honor Roll
Media Contacts: Morgan Gerri, 832.600.9354 Rashena Franklin 713.301.4577 Research shows that 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of a child’s life. This period is foundational—what children learn, or don’t learn, during these early years can...
Access to High-Quality Child Care is Scarce 2025 Analysis: Texas Child Care Deserts
Access to High-Quality Child Care is Scarce April 25, 2025 | C@R Blog, Early Childhood Education, Research Written by Kim Kofron, Senior Director of Education, and Jenn Meier, Associate Director of the Center for Social Measurement & Evaluation, CHILDREN AT...
Partners Advocate to Fund Child Care in the 89th Texas Legislative Session
Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC) and CHILDREN AT RISK partnered to present a legislative briefing and rally that urged lawmakers to #FundChildCare in the 89th Legislative Session. On March 6, 2025, state leaders, child care advocates, and...
Advocating in Support of SB 599/HB 4127
Kim Kofron, Senior Director of Education with CHILDREN AT RISK, testifies in support of SB 599/ HB 4127 during the March 11, 2025 Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee Hearing. As the name implies, family home child care is simply an individual Texan...
Spring 2025 | Early Childhood Education Texas Tour
Each Spring, the CHILDREN AT RISK Early Childhood Education team hosts virtual community roundtables in 12 major cities across Texas. During the roundtables, C@R will share new data and analysis regarding the ECE landscape, including Child Care Deserts, as well as...
Sign-On Letter in Support of SB 972/HB 2294
Kim Kofron, Senior Director of Education, testifies in support of SB 972/HB 2294 during the March 17, 2025 Senate Economic Development Committee Hearing. We, the undersigned early childhood professionals, educators, employers, parents, and advocates, urge you to...
Fall 2024 Early Childhood Texas Tour Concludes
Driving Solutions Across Texas: Fall 2024 Texas Tour RecapWritten by Lyn Lucas, Associate Director, Early Childhood Education, CHILDREN AT RISK This fall, CHILDREN AT RISK hit the road for our statewide Texas Tour, sparking critical conversations on the future of...
Paving the Way to Quality
In 2022, CHILDREN AT RISK unveiled The Quest for Equity and Quality, a groundbreaking report that highlighted significant disparities in child care providers' experiences with the Texas Rising Star (TRS) program across the state. Now, our latest report, Paving the Way...
C@R’s Early Childhood Advocates Host Legislative Briefing
C@R Travels to Austin with Fellow Advocates Hosts 2024 Legislative Briefing on Early Childhood EducationOn Wednesday, September 4th, CHILDREN AT RISK hosted a significant Capitol Briefing on Early Childhood Education in Austin, Texas. This briefing, sponsored by...
Fall 2024 | Early Childhood Education Texas Tour
CHILDREN AT RISK's Early Childhood Texas Tour is coming to a city near you, and you won’t want to miss it. C@R is hitting the road with 12 in-person stops across the state, bringing together child care providers, community leaders, and anyone passionate about...