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
Legislative District One-Pagers: Early Childhood Education
Welcome to CHILDREN AT RISK's Early Childhood Education Policy Resource hub, where you can explore the child care landscape in each Texas House and Senate district.Texas’s economic success hinges on a stable workforce, with employers and working parents relying...
2024 Latino Child Health Initiative Map
Latino Health Initiative Neighborhood Analysis Latino children endure disproportionate probabilities of suffering from systemic inequities, particularly regarding health and healthcare services. Language barriers, immigration status, lack of transportation and...
2024 Texas Tour | Child Care & Early Childhood
Written by Jacob Westjohn, Program Coordinator, C@R The Children At Risk team is incredibly grateful to all of the community members who shared their perspectives and expertise with us during the Texas Tour. These events are a valuable opportunity to discuss the needs...
Transparency, Quality, Efficiency: A historic look at child care legislation in Texas
Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and the Texas Legislature have worked hard for years to improve child care for working parents. Due to smart bipartisan legislation and gubernatorial action in the past decade, Texas now has a more accountable and...
Subsidized Child Care System in Texas
Because money is often a critical barrier to accessing child care, Texas gives working families subsidies that can help them pay for child care. Where does the money for child care subsidies come from, where does it go, and who is left out? Here's a quick primer:...
Access to Affordable High-Quality Child Care is Scarce
By Kim Kofron, Early Childhood Education, and Jenn Meier, Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation (Note: Data sources are all publicly available from the Texas Workforce Commission, TEA, and Family Service. This report uses data from October 1st, 2022-September...
2024 C@R Special Events
Special Eventsconvening for change Every dollar donated helps us improve the lives of Texas children. CHILDREN AT RISK is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 76-0360533). Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. It is with immense...
2023 Annual Report
It is with immense pride and joy that we announce the start of a significant milestone: the 35th Anniversary of CHILDREN AT RISK. For over three decades, our organization has been at the forefront of advocating for the well-being and rights of vulnerable children,...
2024 C@R Learning Events
Learning Eventsconvening for change CHILDREN AT RISK is committed to hosting free events that engage the public and help them drive change for children. We aim to share research, unpack pressing policy issues, and highlight diverse community perspectives from across...
CHILDREN AT RISK Hosts The STEM Summit
Our last summit of the year will dive into the issues of STEM education, focusing on building a robust and qualified pipeline of professionals. A learning opportunity for educators and community leaders, this event will highlight the work of STEM industry leaders, educators, and nonprofit innovators working to improve access to STEM education for all students. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of what they can do to support the next generation of STEM professionals.
CHILDREN AT RISK Hosts The State of Latine Children Summit
The 2023 State of Latine Children Summit hosted on October 12th, 2023. Welcome remarks were provided by the emcee of the event, Dalinda Gonzalez- Alcantar, President of the Boys & Girls Club in McAllen. “Much of the Latin Population is concentrated in...
Fall 2023 Texas Tour Recap
Kaitlyn Newell, Associate Director of Early Education, speaks to a group of child care providers, policymakers, and business leaders in Midland, TX. Source: CHILDREN AT RISK(TX – November 16, 2023) – Each Fall the CHILDREN AT RISK Early Childhood Team sets out on our...