C@R Travels to Austin with Fellow Advocates
Hosts 2024 Legislative Briefing on Early Childhood Education
On Wednesday, September 4th, CHILDREN AT RISK hosted a significant Capitol Briefing on Early Childhood Education in Austin, Texas. This briefing, sponsored by Senator Royce West, brought together members and staff of the Texas Legislature, community leaders, child care providers, and advocates to discuss Texas’s investments in improving child care access and quality statewide.
A Focus on Early Childhood Education
The briefing highlighted Texas’s efforts to maximize the use of early childhood education funds to address growing challenges in child care accessibility. Experts from CHILDREN AT RISK shared new data on the statewide child care landscape, providing valuable insights into child care deserts and the critical role of local workforce development boards in supporting these underserved communities.
Key Data Presented
-
Child Care Desert Data: CHILDREN AT RISK discussed recent data pinpointing regions across Texas where families face limited access to quality child care. These areas, known as Child Care Deserts, are communities where the demand for licensed child care exceeds supply, leaving many working families struggling to find reliable, affordable options for their children.
-
Giving insight into C@R’s upcoming report, Paving the Way to Quality, C@R highlighted key data and shared best practices in funding investments, emphasizing the unique needs of Texan communities.
Insights from Experts and Providers
Attendees heard from a distinguished panel of guest advocates who shared their expertise and on-the-ground experiences:
-
Mandi Kimball, Vice President & Chief Government Relations Officer at CHILDREN AT RISK, provided an overview of the child care landscape in Texas and emphasized the need for continued investment in early childhood education.
-
Kim Kofron, Senior Director of Education at CHILDREN AT RISK, presented detailed findings on child care deserts and offered strategies to close gaps in access, particularly in underserved areas.
-
David Feigen, Director of Early Learning Policy at Texans Care for Children, shared policy updates and outlined innovative strategies Texas is using to ensure more children have access to high-quality early education.
- Melanie Rubin, Director of the North Texas Early Learning Alliance, highlighted the collaborative efforts taking place in North Texas to address the needs of young children and families, stressing the importance of community partnerships and innovative solutions to improve access to quality child care across the region.
-
Jerletha McDonald, Founder & CEO of Arlington DRW Child Care Providers Association, brought the perspective of family child care providers to the conversation, discussing the challenges they face in meeting the growing demands of working families.
-
Cody Summerville, CEO of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC), echoed the call for expanded support and collaboration between child care providers and policymakers, emphasizing the long-term benefits of investing in early childhood education.
Policy Recommendations and Next Steps
The briefing concluded with actionable policy recommendations aimed at improving access to child care and better utilizing existing early childhood education funds. These included:
- Expanding funding for child care programs in underserved areas.
- Supporting child care providers with additional resources and training.
- Encouraging partnerships between state agencies, local workforce boards, and child care providers to ensure equitable access to quality care for all Texas children.
Looking Ahead
As Texas continues to navigate the complex child care landscape, this Capitol Briefing served as a vital platform for discussion and collaboration. By bringing together legislators, community leaders, and advocates, the event highlighted the ongoing efforts to address child care challenges across the state.
CHILDREN AT RISK remains committed to advocating for sustainable solutions that improve outcomes for Texas children and families. The insights and data shared at the briefing will help guide future policies aimed at ensuring every child in Texas has access to the quality early education they deserve.
Special thanks to Senator West for sponsoring this important event, and to all speakers and attendees for their valuable contributions to the conversation.
Stay tuned for more updates from CHILDREN AT RISK as we continue to champion the future of early childhood education in Texas.
Stay Informed
Sign up for our Early Education Statewide newsletter for updates during the interim, our latest research, policy analysis, and ways you can take action!
Kim Kofron, Jerletha McDonald, Cody Summerville, Melanie Rubin, and David Feigen gathered to advocate for legislation that is truly reflective of the latest research on early childhood education.
READ MORE FROM C@R
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...
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...
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...
GECU AND TRELLIS FOUNDATION GENEROUSLY SUPPORT EL PASO-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY YOUTH INITIATIVES
GECU AND TRELLIS FOUNDATION GENEROUSLY SUPPORT C@R EL PASO-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY YOUTH INITIATIVES Media Contact: Rashena Franklin, 713.301.4577We are pleased to announce two significant grants from El Paso-based funders, each providing $50,000 to...