Texas has a well-built child care system, but leaders need to maximize the system to provide affordability for parents and a living wage for early childhood educators, according to three state leaders. It is said that it is not being utilized.
Fort Worth Mayor Matty Parker, Education Commissioner Mike Moras, and Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Brian Daniel discussed how the state can maximize the potential of early childhood education. The April 11 conversation was part of the Momentum Early Learning Summit, an invitation-only, statewide conference held during the state Legislature's recess.
Parker said that while some policies are broken, that doesn't mean the entire system needs to be destroyed. Instead, the committee agreed that policymakers needed to focus on his two points:
- We provide preschool education through a variety of early education settings, including public schools, community-based child care programs, and Head Start.
- Plan your career path and build a pipeline of early childhood educators who can earn certifications, degrees, and higher wages along the way.
Panelists focused on a 2019 law that allows school districts to partner with private child care providers for preschoolers. Moras, the state's top education official, said the law makes sense on paper. In reality, he says, most school districts just talk about partnerships and don't solve any problems.
“From a school district perspective, it's actually very difficult to make these partnerships work,” Moras said, citing oversight difficulties, funding differences and legal issues as hurdles.
Parker pointed to Fort Worth ISD's efforts to expand pre-K as an example. Voters approved two bond packages that will allow for the construction of early education centers. Parker said the idea has good meaning but has unintended consequences for child care providers.
Child care centers receive most of their funding from families of 3- and 4-year-olds. Parker said public preschools are siphoning off money to care for young children. This leaves him with a choice in many daycare centers.
“They have to close their doors,” the mayor said.
Moras said about a dozen school districts have resolved the issue. The state has more than 1,200 school districts and charter networks.
Moras said the Texas Education Agency is encouraging school districts to work with nonprofit organizations that act as intermediaries between public school administrators and private child care providers. This approach simplifies the district's work.
Additionally, the school board said districts will receive benefits such as having child care workers on campuses that have been forced to close due to declining enrollment.
“None of this is logically easy. It's work,” Moras said.
According to Child Care Associates, only 15% of eligible 3-year-olds and 30% of 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool. Moras said early education policies, if used correctly, could generate $1 billion in additional revenue annually for schools.
Kara Waddell, CEO of Child Care Associates, said the field of early childhood educators is struggling. The committee met with child care providers in the Stop Six area of ​​Fort Worth. Waddell said she can afford to pay early educators as little as $12 an hour.
“My heart sinks knowing I could make more money as a cashier at Buc-ee's,” Waddell said.
Waddell said while preschool partnerships can help increase wages, early childhood educators face another challenge, with an estimated 19% of child care workers statewide holding a bachelor's degree. He said there was.
Camp Fire First and Tarrant County College created an apprenticeship program to help more early childhood educators earn free or low-cost credentials that lead to higher wages.
“If this piece doesn't work, mixed delivery won't work,” Parker said.
Jacob Sanchez is a corporate journalist with The Fort Worth Report. Contact jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or @_jacob_sanchez. At The Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independent of board members and financial supporters.Read more about our editorial independence policy here.