We want to share a sample of recent press coverage about child care in Texas. The articles underscore that Texas parents are on the brink of facing even greater difficulty finding affordable, safe, nurturing child care so they can go to work.
Federal pandemic relief funds provided during the Trump and Biden administrations played a critical role in keeping child care afloat in our state, allowing many child care providers to stay open, retain staff, and avoid large cost increases for parents. Unfortunately, that federal relief funding will expire September 30th, meaning many child care providers will either lose staff to higher paying industries, raise costs for parents even higher in order to stay open, or simply shut down.
This session, the Legislature decided not to use state funding to maintain that support for child care. In light of these challenges, and with more than 80,000 Texas children on the waitlist for the state’s child care subsidy program, child care must be a priority for the Legislature during the next session.
Here’s a sample of recent press coverage:
Fox News: Families across US could lose child care access as 'essential' funding draws to a close
KXAN (Austin): Shock, disbelief’: Kyle church closing child care program, families left frustrated
Denton Record-Chronicle: Overcrowding, low pay behind walkout that led to Denton day care closure, staff and parents say
KLBK (Lubbock): Lubbock child care provider worries after pandemic relief funding runs out
KIII TV (Corpus Christi): Lack of funding could cause Corpus Christi daycares to close their doors
Fox News: Democrat Khanna and Republican Mace warn 3.2M could lose child care
Texas Standard: Unprecedented number of child care centers expected to shutter as pandemic relief funds end
Wall Street Journal: As Pandemic Funds Expire, Child-Care Centers Struggle to Survive
Politico: ‘A crying need for kids’: Federal child care aid dwindles
Texas Tribune: Some child care providers expect to shutter after Texas lawmakers leave $2.3 billion proposal off final budget
KHOU (Houston): Childcare centers at risk of closing
KRIS 6 News (Corpus Christi): Texas lawmakers decide not to offer $2.3 billion to child care providers
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Fort Worth area child care providers grapple with finances as federal dollars expire soon
We look forward to working with legislators, child care providers, families, partners, and other Texans to address this crisis.