There is a new opportunity for Texas to support the improvements to our early learning system already identified as priorities by state agencies, the Governor’s Task Force on Governance of Early Care and Education, and the Legislature. But the November 20 application deadline is fast approaching.
This year, the federal Preschool Development Grant B-5 aligns perfectly with the state’s goals of leveraging data to improve our early learning system and child and family outcomes. The grant could deliver up to $15 million in federal dollars for “states and territories to make targeted, one-year investments in technology and analytic data infrastructure for statewide early care and education (ECE) that advance PDG B-5 SMART purposes, including platforms and tools that strengthen coordination across the mixed-delivery system, improve program quality and access, support informed family choice, and use data to better address the developmental care needs of children from birth through age 5.”
This PDG opportunity comes at an ideal time. An application by Texas Education Agency (TEA) could support implementation of the Early Childhood Integrated Data Systems (ECIDS), which is currently funded with existing agency dollars but only until Summer 2027. According to the PDG grant guidelines, an application by TEA, TWC, HHSC or DFPS could also support innovative strategies to improve “access and affordability across a broader range of families, including families with low incomes as well as middle-income families who may face significant barriers to accessing affordable, high-quality early childhood programs and services.”
With three weeks left to apply, a number of non-profit organizations have offered to support state agency staff with the application process.
Last year, Texas chose not to apply for the 2024-2025 PDG grant. Many other states jumped at the opportunity. Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin each received around $14 million to support their already-identified early childhood system improvements, while other states collected smaller awards.
We hope Texas leaders take advantage of the Preschool Development Grant opportunity. Whether it’s to improve the process of applying for a child care scholarship, make it easier for families to find available high quality early learning programs in public pre-k or child care, or improve the pipeline of high quality early educators, securing up to $15 million in new federal dollars would be a win for Texas leaders and a win for Texas families.
Texans Care for Children gratefully acknowledges Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., for their financial support of this publication. The opinions expressed in this document are those of Texans Care for Children and do not necessarily reflect the views of Methodist Healthcare Ministries.
