There are several important opportunities for families, teachers, advocates, and other Texans to help shape the direction of the state’s approach to early learning!

Governor’s Task Force on Early Childhood Governance

Last session, the Legislature approved HB 117, which established the Governor’s Task Force on Governance of Early Childhood Education and Care to develop policy and budget recommendations for improving the way the state oversees pre-k, child care, and other early childhood programs. Task Force members, appointed by Governor Abbott, will hold their third in-person meeting on May 18th in Austin with monthly meetings to follow. 

The Task Force is considering various options to improve the governance of early childhood programs, including consolidating all early childhood programs into one agency, transferring governance of select programs from one agency to another, creating a new early childhood governing body or cabinet, strengthening the Texas Early Learning Council, or maintaining our current governance system with targeted improvements in coordination and accountability. 

They are also discussing ways to align program goals and standards, coordinate enrollment systems so families don’t have to apply through multiple websites and application forms, ensure state data systems are more integrated, and improve administrative efficiency across programs. 

The Task Force’s final recommendations are due by December 1st. 

The meetings are not currently live-streamed or recorded, but you can submit your input online. 

Strategic Plan for Young Children with Disabilities (HB 2310)

Last year, the Legislature passed HB 2310, which required the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a strategic plan for the improvement and expansion of early learning opportunities for young children with disabilities and developmental delays. The plan, due September 1st, must include recommendations to improve inclusion and smooth transitions across programs, as well as recommendations to improve provider staffing, training, sustainability, and effectiveness across settings (public schools, child-care programs, and early childhood intervention services). 

To help inform the plan, you can submit comments to StrategicPlanHB2310@tea.texas.gov. 

Quad Agency Child Care Initiative

The Quad Agency Child Care Initiative was established by HB 4903 and is intended to promote coordination among state agencies to improve child care access, affordability, and quality. The group has met twice and initiated a formal review of pre-k partnership data collection. Past meetings are posted on the website. 

To be notified about future meetings, sign up for information through TWC’s GovDelivery system here. (Click the “Quad Agency Child Care Initiative” box in the Child Care section.) You can submit comments to QuadAgencyChildCare@twc.texas.gov. 

Texas Early Learning Council

The Texas Early Learning Council meets quarterly to hear about the latest early childhood research, explore opportunities to improve family engagement and provider sustainability, review early childhood outcomes, monitor the implementation of recent legislation, and promote collaboration across the early childhood system. 

Public comment is always welcome. You can submit written comments or request an opportunity to provide oral comments at the July 17th virtual meeting here. The website also features past recorded meetings, agendas and minutes.

Thank you for raising your voice to support early learning in Texas!