By Aswad Walker
Texas, we have a problem.
Not only are there far too many food deserts and digital/technology deserts dogging communities of color, but Black and Brown neighborhoods are also ravaged by childcare deserts.
High-quality early childhood education is essential not only for the future academic achievements of children, particularly those from low-income families, but for the overall Texas economy. However, childcare remains out of reach for many.
Children at Risk (C@R) recently released data that shows 333 zip codes in the state are classified as childcare deserts, with 650 deserts for low-income working families.
“While for the first time in history, Texas is serving more children in Texas Rising Star (TRS) programs than non-TRS programs, only one in five low-income eligible working families have access to subsidized child care,” read a C@R statement. “The number of childcare centers has returned to pre-pandemic levels. However, the number of family childcare homes has decreased by nearly 32% since March 2020.”
Almost 100,000 working parents are on the waiting list for childcare scholarships. In other words, help is needed, and quickly.
“Without investment from the 89th Texas State Legislature, working families will continue to struggle to find childcare, affecting not only their family budget but also their ability to join the workforce and strengthen the Texas Economy,” read the C@R statement.
C@R and community partners recently hosted a press conference to unveil an updated Childcare Desert Map, discuss the progress the Texas Legislature has made in recent years regarding early education and look forward to the future with potential policy solutions.
Using data provided by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), C@R’s Childcare Desert Map now contains the operational status of childcare providers from October 2022 to September 2023.
Key Takeaways for Austin:
- There are 6 childcare deserts and 49 childcare subsidy deserts for low-income working families in the Austin area.
- There are just 11.6 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in the Austin area, which is 86% below the statewide trend of 29.1 seats per 100 low-income working families.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in the Austin metroplex has decreased by 45% since 2022.
- Since 2022, there has been a 44% decrease in quality subsidized childcare seats, down to 7.4 seats per 100 low-income working families.
Key Takeaways for Dallas/Fort Worth:
- There are 20 childcare deserts and 96 childcare subsidy deserts for low-income working families in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- There are just 25.1 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which is 15% below the statewide trend.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has decreased by 7% since 2022.
- There are just 12.2 quality childcare seats per 100 low-income working families, representing a 5% decrease from 2022.
Key Takeaways for El Paso:
- There are 9 child care deserts and 9 child care subsidy deserts for low-income working families in the Borderplex region.
- There are 94.6 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in the Borderplex region, which is 106% above the statewide trend of 29.1 seats per 100 low-income working families.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in the Borderplex Region has increased by 124% since 2022.
- There are 48.6 quality childcare seats per 100 low-income working families, representing a 136% increase from 2022.
Key Takeaways for Houston:
- There are 41 childcare deserts and 128 childcare subsidy deserts for low-income working families in the Gulf Coast region.
- There are just 23.3 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in the Gulf Coast region, which is 22% below the statewide trend.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in the Gulf Coast region has decreased by 14% since 2022.
- There are just 10.5 quality childcare seats per 100 low-income working families, representing a 5% decrease from 2022.
Key Takeaways for Midland/Odessa:
- There are 12 childcare deserts and 21 childcare subsidy deserts for low-income working families in the Permian Basin.
- There are just 26.8 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in the Permian Basin, which is 8% below the statewide trend of 29.1 seats.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in the Permian Basin has increased by 13% since 2022.
- There are just 1.4 quality childcare seats per 100 low-income working families, representing a 0% change from 2022
Key Takeaways for Rio Grande Valley:
- There are 9 childcare deserts and 4 childcare subsidy deserts for low-income working families in the Rio Grande Valley.
- There are 230.2 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in the Rio Grande Valley, which is 155% above the statewide trend.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in the Rio Grande Valley has increased by 84% since 2022.
- There are 76 quality childcare seats per 100 low-income working families, representing a 549% increase from 2022.
Key Takeaways for San Antonio:
- There are 27 childcare deserts and 56 childcare subsidy deserts for low-income working families in Greater San Antonio.
- There are just 30.2 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in Greater San Antonio, which is 4% above the statewide trend of 29.1 seats per 100 low-income working families.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in Greater San Antonio has decreased by 7% since 2022.
- There are just 12.2 quality childcare seats per 100 low-income working families, representing a 5% decrease from 2022.
Key Takeaways for Waco:
- There are 6 childcare deserts and 14 childcare subsidy deserts for low-income working families in the Waco area.
- There are just 53.3 subsidized childcare seats per 100 low-income working families in the Waco area, which is 59% above the statewide trend.
- The number of subsidized childcare seats in the Waco area has increased by 83% since 2022.
- There are 32.3 quality childcare seats per 100 low-income working families, representing a 93% increase from 2022
C@R representatives point out that the 89th Legislative Session is fast approaching, and early education must be a priority for the Legislature.
“It is clear that we must maximize the use of our existing resources, create a new sustainable resource for early education, and support home-based providers,” read a C@R statement.
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