Child Care is an Economic Imperative in Texas. With approximately 2.4 million children under the age of 6, and 63% of these children having all available parents in the workforce, most Texas parents rely on child care to go to work. However, for many, child care remains inaccessible due to several barriers.
We support policy measures aiming to address the child care crisis in Texas and ensure that every family has access to the care they need, enabling parents to return to the workforce and strengthen the state’s economy.
WHY CHILD CARE MATTERS
As a Jewish women’s organization, NCJW Dallas is dedicated to advocating for policies that promote equity, economic well-being, and the support of families. Access to affordable, quality child care is vital for several key reasons:
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES
Child care costs are often a barrier to women’s participation in the workforce. High child care expenses and limited access force many parents, especially women, to leave their jobs, limiting their economic opportunities. In fact, 58% of parents who left the workforce cited the inability to find child care as the primary reason.
WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AND ECONOMIC LOSS:
The child care workforce, essential to providing care, is shrinking due to decades of low pay and lack of benefits, with child care teachers remaining in the bottom 3-5% of national wage scales for the past 25 years. According to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation report, the economic impact is also significant, with Texas losing $9.39 billion annually due to insufficient child care.
ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY:
Nearly half of Texas residents live in child care deserts, where there are far fewer licensed child care slots than children in need. The affordability gap is substantial, with infant care costs comparable to public college tuition, placing a heavy financial burden on families at their lowest earning potential. This gap prevents many families from accessing the care they need, exacerbating economic inequality.
Key Statistics:
- Nearly 50% of Texas residents live in a child care desert, where there are more than three times as many children as available licensed child care slots.
- 58% of parents who leave the workforce cite lack of accessible child care as the primary reason.
- Only 13% of eligible children aged 5 and under can access Child Care Services scholarships due to limited federal funding.
- In fiscal year 2024, Texas had an average waitlist of 78,000 children for the Child Care Services program, with waitlists ranging from 6 months to 2 years.
POSITIONS ON THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WE SUPPORT
The following bills are designed to maximize resources and help create a system of accessible, high-quality early learning:
- SB 654 (West) & HB 5273 (González) – Franchise tax credit for licensed TRS child care centers that increase capacity, or similar bills: SB 1781, SB 211, HB 5272, HB 5273, SB 1803, SB 2164, HB 3070, HB 3011.
- SB 2164 (Parker) & HB 3191 (Button) – Increase access to child care by supporting employers through a matching program, franchise tax incentives, a website, and innovation grants.
- SB 1617 (West) & HB 4024 (Walle) – Create a Child Care Protection and Enhancement Fund to ensure the sustainability of high-quality child care options.
- SB 462 (Kolkhorst) & HB 3807 (Harris Davila) – Prioritize child care providers on the waitlist for the subsidy program to reduce delays and expand access.
- SB 972 (Zaffirini) & HB 2294 (Thompson) – Allow local boards the option to set an established reimbursement rate to sustain child care programs in their regions.