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The escalating cost of child care services poses a significant challenge for many working parents statewide.
Certain communities, particularly those facing economic distress, grapple with the emergence of child care deserts — limited options and availability — attributed to rising prices. On average, Texas families with infants spend nearly $9,500 annually on child care, constituting almost 14% of the median Texas household income. Meanwhile, low salaries make it difficult to attract people to the field. The average child care worker in Texas earns less than $25,000 annually.
The state’s escalating child care crisis is not only a growing burden on the quality of life for everyday Texans but also an economic development challenge. Prioritizing early childhood learning and enhancing access to high-quality, affordable child care in Texas is imperative for building tomorrow’s workforce and the state’s competitiveness.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, the LBJ School of Public Affairs Urban Lab and The Texas Tribune will host a conversation at the Tribune’s Studio 919 and online for focused on the work necessary to address the challenges associated with child care across the state. Be sure to register and confirm your spot for this discussion.
Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
