High-quality, affordable, early childhood programs aren’t just nice to have. They support working parents, enhance child development in critical early years, and ultimately grow the economy.
Texas has long recognized the importance of a strong education and workforce system, but our state’s approach to early childhood has been fragmented and inefficient. Parents, providers and policymakers alike often grapple with three basic questions: How many Texas children need early childhood care? How many seats are currently available? And what is the value (price and quality) of those seats? In a state that prides itself on big thinking, high returns on investment, and family-oriented solutions, this gap in accountability is notable.
Earlier this week, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to state agency leaders emphasizing the need to strengthen oversight in child care programs, making clear that taxpayer dollars must be protected and used for their intended purpose. His message underscores a simple truth: Public investment works only when governance is clear, coordinated and focused on results.
This letter complements important steps that the Texas Legislature took toward addressing our state’s child care system last year. First, legislators created the Quad Agency Initiative, a process to better align regulations across the four state agencies that touch child care. Second, lawmakers formed the governor’s task force on the governance of early childhood education and care, a focused opportunity to address the broader governance and operational challenges of the overall system.
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These combined reforms matter more than they sound. Right now, for instance, a provider is monitored separately by multiple agencies — each leveraging slightly different standards for safety, staffing or recordkeeping. That wastes time and money without guaranteeing higher quality. The Quad Agency Initiative can help resolve these conflicts, reduce unnecessary burdens and allow providers to spend more time focused on children’s learning and well-being.
The workforce stakes are also high. Parents cannot reliably participate in the economy if they lack affordable and quality care in which they have confidence. Businesses across Texas, from oil fields to tech hubs, feel the strain when families don’t have stable, accessible options. Early childhood programs are as much an economic competitiveness issue about the workforce of today as they are an education issue preparing the workforce of tomorrow. Without them, Texas risks leaving both talent and opportunity on the table.
Currently, early childhood education and care in Texas comes in a “mixed-delivery” format that includes small businesses, homes, Head Start programs, and public and private schools. This constellation of providers is a strength, as families deserve choice across all parts of the Lone Star State. But choice without coherence creates chaos. Taking a step back to look at the overall system’s alignment and outcomes through the governor’s task force will ensure design choices are intentional and results-driven to meet Texas’ needs.
Ultimately, this legislative interim stands to transform the way early learning and care programs work in Texas, allowing families to find high-quality care for their children that promotes a strong education foundation and encourages more consistent workforce participation.
Texas has taken important first steps toward building an early childhood system worthy of its families. But recognizing the opportunity for improvement is just the beginning. Now it must finish the job by creating clear leadership and governance structures, more seamlessly tackling regulatory hiccups and ensuring every household has access to care that allows families and our economy to thrive.
Kate Greer is a policy consultant and founding partner at Magnolia Bay Group.