Tarrant County Child Care Program Expansion Across Texas

Tarrant County's Child Care Success Story

• 💡 The Ready, Set Jump Early Learning Center in Fort Worth has seen significant positive changes thanks to a pilot program.
• 🔑 A Tarrant County pilot program, funded by millions in federal dollars, directed resources to 19 child care centers.
• 📈 This initiative has led to a 17% improvement in teacher retention rates and a 33% drop in tuition costs for private-pay families.

Impact on Families and Teachers

• 💰 Families experienced a reduction in their child care tuition costs.
• 🧑‍🏫 Teachers saw their wages increase from $14 an hour to $18 an hour, improving their ability to stay in their roles.

Addressing the Child Care Crisis in Texas

• ⚠️ Texas faces a critical shortage, with only 80 workers for every 100 open child care jobs.
• 💬 Child Care Associates, the nonprofit behind the pilot, is working to address this ongoing crisis.

Proposed Expansion to Other Texas Regions

• 🏛️ Texas lawmakers are considering bills to expand this successful model statewide.
• 🗺️ Proposed legislation includes using state funds for grants in Tarrant and 13 other North Texas counties, and potentially across Texas via workforce boards.
• 🌱 The goal is to replicate the successes seen in Tarrant County to benefit more children and families across the state.