Government
BY ELLE BENT & CHLOE YOUNG
Early childhood care providers—those serving children under 5 years old—in Leander and Liberty Hill are anticipating lingering nancial problems from the COVID-19 pandemic to become exasperated as federal relief expires Nov. 30. About $4 billion in Child Care Relief Funds— issued through the American Rescue Plan Act—was distributed to nearly 11,000 child care providers by the Texas Workforce Commission between 2021-22. By Nov. 30, providers must spend the funds they received, a majority of which were used to help pay sta. While this short-term solution allowed child care centers to stay aoat during the height of the pandemic, the lack of long- term nancial support has raised concerns for local centers. Child care center funding to end
The Williamson County impact
The big picture
A survey of 36 child care providers in the county found more than 80% of centers would raise tuition after relief funding ends. Percent of programs responding "yes"
In an August survey of over 1,800 child care administrators throughout the state conducted by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, 26% reported they are likely to close when funding runs out, while 31% are likely to remain open, and 43% are unsure of their fate. In response to the survey, 25% of Williamson County child care administrators said their programs are likely or very likely to close without additional funding while almost 53% are “unsure.” “I think we are still seeing eects of the pan- demic,” said Cathy McHorse, vice president of Success By 6 for United Way for Greater Austin. “We see costs are increasing, and now [early child care providers are] losing any kind of pandemic support that they had.” Barbara Campbell, owner of Sunshine Place Learning Center in Liberty Hill, was among those locally who were eligible for and applied for the funds. She said they have helped her business stay open.
Program will reduce sta Program will cut wages Program will raise tuition
81%
44.44%
42%
Program will reduce sta benets Program will serve fewer children Program will compromise quality Program will very likely have to close
28%
28%
22.22%
14%
Program has not been aected
6%
SOURCE: TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN COMMUNITY IMPACT
The cost of sta
Only
early childhood educators in Texas earns a living wage* 1 in 10
A closer look
When the pandemic hit, Campbell decided to provide child care services out of her home instead of at a center. The funding kept her in-home center aoat by paying for part of her mortgage, utilities and supplies, she said. “I could still benet from additional funding because of ination,” Campbell said. “Yes, I have raised ... tuition, but I feel like I can only do that so much each year. I think the cost of everything has jumped more than what I have raised my rate by.”
Priscilla Jones, owner and director of Amazin Kidz in Leander, said the funding allowed her to give bonuses to her sta and aord more supplies. Losing it has led her to cut her own pay. “I was able to do a lot of things that I can’t do now that it’s stopped,” Jones said. “I still have made all these commitments about higher pay and bonus structures, so I’m still doing those, but because we don’t have that additional cushion it is a lot harder.”
The average early childhood educator in Texas earns only $12 per hour
SOURCES: PRENATALTO3 POLICY IMPACT CENTER, TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN¡ COMMUNITY IMPACT *THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE LIVING WAGE IS $16.41 PER HOUR
Moving forward
Child care providers in the area said they hope to receive more government funding in the future. Such funding shouldn’t be an exception during times of crisis but the standard, Ritcherson said. “It’s our children,” Ritcherson said. “It would be nice if they could give them funds because they need it, not because COVID[-19] is happening or in£ation is happening.”
About 80% of the 36 Williamson County- area child care providers surveyed said they have already raised or will raise tuition as a result of funds ending. That’s a concern for Georgetown-area parent Jessica Ritcherson who spends over $1,000 a month to send her son to day care. “It would denitely make us struggle more than we’re already struggling,” Ritcherson said.
“We’re not going to see a dramatic closure like everything goes dark in November, but we’re going to have this insidious decline that is easy to overlook.” CATHY MCHORSE, VICE PRESIDENT OF SUCCESS BY 6 FOR UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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