REGULAR MEETING OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025, AT 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Caitlin Oliver, 512-972-6205, Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Choquette Hamilton, Chair Delphi Alvizo Chloe Latham-Sikes Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro Eliza Sears AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Brianna Menard, Vice Chair Brooke Freeland Cynthia McCollum Craig McNary Hilda Rivas The first five speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on October 8, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Possible action to appoint a liaison and alternate liaison to represent the Early Childhood Council on the Joint Inclusion Committee. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation regarding the Infrastructure Academy’s goals and child care assistance. Presentation by Yael Lawson, Chief Operations Officer, Workforce Solutions Capital Area. 4. 5. 6. 7. Presentation regarding Generation ATX, the mayor’s movement to make Austin the best place in America to be a kid. Presentation by Jasmine Stoughton, Office of Mayor Kirk Watson. Updates from the October Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting. Discussion of the final report of the quality-of-life study of Austin’s families with young children conducted by Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR). Updates from Hilda Rivas regarding the implementation of Raising Travis County. STAFF BRIEFINGS 8. Staff briefing regarding updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area. Briefing by Caitlin Oliver, Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY …
Mayor Kirk Watson GenATX — Making Austin the Best Place to Be a Kid Jasmine Stoughton Policy Advisor This is not just a program. It's a citywide movement. Bold Goal: Make Austin the #1 place in America to grow up. Big Tent: Unite every sector around one shared mission. Three Pillars 1) Healthy Kids Ensuring all children have the physical, mental, and emotional support to thrive. 2) Safe Kids Creating environments where kids are protected, respected, and feel a true sense of belonging. 3) Happy & Successful Kids Supporting young people in developing purpose, building life skills, and having joyful childhoods. Why GenATX? Despite all the passion and good work, Austin’s still missing the coordination for impact: A coordinated strategy that cuts across silos A momentum mechanism to sustain energy A clear, public scorecard to track progress A design that centers youth and community voice A shared understanding of how Austin compares to peers Our Strategy Discover • Map and inventory the ecosystem • Research national best practices • Integrate youth and community voices Design • Develop the scorecard • Peer-city benchmarking analysis • Coordination and governance strategy Deploy • Convene citywide summit • Launch public scorecard • Activate the movement Jasmine Stoughton Email: Jasmine.Stoughton@austintexas.gov Cell: (512) 699-2616
REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL OCTOBER 8, 2025, 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Choquette Hamilton, Chair Brooke Freeland Cynthia McCollum Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro Eliza Sears Brianna Menard, Vice Chair Chloe Latham-Sikes Cathy McHorse Craig McNary Hilda Rivas AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on September 10, 2025 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and possible action to approve the 2026 Early Childhood Council (ECC) regular meeting calendar DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Presentation from Denisse Baldwin, Associate Vice President of Early Learning Advancement at United Way for Greater Austin, regarding Pre-K Partnerships Discussion of the draft summary report and other deliverables for the quality-of-life study of Austin’s families with young children conducted by Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR) Updates from the September Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting Updates from Hilda Rivas regarding the implementation of the Travis County voter- approved Child Care and Out-of-School Time (CCOST) initiative STAFF BRIEFINGS 7. Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), regarding updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the …
Early Childhood Council DRAFT 2026 Calendar of Regular Meetings The ECC will meet on the second Wednesday of the month in 2026, except for in August and November. There will not be meetings in July or December. Date Time Location * January 14 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 February 11 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 March 11 9 a.m. TBD April 8 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 May 13 June 10 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 July – No meeting August 8 (Saturday) ???? a.m. TBD September 9 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 October 14 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 November 18 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 December – No meeting * Locations subject to change and will be listed on posted agendas and available on the Early Childhood Council page: austintexas.gov/ecc.
PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS PreK Partnerships: A Premium Shared Service Denisse Baldwin Associate Vice President Early Learning Advancement ‹#› Key Components of PK Partnerships • District co-enrolls PK eligible students at high-quality childcare centers • District receives a percentage of the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funds generated • Childcare centers receive the rest of the ADA generated by co-enrolled students ‹#›12 Full Day = 420 min (7 hrs) Child care center hours 7:00am - 6:00pm (11 hrs) • Full-day PK4 is required • PK3 is not required • eligible PK students only generate ½ day PK Eligibility 1. Cannot speak/comprehend English language 2. Low-income (NSLP) 3. Homeless 4. Military - active 5. Military - veteran 6. DFPS/Foster Care 7. STAR Award 8. Teacher in the district employed PK student generates $3,250 per year if 100% attendance PreK Partnerships 7:00-8:00 8:00-3:00 Full Day = 420 min (7 hrs) Child care center hours 7:00am - 6:00pm (11 hrs) • 80% ADA Generated • Child Care Subsidy (if eligible) • Parent Tuition or Parent 3:00-6:00 Share of Cost ELAC - Shared Services What is a Shared Services Alliance? Our goal is to improve operational stability and service quality in all participating centers by centralizing business and pedagogical leadership. BENEFITS OF JOINING • Spend less time and money on all resources • Improve quality through coaching and Professional Development • Access Navigation & Virtual Assistant Director Support • Achieve Iron Triangle metrics: ⚬ Full Enrollment ⚬ Full Fee Collection ⚬ Revenue Covers Cost per Child ELAC - Shared Services PARTNERS & RESOURCES ELAC - Shared Services PARTNERS & RESOURCES • Annual cost savings tracked per provider • On the job training for teachers and administration • Tracking hours of time saved with navigation, clerical, and virtual assistant director support Both locations North & South locations 10 RRISD PARTNER SITES DISTRICT PARTNERS 20 AISD PARTNER SITES Global Kids Preschool All three locations! ELAC-PreK Partnerships 80% Average Daily Attendance passed through to TRS 3 & 4 Star Centers providing high quality PreK! A PREMIUM SHARED SERVICE PreK 3 & PreK 4 PreK 3 23-24 $684,097 $63,487 $747,584 24-25 $629,175 $103,953 $733,128 Over $100,000 passed into hands of teachers in 24-25 • Registration & co-enrollment support ⚬ PreLAS testing ⚬ PK eligibility verification • Instructional coaching • Ongoing professional development • Family Engagement support • Access to all Shared Services Meet the Team Aaron De …
Early Childhood Council Approved 2026 Calendar of Regular Meetings The ECC will meet on the second Wednesday of the month in 2026, except for in August and November. There will not be meetings in July or December. Date Time Location * January 14 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 February 11 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 March 11 9 a.m. Permitting and Development Center (PDC) April 8 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 May 13 June 10 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 July – No meeting August 8 (Saturday) ???? a.m. TBD September 9 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 October 14 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 November 18 9 a.m. City Hall, Room 1101 December – No meeting * Locations subject to change and will be listed on posted agendas and available on the Early Childhood Council page: austintexas.gov/ecc.
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 8, 2025 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at City Hall, Board & Commission Room #1101, 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Hamilton called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Hamilton and Members Latham-Sikes, McCollum, McIllwain, and Sears Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Vice Chair Menard and Members McHorse, Navarro, and Rivas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Cyndy Karras, Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC), gave public comment regarding accreditation meetings and the TXAEYC conference. Madison Mattise, Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS), gave public comment regarding the WFS contract with Travis County for child care scholarships and gap funding for child care providers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on September 10, 2025 The minutes from the meeting on 9/10/2025 were approved unanimously on Member Latham-Sikes’s motion and Member McCollum’s second, on a 9-0 vote. EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 8, 2025 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and possible action to approve the 2026 Early Childhood Council (ECC) regular meeting calendar The 2026 ECC regular meeting calendar was approved unanimously on Member Latham- Sikes’s motion and Member McIllwain’s second, on a 9-0 vote. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Presentation from Denisse Baldwin, Associate Vice President of Early Learning Advancement at United Way for Greater Austin, regarding Pre-K Partnerships Denisse Baldwin presented an overview of the Pre-K Partnership hub at United Way for Greater Austin, which co-enrolls pre-K eligible children at high-quality child care centers in either Austin ISD or Round Rock ISD. Discussion of the draft summary report and other deliverables for the quality-of-life study of Austin’s families with young children conducted by Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR) Members discussed the child care, housing, health, community-based supports, and economic security recommendations in the summary of the draft report. The ECC may have future discussions about how the recommendations in the report could inform the ECC’s budget recommendations. Updates from the September Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting …
REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Choquette Hamilton, Chair Brooke Freeland Chloe Latham-Sikes Cathy McHorse Craig McNary Hilda Rivas Brianna Menard, Vice Chair Eliza Sears Cynthia McCollum Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on August 16, 2025 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), about the Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network and updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Updates from the August Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meetings Updates regarding the implementation of the Travis County voter-approved Child Care and Out-of-School Time (CCOST) initiative Presentation from Trudy Taylor Smith, Senior Administrator of Policy and Advocacy at Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, regarding the impacts of immigration enforcement on Austin-area families Presentation from Decision Information Resources (DIR) regarding the initial findings of the quality-of-life study of Austin’s families with young children FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. at …
Impacts of Immigration Enforcement on Austin- area families September 10, 2025 Children’s Defense Fund builds community so young people grown up with dignity, hope, and joy. This presentation is intended to provide general information only. None of the content of this presentation constitutes legal advice. Children’s Defense Fund-Texas (CDF-TX) is an independent, non- partisan 501(c)3 organization. The information provided in this document is for informational and educational purposes only and is not an endorsement of any political candidate or party 3 Policies Targeting Immigrant Families • Executive Order 14160 (ending birthright citizenship for children of certain immigrants) • Rescission of the Protected Areas Policy • Escalating raids and the threat of arrests, detention, and disappearances • Courthouse arrests • Family and child detention • Family separation • Data sharing • New eligibility requirements for federal benefits programs that exclude new categories of lawful immigrants • Supercharged funding for ICE and a massive system of private immigration prisons 4 Table created by a s ta te p a rtne r How is enforcement impacting families and children? • Family separations • Children left without guardians • Lack of access to services • Pervasive stress and fear Resources for Further Learning CDF- Te xa s b log p os t e xp la ining wha t Exe c utive Ord e r GA- 4 6 me a ns for immig ra nt fa milie s in Te xa s The Ce nte r for the Stud y of Soc ia l Polic y’s (CSSP) b rie f a nd b log on the imp a c t of the Trump a d minis tra tion’s immig ra tion p olic ie s on fa milie s with young c hild re n, b a s e d on inte rvie ws with c hild c a re p rovid e rs Se p te mb e r 7, 2 0 2 5 Aus tin Ame ric a n- Sta te s ma n a rtic le , “Trump ’s immig ra tion c ra c kd own up e nd s life a t Aus tin e le me nta ry s c hool” Exp la ine r a b out fa mily d e te ntion from the Bre nna n Ce nte r for J us tic e Aug us t 15 , 2 0 …
Quality of Life Study for Austin's Families with Young Children September 2025 Update Providing High Quality Research, Evaluation, & Technical Assistance for Making Informed & Equitable Decisions RESEARCH • EVALUATION • SURVEYS • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE www.dir-online.com Agenda • Welcome • Review of Study Methods • Outreach activities • Overview of Findings • Discussion of Recommendations • Next Steps Mixed-Methods Approach Landscape Analysis Focus Groups Caregiver Survey Outreach Methods RESEARCH • EVALUATION • SURVEYS • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE www.dir-online.com Study Outreach • On-the-ground operations: • Connecting with community organizations • Attending community events • Attending special interest events • Connected directly with families and capturing their interest early on • Over 500 caregivers expressed interest in participating • Word-of-mouth/snowball • Several caregivers shared the study flyers, survey links, and interest forms to friends and family Study Results Sample Descriptions RESEARCH • EVALUATION • SURVEYS • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE www.dir-online.com Survey Response Details • Total Completes: 569 (114% of goal) • Average respondent age: 35.9 (range: 20-68) • Relationship to child: 74% were biological parents • Age of child: 82% were born between June 2020 and December 2023 Gender 58% Female 35% Male 5% 1% Non-Binary Trans Female Or Woman Race/Ethnicity 6% 8% 8% 9% 15% 24% 29% Middle Eastern or North African Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Asian or Asian American Native American Indian or Latina/o/x/e or Hispanic White Black or African American Alaskan Native or Indigenous Immigration Status 143 respondents (25%) indicated having immigrated or being related to someone who has immigrated to the US: 4% 9% 10% 13% Refugee/asylum seeker Migrated as a child or adult Child of an immigrant or refugee Family member of an immigrant or refugee Focus Group Demographics • 5 focus groups and 1 interview, 38 participants • Demographics: • 94% participants are Black/African American • 3% Native American Indian or Alaskan Native or Indigenous; 3% Hispanic • 50% participant had household income between $15,000 - $44,999 • Diverse mix of caregivers represented (parent, kinship, step-parents, aunts/uncle, sibling, foster parent) • Gender identity: 65% female; 32% male; 3% trans female or woman Defining Quality of Life For caretakers, QoL blends security and stability with health, happiness, meaningful connections, and the freedom to live in a way that aligns with one’s values and aspirations. “… I would actually say that quality of life for me and my family means the overall well-being and satisfaction of my family. And …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at City Hall, Board & Commission Room #1101, 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Hamilton called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 9:09 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Hamilton, Vice Chair Menard, and Members Freeland, Latham-Sikes, McCollum, McIllwain, Navarro, Rivas and Sears PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Yvette Cardenas from the Austin Independent School District (AISD) gave public comment regarding the district’s pre-K enrollment numbers and the Apple Blossom Pre-K 3 initiative. Madison Mattise gave public comment regarding Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s child care scholarship waitlist and the child care quality dollars proposal. Cyndy Karras from the Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC) gave public comment regarding monthly accreditation meetings for educators and the TXAEYC conference in November. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on August 16, 2025 The minutes from the meeting on 8/16/2025 were approved unanimously on Member Navarro’s motion and Member McIllwain’s second, on a 9-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 2. Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), about the Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network and updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area Caitlin Oliver, staff liaison, shared updates about Family, Friend and Neighbor Appreciation Week and United Way for Greater Austin’s/ Success By 6 Coalition’s Early Care and Education Landscape Survey. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Updates from the August Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting Member Navarro shared updates about the Joint Inclusion Committee’s discussion about language access at board and commission meetings. Members asked the staff liaison to explore opportunities to expand language access at meetings. Updates regarding the implementation of the Travis County voter-approved Child Care and Out- of-School Time (CCOST) initiative Laura Olson gave public comment on behalf of Go Austin/Vamos …
REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL AUGUST 16, 2025, 10:30 A.M. CARVER BRANCH LIBRARY, MEETING ROOM #2 1161 ANGELINA STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Choquette Hamilton, Chair Brooke Freeland Chloe Latham-Sikes Cathy McHorse Craig McNary Hilda Rivas Brianna Menard, Vice Chair Eliza Gordon Cynthia McCollum Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on June 11, 2025 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discuss the Early Childhood Council’s 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review and the mission of the ECC 3. 4. 5. 6. Updates from the ECC Quality of Life Study Workgroup regarding study and final report timeline Updates from the June & July Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meetings Discuss early childhood-related funding and the fiscal year 2026 City of Austin budget Updates regarding the implementation of the Travis County voter-approved Child Care and Out-of-School Time (CCOST) initiative STAFF BRIEFINGS 7. Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), about the Austin-Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network and regarding updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. or Please Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 __________________Early Childhood Council__________________ The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: The Early Childhood Council shall: 1. Make recommendations to the city council for the creation, development, and implementation of programs that promote optimal development for young children, 2. Develop, for recommendation to city council, programs and activities that contribute to the continued development of a system of high-quality early care and education and after-school programs for Austin's children; 3. Explore and develop, for recommendation to city council, cooperative arrangements with area governments in the metropolitan region to support a system of quality early care and education; 4. Encourage volunteerism and philanthropic efforts in order to generate broad- based community involvement and support for quality early care and education and promote the wellbeing of families of young children; and 5. Develop, for recommendation to city council, strategies encouraging individuals and agencies to continually improve the quality of their services for young children; and 6. Support innovative approaches to quality early care and education and leadership development in fields relating to the optimal development of young children. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. (Reference all reports, recommendations, letters or resolutions presented to the City Council on mission-specific issues. If some of the elements of the mission statement were not acted on by the board in the past year, the report should explain why no action was taken.) On August 10, 2024, the Early Childhood Council (ECC): • Encouraged the Austin City Council to adopt the Place-Based Enhancement Program (PBEP)recommendations. o Outcome: On September 26, 2024, the Austin City Council approved Ordinance No. 20240926-012 and Ordinance No. 20240926-013. The PBEP offers incentives to development, both new construction and remodeling, that supports community benefit targets including small businesses, nonprofits, and community development projects. Childcare centers are major community benefit targets addressed in the program guidelines for all categories. The Business Expansion Program is also available to childcare centers that are expanding by hiring new staff, with a category specifically designed for small businesses. On August 10, 2024, the Early Childhood Council (ECC): • Voted to approve a representative from Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA) as a community member of the ECC Quality of Life Study …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 16, 2025 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Carver Branch Library, Meeting Room #2, 1161 Angelina Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Hamilton called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 10:33 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Hamilton, Vice Chair Menard, and Members Freeland, Gordon, Latham-Sikes, McCollum, McHorse, McIllwain, McNary, Navarro, and Rivas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. There was no public comment. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on June 11, 2025 The minutes from the meeting on 6/11/2025 were approved unanimously on Member Menard’s motion and Member McNary’s second, on a 9-0 vote. Members McCollum and Rivas were off the dias. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Discuss the Early Childhood Council’s 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review and the mission of the ECC Members discussed their reactions to the internal review and the focus of the ECC in the new calendar year. Updates from the ECC Quality of Life Study Workgroup regarding study and final report timeline EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 16, 2025 4. 5. 6. Caitlin Oliver, staff liaison, shared updates on the QoL study and the researcher’s plan to present the study findings at the September 10th ECC meeting. Members discussed alignment of the ECC study with the QoL studies being done by the Commission on Aging and the Commission for Women. Updates from the June & July Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meetings Members McIllwain and Navarro shared updates from the Joint Inclusion Committee meetings and encouraged the ECC to appoint two members to the JIC when their terms end. Discuss early childhood-related funding and the fiscal year 2026 City of Austin budget Member McHorse summarized the City of Austin budget that was passed earlier in the week and the items in the budget related to the ECC’s budget recommendations, such as social service contracts and staffing. Members discussed the Pre-K classroom startup funds and the Family Stabilization Grant funding. Updates regarding the implementation of the Travis County voter-approved Child Care and Out- of-School Time (CCOST) initiative Member Rivas, the Travis County …
REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL JUNE 11, 2025, 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Choquette Hamilton, Chair Brooke Freeland Chloe Latham-Sikes Cathy McHorse Craig McNary Hilda Rivas Brianna Menard, Vice Chair Eliza Gordon Cynthia McCollum Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro Ellana Selig AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on May 14, 2025 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and possible action to approve the Early Childhood Council’s 2026 goals for the July 2024-June 2025 annual review DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Updates from Decision Information Resources (DIR) regarding current activities and next steps for the quality-of-life study of Austin’s families with young children Presentation from Jason Gindele, YMCA, regarding the child care center at the new City of Austin Dove Springs Public Health Facility Presentation from David Feigen, Texans Care for Children, regarding the potential impacts of the 89th Texas Legislative Session on the early childhood sector Updates regarding the implementation of the Travis County voter-approved child care and out-of-school time initiative Discussion about the time and location of the ECC regular meeting on Saturday, August 16, 2025 8. Updates from the May Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting STAFF BRIEFINGS 9. Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), regarding updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities …
Goals from the Early Childhood Council’s 2023-2024 Annual Review In the new calendar year, the ECC will: 1. Continue to support the development and implementation of the Early Childhood Quality of Life Study and use results to inform future recommendations that align with the mission of the ECC. 2. Continue to monitor the City of Austin development and implementation of the Infrastructure Academy to ensure that there are sufficient investments, resources, and capacity in the local childcare system to meet the anticipated increased demand. (The Infrastructure Academy is estimated to need to train and upskill an additional 4,000 workers each year.) 3. Ensure collaboration and coordination with City of Austin Economic Development Department’s new role in oversight of childcare investments to maximize the benefits of this transition. 4. Continue to elevate and prioritize the voices of those with lived experience in informing the priorities and recommendations of the Early Childhood Council. 5. Increase the impact of Early Childhood Council actions by continuing to improve communications between ECC members, Joint Inclusion Committee, and City Council and Mayor’s offices. Proposed addition(s) for 2025-2026 • Monitor the implementation of the Travis County voter-approved child care and out-of- school time initiative.
