REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL AUGUST 10, 2024, 10:00 A.M. AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS, CAPITAL TRAINING ROOM #1133 4815 MUELLER BOULEVARD 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: Cathy McHorse, Chair Corie Cormie John Green-Otero Cynthia McCollum Brianna Menard Casie Schennum Leonor Vargas Choquette Hamilton, Vice Chair Eliza Gordon Tom Hedrick 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. 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on June 12, 2024 APPROVAL OF MINUTES DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and possible action to approve a recommendation regarding the City of Austin Economic Development Department’s Place-Based Enhancement Program recommendations 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. Updates from Vice Chair Dr. Choquette Hamilton about the Affordable Childcare Now Coalition and vote to approve a recommendation to endorse the Affordable Childcare Now Coalition Possible action to appoint a new liaison to the Joint Inclusion Committee Vote to update the ECC Quality-of-Life (QoL) Study Workgroup membership WORKING GROUP UPDATES DISCUSSION ITEMS Updates from the ECC QoL Study Workgroup regarding the first meeting with the study vendor and next meeting with the vendor on August 16, 2024 Updates from Member Tom Hedrick about the early childhood-related items included in the proposed City of Austin Fiscal Year 2025 budget 8. Updates regarding the Success By 6 (SX6) Coalition strategic plan STAFF BRIEFINGS Updates from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), regarding related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Austin ISD, Child Care Regulation, and Travis County FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20240810-002: Place-Based Enhancement Program WHEREAS, there is urgent need for affordable small business space; and WHEREAS, according to the Economic Development Department, asking rents have increased by 7.7% year over year, a historic high for the market; and WHEREAS, high cost of rent is a critical factor contributing to the financial instability of childcare programs; and WHEREAS, the Place-Based Enhancement Program Proposal includes recommendations to encourage affordable commercial space for community development projects including childcare; and WHEREAS, although a percentage of childcare programs who meet specific standards related to enrollment of children relying on public subsidy and quality qualify for property tax exemption, the majority of programs in Austin do not qualify for the exemption; and WHEREAS, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prevailing wage for the childcare workforce in Texas is $14.16. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to adopt the Placed-Based Enhancement Program recommendations without requiring a living wage standard for all employees. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council 20240810-003: Recommendation Supporting Affordable Child Care Now WHEREAS, for decades, families in Travis County have struggled to find affordable, quality child care and afterschool and summer programming for children birth to high school graduation (henceforth referred to as “child care”); and WHEREAS, child care is the highest expense for families after housing in Travis County. And one year of child care costs more than one year of tuition at the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, the current waiting list for families with low income who need child care subsidies has more than 4,600 children on it, enrollment is closed, and there is now a 2-year waiting list period; and WHEREAS, child care costs are out of reach for many families in Travis County. While families cannot afford the current prices, child care tuition rarely covers the true cost of providing a high-quality program. Costs for quality child care programs (including paying staff a living wage) have increased but families cannot afford to pay more; and WHEREAS, the child care and out-of-school time workforce, predominantly women of color, earns less than a living wage resulting in high turnover (over 30% annually) and under-staffed programs serving fewer children and cutting hours. Turnover hurts children and creates stress for families; and WHEREAS, families rely on affordable quality child care to participate in and complete education, training programs, or the workforce; and WHEREAS, child care and out of school time challenges particularly impact individuals and communities of color that have been historically excluded from economic prosperity: • 81% of children under age 6 receiving child care subsidies in Travis County are Black, Hispanic, or non-white/multi-racial. • The share of Travis County children under age 6 in working families who have parents working nontraditional hours is 47.1% Black and 42.1% Hispanic. • The child care workforce in Texas is overwhelmingly female and 62% are either Black or Hispanic. WHEREAS, A local investment in affordable quality child care and out of school time programs will result in better outcomes for children, greater workforce participation, family economic stability and a stronger economy; and WHEREAS, Quality afterschool and summer programs increase youth’s academic skills and skill development for future careers, improve school day attendance, support positive mental and physical health, and support working families by providing a safe environment for youth when school is out; and WHEREAS, With the high cost …
A broad coalition convened by United Way for Greater Austin that comprises of Travis County civic organizations, businesses, and community members who support equitable access to affordable, quality childcare for all. August 2024 Timeline ECC Actions April 2023 - Children’s Funding Project Overview January 10, 2024 – Cost model of child care in Austin – Travis County March 20, 2024 – Children’s Funding Project Presentation April 16, Resolution to endorse Children’s Funding Project Workgroup Recommendations May 14th Travis County Commissioners Approve Travis County CARES Resolution June 25 Travis County Commissioners Briefing, Discussion and Vote August 13 Public Hearing and Commissioners Court Vote Travis County CARES Resolution Creating Access for Resilient Families Overview of Strategic Investments in Childcare Benefits of Quality Childcare The Case for Significant Investments in Childcare ➔ Workforce ➔ Affordability ➔ Accessibility ➔ School Readiness ➔ Ongoing School Success ➔ Market Failure ➔ Equity ➔ Social Returns “It’s time to start treating childcare as essential infrastructure — just as worthy of funding as roads and fiber optic cables.” Melinda Gates, 2021 Background: ➔ Success By 6 ATX ➔ Children’s Funding Project (CFP) ➔ Learn All the Time (LATT) Network 9 Goals & Guiding Principles ➔ Increase Access ➔ Increase Access ➔ Improve Affordability ➔ Improve Affordability ➔ Invest in Quality ➔ Invest in Quality ➔ Grow the Workforce ➔ Grow the Workforce ➔ Strengthen the System ➔ Strengthen the System Adapted from Travis County Court Briefing ➔ Ground Solutions in Data ➔ Ground Solutions in Data ➔ Seek Equity ➔ Seek Equity ➔ Leverage Existing Assets ➔ Leverage Existing Assets ➔ Ensure Accountability and ➔ Ensure Accountability and Efficiency Efficiency Recommended Strategies for Investment Adapted from Travis County Court Briefing ➔ Expand Slots Early Childhood Afterschool/Summer ➔ Expand care in early ◆ ◆ morning, evening and weekend hours ➔ Build quality and capacity Early Childhood Afterschool/Summer ➔ Create a Business- ◆ ◆ Government Alliance Strategy 1: Expanded Slots Early Childhood ➔ Expand access with funding to create additional capacity through contracts Guaranteed capacity ◆ ➔ Focus on full-day, year-round care (birth through age 3 years) ➔ Supplement subsidy funding for infants and toddlers to match cost of quality Adapted from Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Strategy 1: Expanded Slots Afterschool / Summer ➔ Expand access with funding to create additional capacity through contracts for new sites or additional slots at existing sites for youth in least …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 10, 2024 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Austin Energy Headquarters, Capital Training Room #1133, 4815 Mueller Boulevard in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Hamilton called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Vice Chair Hamilton and Members McIllwain, Menard, Navarro, and Selig Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Members Green-Otero, Hedrick, Schennum, and Vargas Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gamez, Caitlin Oliver, and Donna Sundstrom 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. Brooke Freeland, representing United Way for Greater Austin provided public comment regarding the proposed City of Austin Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Freeland shared that the Success By 6 Coalition plans to submit a letter of support for the budget amendment form submitted by Council Member Fuentes that would allocate $195,408 for cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for the early childhood social service contracts. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on June 12, 2024 The minutes from the meeting on 6/12/2024 were approved unanimously on Member Menard’s motion and Member Navarro’s second, on an 9-0 vote. EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS AUGUST 10, 2024 2. Discussion and possible action to approve a recommendation regarding the City of Austin Economic Development Department’s Place-Based Enhancement Program recommendations Member Hedrick moved to approve the recommendation regarding the City of Austin’s Place-Based Enhancement Program recommendation. Member Menard provided a second, and the members discussed the recommendation. Members Schennum and Navarro asked for clarification on what it would mean to not include a living wage requirement in the recommendations. Members Vargas and McIlwain expressed concern about not having a living wage requirement since child care workers often get paid low wages. There was a discussion about whether the living wage requirement applies to the developers who are creating an affordable place from which a child care program would operate or whether it applies to the wages the child care program provides to staff.’ Member McIlwain moved to amend the recommendation to remove the last “whereas” statement; remove the semicolon above the removed “whereas” statement; and …
