REGULAR MEETING OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026, 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-McLaughlin, 512- 972-6205, Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Choquette Hamilton, Chair Delphi Alvizo Yvette Cárdenas Cynthia McCollum Craig McNary Alice Navarro Eliza Sears AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Brooke Freeland, Vice Chair Christy Beauchemin Chloe Latham-Sikes Andrea McIllwain Brianna Menard 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 April 8, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Possible action to approve a recommendation to City Council regarding the social service contract rubric. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Presentation by United Way for Greater Austin regarding 2025 Early Childhood Landscape Survey Report. Presentation by Dr. Alison Bentley, Vice President of Impact, Data and Evaluation. AISD Pre-K updates from Yvette Cárdenas, AISD Executive Director of Academic Programs. Discussion about Austin’s Quality of Life Studies. Raising Travis County implementation updates from Hilda Rivas, Travis County Health & Human Services Research & Planning Division Senior Planner. Updates from the April Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting. STAFF BRIEFINGS 8. 9. Staff briefing regarding Austin’s Quality of Life Studies. Presentation by Alejandra Mireles, Austin Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator, and Jeremy Garza, Austin Equity and Inclusion Business Process Consultant. Updates from Austin Public Health related to the development of the 2026 General Obligation Bond Program and updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area. Briefing by Caitlin Oliver-McLaughlin, Austin Public Health. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Early Childhood Council 20260513-002: Recommendation to Maintain Critical Services in the FY27 Budget WHEREAS, in the City of Austin, 23% or 23,238 children under age 6 live in households with low income; and WHEREAS, 94% of the children in households with low income under age 6 are children of color; and WHEREAS, only 42% of children under six from low income households in Travis County receive learning services at all; WHEREAS, the City’s Quality of Life Study for Austin's Families with Young Children study found that 78% of caregivers surveyed experienced some difficulty paying for child care in the last 12 months; WHEREAS, decades of research prove that disadvantages begin the moment children come into the world because children born into poverty and children of color are disproportionately born early, at low weight, or with chronic illnesses, and are less likely than their peers to be ready for, or successful at school; WHEREAS, existing social service contracts bridge health, early learning, housing, and workforce systems, ensuring that the City’s investments function as a coordinated prevention strategy because an early childhood investment is not a discretionary expense, it is a proven strategy for reducing long-term public cost; WHEREAS, social service contracts are designed for joint partnerships to enhance coordination, improve wraparound support, save public dollars and interventions over the long term, and increase access to funding and resources that may not be available to individuals; WHEREAS, City of Austin funding serves as a required local match to draw down Medicaid, philanthropic, or federal funds; gap funding for families excluded from categorical eligibility; and flexible funding that allows coordination across fragmented systems; WHEREAS, the City of Austin issued budget cuts of 10% across-the-board to social service agreements for FY 2026; additionally, federal, state, and local economic recovery funds invested in early childhood programs have concluded. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council recommends that the youngest children and their families are prioritized in the proposed rubric and assessment tool for evaluating and making recommendations on early childhood-focused social service contracts. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to: • Maintain funding for contracts related to services for families and children within Austin Public Health and Austin Economic Development. These contracted services provide targeted, proven preventive measures for families with young children, reducing the need for more costly interventions later. …
PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Austin/Travis County 2025 ECE Landscape Survey Results Alison Bentley, Ph.D Vice President of Impact, Data and Evaluation United Way for Greater Austin 11 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Our Strategic Plan 2 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Baseline data ○ UWATX used to conduct landscape surveys bi-annually until 2018 ○ Discontinued during COVID and beyond ○ Lacked any up-to-date data to inform implementation and show impact of RTC ○ Have some data through our Success By 6 Coalition, but not the level needed 3 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS 2025 ECE Landscape Survey Goal: Collected updated information to inform improved coordination, accountability, advocacy, and funding decisions across the ECE sector -including information needed for RTC Survey Components: 1. 2. 3. Development of the survey with community co-creation at the center Distribute survey and collect information Create reports and dashboards to share information back out to the community Key Indicators: Enrollment Information: Staffing and Qualifications a. b. c. Wages & Compensation d. e. f. Tuition costs Needs and Challenges Demographics of children, teachers, and administrators (e.g., age, race/ethnicity) 4 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Methods 55 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Development & Co-creation ● ● 2010-2018 surveys used as guide Used several SX6 Coalition workgroups and partners for feedback & development - 30+ individuals ○ Workgroups: ■ ■ High quality child care workgroup Equity workgroup ○ Partners: City of Austin Travis County ■ ■ ■ Workforce Solutions Boards (WFS) ● Once strawman survey was created: ○ ○ ○ Presented to WFS provider workgroup, UWATX child care partners, and family-based child care groups for feedback & ask for specific engagement Received group feedback from 30+ providers Received specific feedback from 5 providers (3 center based & 2 home-based providers) - provided $50 compensation per provider ● Final survey was lengthy - but providers were compensated between $100-$200 per site/location for completion. 6 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Distribution ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Fielded October 30-December 30 2025 This captures a snapshot between the ending of ARPA funds and beginning of RTC funds Survey sent to 572 providers ○ ○ 20% registered and licensed home-based providers (N=114) 80% licensed centers (N=458) Sent out by partners at the City, County, and Workforce Solutions Attended several provider workgroups to talk about survey 132 finished a large proportion of the …
Early Childhood Council Quality of Life Study Update Austin Equity and Inclusion – Equity Division | May 13, 2026 Agenda for Today's Briefing Backgroup of Quality of Life Studies Common Themes Across Three Studies Overview of Steps Taken & Community Engagement Plan Timeline for City Quality of Life Studies Website 2 Purpose of Quality of Life Study To improve outcomes for all communities by addressing the intersections between race, ethnicity, age, gender and other demographics that impact experiences in Austin. • Definition: Quality of life is living in a community that supports and empowers parents and other caregivers to raise healthy children in the best possible ways to thrive in childhood and adulthood and congruent with their own goals for their children. • Commitment: The ECC is committed to ensuring historically marginalized populations (leading with race) are included and centered in the study in ways that allow them to shape the recommendations from the studies. Quality of Life Study: Process ECC's Scope of Work of Centering Community Voices Disaggregated Data for Recommendations Partnerships with Departments for Implementation and Community Engagement City Programs and Procedures Meet Recommendations & Collect Data Commissions Continue to Write Budget and Policy Recommendations 4 Common Themes Across Three Studies Strong Gap • Trusted Community Partners • Knowledge and Awareness Inconsistent • Language Access 5 Overview of Steps Taken • October 20, 2025 Vendor Presentation to City Departments Socialize the three studies for future planning with ten Departments January 2026 - Now Internal Collaboration (Equity Division and Equity Network) • Socialize the three studies for future planning Share general recommendaitons from all three studies Collect an "inventory" of programs/policies that address the recommendations Schedule follow up meetings to align on data collection processes • April 1st 2026 Memorandum to the Mayor and Council Share full studies Describe QoL process Share alignment with the City's emerging Economic Mobility Framework Sample Inventories that Implement Recommendations Recommendation Department and Program Opportunities Increase visisibility and awareness of family support programs; collaborate with community organizations, pediatricians, hospitals, schools, and childcare centers to disseminate materials. Partner with neighborhood associations and property management companies to amplify awareness among residents. Invest in trusted community hub; partner and fund trusted neighborhood organizations to serve as "community connectors" that bridge families to programs, housing supports, health care, and childcare resources. • APH Early Childhood & Aging Teams • Austin …
PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Austin/Travis County 2025 ECE Landscape Survey Results Alison Bentley, Ph.D Vice President of Impact, Data and Evaluation United Way for Greater Austin 11 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Our Strategic Plan 2 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Baseline data ○ UWATX used to conduct landscape surveys bi-annually until 2018 ○ Discontinued during COVID and beyond ○ Lacked any up-to-date data to inform implementation and show impact of RTC ○ Have some data through our Success By 6 Coalition, but not the level needed 3 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS 2025 ECE Landscape Survey Goal: Collected updated information to inform improved coordination, accountability, advocacy, and funding decisions across the ECE sector -including information needed for RTC Survey Components: 1. Development of the survey with community co-creation at the center 2. Distribute survey and collect information 3. Create reports and dashboards to share information back out to the community Key Indicators: a. Enrollment Information: b. Staffing and Qualifications c. Wages & Compensation d. Tuition costs e. Needs and Challenges f. Demographics of children, teachers, and administrators (e.g., age, race/ethnicity) 4 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Methods 55 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Development & Co-creation 2010-2018 surveys used as guide ● ● Used several SX6 Coalition workgroups and partners for feedback & development - 30+ individuals ○ Workgroups: ■ High quality child care workgroup ■ Equity workgroup ○ Partners: ■ City of Austin ■ Travis County ■ Workforce Solutions Boards (WFS) ● Once strawman survey was created: ○ Presented to WFS provider workgroup, UWATX child care partners, and family-based child care groups for feedback & ask for specific engagement ○ Received group feedback from 30+ providers ○ Received specific feedback from 5 providers (3 center based & 2 home-based providers) - provided $50 compensation per provider ● Final survey was lengthy - but providers were compensated between $100-$200 per site/location for completion. 6 PRESENTATION TITLE OF A FEW WORDS Distribution ● ● ● Fielded October 30-December 30 2025 This captures a snapshot between the ending of ARPA funds and beginning of RTC funds Survey sent to 572 providers ○ ○ 20% registered and licensed home-based providers (N=114) 80% licensed centers (N=458) Sent out by partners at the City, County, and Workforce Solutions Attended several provider workgroups to talk about survey 132 finished a large proportion of the questions; 100 providers completed …
Early Childhood Council Quality of Life Study Update Austin Equity and Inclusion – Equity Division | May 13, 2026 Agenda for Today's Briefing Background of Quality of Life Studies Common Themes Across Three Studies Overview of Steps Taken & Community Engagement Plan Timeline for City Quality of Life Studies Website 2 Purpose of Quality of Life Study To improve outcomes for all communities by addressing the intersections between race, ethnicity, age, gender and other demographics that impact experiences in Austin. • Definition: Quality of life is living in a community that supports and empowers parents and other caregivers to raise healthy children in the best possible ways to thrive in childhood and adulthood and congruent with their own goals for their children. • Commitment: The ECC is committed to ensuring historically marginalized populations (leading with race) are included and centered in the study in ways that allow them to shape the recommendations from the studies. Quality of Life Study: Process ECC's Scope of Work of Centering Community Voices Disaggregated Data for Recommendations Partnerships with Departments for Implementation and Community Engagement City Programs and Procedures Meet Recommendations & Collect Data Commissions Continue to Write Budget and Policy Recommendations 4 Common Themes Across Three Studies Strong Gap • Trusted Community Partners • Knowledge and Awareness Inconsistent • Language Access 5 Overview of Steps Taken • October 20, 2025 Vendor Presentation to City Departments Socialize the three studies for future planning with ten Departments January 2026 - Now Internal Collaboration (Equity Division and Equity Network) • Socialize the three studies for future planning Share general recommendaitons from all three studies Collect an "inventory" of programs/policies that address the recommendations Schedule follow up meetings to align on data collection processes • April 1st 2026 Memorandum to the Mayor and Council Share full studies Describe QoL process Share alignment with the City's emerging Economic Mobility Framework Sample Inventories that Implement Recommendations Recommendation Department and Program Opportunities Increase visisibility and awareness of family support programs; collaborate with community organizations, pediatricians, hospitals, schools, and childcare centers to disseminate materials. Partner with neighborhood associations and property management companies to amplify awareness among residents. Invest in trusted community hub; partner and fund trusted neighborhood organizations to serve as "community connectors" that bridge families to programs, housing supports, health care, and childcare resources. • APH Early Childhood & Aging Teams • Austin …
