Greetings PN-3 Collaborative,
With the legislative session behind us, the spotlight now turns to the Sunset Review process — the state’s accountability check for major agencies. Over the coming months, several agencies central to the lives of children and families will undergo review before recommendations are sent to the 90th Texas Legislature for consideration. This creates an important opportunity for advocates, providers, and families to hold state agencies accountable and shape how they serve Texans in the years ahead.
In this issue of our regular newsletter, we share updates and resources from our partners to help you stay informed and engaged throughout the review cycle. And we’re excited to announce our next open meeting in November, where we’ll discuss what these developments mean for our community and how we can work together to strengthen outcomes for children and families.
Get Involved
Tomorrow: Texas PN-3 Collaborative Open Meeting
November 18, 10-11 AM CT | Virtual Via Zoom
This webinar requires registration! Click here to RSVP if you haven’t already.
This year, the Texas Sunset Commission will review key state agencies that directly impact the lives of children, including the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Join us virtually for the Texas PN-3 Collaborative Open Meeting to:
- Learn what the Sunset Commission is and why this process matters for children and families
- Understand how your voice can influence meaningful change during this critical time
- Get the latest updates on the Collaborative’s priorities and strategies for advancing PN-3 policies in Texas
- Hear from two guest presenters on related topics, including: TWC Presentation Updates (Allison Wilson, Director with the Child Care & Early Learning Division at the Texas Workforce Commission) and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health (Dr. Dorothy Mandell Associate Professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health)
REGISTER FOR THE ZOOM WEBINAR
CHILDREN AT RISK To Host Final Texas Tour Visit to Tyler
Thursday, November 20th
CHILDREN AT RISK has been traveling to cities across Texas to engage child care providers, advocates, business leaders, and community members in critical conversations about the state of early childhood education. For their final stop on this journey, C@R’s team will visit Tyler, Texas on Thursday, November 20 to dive into the latest data on Local Workforce Boards are spending their quality dollars, key takeaways from the 89th Texas Legislative Session and opportunities to get involved during the interim period.
Click here to learn more and RSVP for a stop near you!
Access Resources
Child Care Property Tax Relief
Texas passed a constitutional amendment after the 88th Texas Legislative Session that allows city and county officials to provide property tax relief to child care providers serving working families. Property owner of child care facilities are eligible in many counties and cities across Texas for a property tax cut.
Find out more and access resources here.
Multi-Area supports
For families, providers, and partners
Amidst the uncertainty of the federal government shutdown and the economic impact this has already had on families, our team has developed a Resource Dashboard to make it easier for parents and early childhood partners to find essential support. This tool brings together reliable links for food access, housing stability, child care assistance, and other key community resources. We also invite partners to add any additional links that can strengthen and expand this shared hub of support.
View, or make contributions to, the dashboard here.
Recently
A Closer Look at the Legislature’s $100M Child Care Investment
During the 2025 legislative session, Texas lawmakers made a significant $100 million investment in child care scholarships to help working families afford high-quality child care.
A new policy brief from Texans Care for Children shows that lawmakers’ investment prevented a loss of thousands of child care scholarships for Texas families. There was hope, based on estimates from the Texas Workforce Commission, that the funding would allow Texas to serve more families than ever before, lifting thousands off the waitlist and into high-quality care. Unfortunately, child care costs have continued to skyrocket, resulting in an increase in the price of scholarships.