[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6686300,"mediaKeyId","2192206-786a1be0def22977f7de9b4819db0d00","parentId",2192206,"title","Texas A&M study finds major child care capacity and quality gaps in San Antonio; committee urged to coordinate workforce and funding responses","audioSeconds",2859,"startMs",1704000,"endMs",4563000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2192206-786a1be0def22977f7de9b4819db0d00&start=1704&end=4563","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2192206-786a1be0def22977f7de9b4819db0d00/thumbnail_1704000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6686300/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Texas-AM-study-finds-major-child-care-capacity-and-quality-gaps-in-San-Antonio-committee-urged-to-coordinate-workforce-and-funding-responses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686300-a134b2fa39c2eae6948e2eb583416f7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180418&Signature=Ugaq4wd3YhayXyHKoFIZi9oNCfDkr4occ-UnwYenHDgwbaDvw1-vbCyi4Fh25GLmjh8CJhauRVFT~I2Z9n9Ycq2~X0rsDiUnvXqdsDrpQOuS4PWBeKVskUewlxnxiM0-5EF~VMB035BToqXUZJ~rvy8Pvk383xD7Q1KEXI4GDKm8XZVeHDgC5eaTNhZ08Vamdmt7ote~ZGMpUMJr9eUEGHiPGPmsTvrwHQxRItT0CipJ8kAv8q1BS1fVNcQ4pT65hi5WzzWkb~q8ZXkGcQBpP0kF9PjaK477SL7qn7nvxCUVu~CJAr7DsydDf~Kx8OQAOzKqPupCvqreU19FVOmKug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-01-31T00:00:00Z","article","Dr. Melissa Jasway, a researcher at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, presented results of a city-sponsored child-care study that, according to the researchers, maps supply, quality and operating constraints across Bexar County and proposes policy options for expanding capacity and improving quality.

Jasway told the committee that census data show roughly 132,000 children under age 5 in Bexar County (2023), and that the study's inventory of licensed capacity covers roughly two-thirds of those children when measured by maximum licensing numbers. The researchers reported centers in the county were operating at about 70% of their licensed capacity at the time of the study, reducing the practical supply of seats. Jasway said that when that utilization rate is applied to citywide counts the result is that fewer than half of young children have access to licensed care at current operating levels.

The study also found limited coverage for nonstandard hours: Jasway said only about 30 providers offer weekend hours and estimated roughly 400 possible weekend openings assuming full operation. She told the committee that openings reported by providers represent only about 15% of all possible licensed seats and that most openings are in preschool‑age slots; infant and toddler openings were described as nearly nonexistent.

On quality measures, Jasway explained the Texas Rising Star quality-improvement program is currently used by about 250 sites in Bexar County; she said the highest-quality sites are disproportionately government-funded (for example, Head Start, Early Head Start and public prekindergarten). She warned that families who do not qualify for government‑funded slots have reduced access to high-quality licensed care.

Researchers identified staffing and workforce development as among the top constraints across all provider types. Jasway and Dr. Hatice Inan, who led qualitative interviews, said providers consistently ranked hiring staff with at least a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and teacher professional development among the three most difficult challenges. The presenters described typical staff profiles: preschool teachers are more likely to hold associate or bachelor's degrees, while infant/toddler teachers often have high-school diplomas and clock-hour training, and earn lower wages on average than preschool staff.

The study reported families paying as much as $2,200 a month for infant care at some centers; presenters said infant care is the most constrained age group for access and quality. Jasway summarized three high-level policy priorities: focus on quality improvement linked to staff development, expand capacity while preserving a variety of provider types (centers and family homes), and prioritize infant/toddler services.

Committee members asked for the full study report and the presenters said they would provide it; staff noted a text version had already been emailed to the committee and would be provided as a PDF on request. The committee discussed coordination with local partners: Ready to Work staff said qualification and wage levels complicate program alignment, though pilots of CDA training have been run and new pilots were being discussed with community partners. Pre K4SA and other providers were also named as partners for mentoring, coaching and shared-service approaches.

Members raised other barriers surfaced in qualitative interviews, including septic-system limits preventing some home- or private‑school providers from expanding capacity; staff said that infrastructure constraints should be considered as the city and county plan improvements. The committee requested a follow-up briefing that includes an analysis of local government spending (city, county, Workforce Solutions Alamo and Council of Governments) on early childhood to clarify what additional resources or alignment might be possible.

Presenters emphasized the study is a diagnostic to guide next steps; researchers provided a menu of policy options and said many proposals would require collaboration among city departments, county partners, workforce agencies and nonprofit providers. Committee members asked city staff to return with additional analysis and with the full report for review.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Economic and Workforce Development Committee - Jan 31, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Melissa Jasway of Texas A&M San Antonio presented a city-commissioned study showing licensed child-care capacity and quality gaps across Bexar County and urging coordinated workforce and funding actions to expand infant/toddler capacity and raise quality.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6686304,"Committee reviews updated SAEDC investment guidelines, work plan to steer city real estate and development projects",1616,71000,1687000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2192206-786a1be0def22977f7de9b4819db0d00&start=71&end=1687","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2192206-786a1be0def22977f7de9b4819db0d00/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6686304/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Committee-reviews-updated-SAEDC-investment-guidelines-work-plan-to-steer-city-real-estate-and-development-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686304-01f93ff812935cc438ee1e313c3bcfe4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180418&Signature=MlayGx4Ey480hqABjF0A4kEjL9bDmkHusBeHbgWvlNJWmuKXADJboyaCoqqiwWEWYYifQZA2Pe-91gIkEKWo0nzu1kxtWzGp1UswGBk2PAR2TEruljVsbHE6jM9HLEH9Ct0N9ggPd-iGvAoKcWNoH0LgDsR6~NAP-biqNfT2nP-BYaexgyeI6~gVmAhYxq1KsVjEsjRxGjiMc73Tq85NxK3hcOV2PxG6x~45p7M3FANRskr1X-TZWEd9Fr-wc6FvQMdcupHbEupvtOL3PXLD7loScZucBiMf03zbE3YDN~qHVhw3CDgHtaCWddGHfyPia8JcjqNYvcHMeAvYU71kNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thomas Davis, an economic development manager in the city's Community Vitality team, briefed the Economic and Workforce Development Committee on updates to the San Antonio Economic Development Corporation's (SAEDC) investment guidelines and a staff work plan intended to move the SAEDC toward place-based real estate and revitalization projects.

Davis said the SAEDC was created in 2010 as a Type B nonprofit corporation to \"promote, assist, and enhance economic development activities\" and that the board historically focused on early-stage biotech and technology investments. He told the committee the EDC had made 12 investments since about 2012 and currently had four active agreements. He said 2023 amendments to the EDC bylaws and a more recent update to the investment guidelines expand the EDC's role to include real estate and public-private place-based projects while maintaining capacity to invest in startups.

The presentation tied the changes to the city's October 2022 economic development strategic framework, which the presenter said recommended using the EDC as \"a hub to drive place-based initiatives\" and to repurpose the EDC to lead public-private projects. Davis said the updated guidelines formalize due diligence and monitoring requirements that were previously left to individual project contracts, add criteria for real estate projects, and preserve flexibility for startup investments.

The staff work plan Davis described directs the EDC to prioritize equitable real estate development aligned with several filters: city-owned properties within revived SA program corridors, sites inside approved subarea plans, high-visibility corridors and transit-oriented development districts. He said staff are conducting property identification and due diligence now with a goal of returning property recommendations to the EDC board in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. Davis said staff expect to issue a request for expression of interest (RFEI) and, after evaluating proposals, identify developers and community partners and move toward project implementation next fiscal year.

Council members asked about compliance and accountability. Davis said the updated guidelines include minimum monitoring and compliance criteria and that staff supporting the EDC would negotiate provisions to protect the city if projects do not proceed as promised. He also told the committee the SAEDC has been used to administer programs such as capacity-building and bonding assistance and that the corporation's tax-exempt status and reduced public-notice/bidding requirements give it flexibility in structuring deals.

Committee members raised concerns about board composition and geographic representation. A council member said the current EDC board membership's mix of the mayor, city manager, committee chairs and three at-large community members did not provide sufficient representation for the city's southern sectors and requested maps showing city-owned properties and corridor priorities before supporting transfers of property authority. Another member asked whether agreements include clawbacks or other measures to prevent redeveloped properties from becoming vacant or a nuisance; staff replied that the new compliance language is intended to address those risks.

The committee also heard that the SAEDC's budget for the described work is approximately $870,000. Staff emphasized the SAEDC is a relatively small tool among many local economic development programs and described the approach as experimental and intended to be returned to the committee for continued input and assessment.

Votes at a glance: The committee voted unanimously at the start of the meeting to approve the minutes from its Nov. 5, 2024 meeting. No formal motions or votes on the SAEDC guidelines or work plan were recorded in the committee transcript; staff said the EDC board had already approved the guideline updates earlier this month.

Davis concluded by saying staff will continue property due diligence, stakeholder engagement and formal proposal development. Committee members asked staff to follow up with additional material, including maps of city-owned parcels under consideration and details on board representation and monitoring clauses, before recommendations are advanced to the full council or the EDC board.

","Thomas Davis, an economic development manager in the city's Community Vitality team, briefed the Economic and Workforce Development Committee on updates to the San Antonio Economic Development Corporation's (SAEDC) investment guidelines and a staff work plan intended to move the SAEDC toward place-based, equitable real estate development.","actionData","errors"]

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Texas A&M study finds major child care capacity and quality gaps in San Antonio; committee urged to coordinate workforce and funding responses

Committee reviews updated SAEDC investment guidelines, work plan to steer city real estate and development projects