Thank a Teacher! Celebrate National Provider Appreciation Day on May 12
Join the Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) Child Care Services Team in celebrating National Provider Appreciation Day on May 12, 2023. We would like to take this day to celebrate our early learning schools. We appreciate you serving Texas children and their families with a safe, nurturing environment crucial to their earliest years.
WSRCA understands the value that early care providers create for their communities. By guiding the growth and development of children today, they help positively shape our community and workforce for tomorrow.
As part of our commitment to quality child care, WSRCA Child Care Services offers mentoring services for Texas Rising Star certification, professional development for directors/teachers, Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved curriculum, local and state early childhood education conferences.
Families rely heavily on early learning schools to provide child care while parents work, giving parents the ability to provide support for their families and contribute to the Texas economy. Child care is crucial for working parents and is the 2nd highest expense next to having a mortgage.
“The U.S. Treasury issued a report noting that the average American family with at least one child under 5 would devote about 13 percent of their family income for child care, which equates to approximately $10,000 for center-based child care each year,” source: Child Care Workforce Strategic Plan, Jan. 2023, https://www.twc.texas.gov/files/twc/child-care-workforce-strategic-plan.pdf.
Contrary to this, child care costs are up by 117.7 percent compared to full-time, in-state public tuition costs. In contrast, early care workers’ salaries are still low across the state, even with having the valuable expertise and skillsets to perform their duties. Early childhood educators teach our youngest children with age-appropriate educational activities, self-regulation of emotions and social development and ensure the health and safety of the children. Yet, the average pay for an early-care employee is $24,000 a year, with almost half of the employees needing assistance from public resources.
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area recognizes our early learning schools that provide this essential care and education for children. We care about our early care providers and want them to have access to resources that enable them to have the education and compensation they deserve.
TOPICS: Child Care Services
