Why Bexar County's child care shortage is worse than it looks
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Bexar County's child care shortage is even worse than it appears — providers are licensed to offer more spots than they can actually fill, a new study found.
Why it matters: When parents can't find child care, they're more likely to stay out of the workforce — and that means less income for families in a county with a poverty rate of nearly 15%.
Context: The city of San Antonio commissioned the College of Education at Texas A&M University-San Antonio to conduct the first-of-its-kind study.
Zoom in: Child care providers in Bexar County are licensed to care for enough kids to cover 66% of children under age 5, per the study.
- And the actual supply of child care spots is 30% lower than what providers are licensed to offer — that's about 20,000 fewer spots for kids than expected.
The big picture: There are critical child care staffing shortages in Bexar County, mirroring national trends. Child care is one of the lowest-paying professions in the country and is demanding work.
Between the lines: Child care options are especially limited in southern Bexar County and for families who have children with disabilities, the study found.
- Plus, high-quality child care is often not accessible for low- to middle-income families. Only 16% of local child care providers offer income-adjusted rates.
The report suggested the problems can be addressed in part by increasing:
- Funding for providers to offer more infant and toddler care
- Pay and benefits to attract and retain staff
- And state and federal subsidies to help families pay for care.
The bottom line: The study's "findings reaffirm the persistent issues we've encountered in child care — ranging from affordability and staff shortages to limited infant care," Sarah Baray, CEO of Pre-K 4 SA, said in a statement.