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

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.