Latest news with #ChildrenatRisk
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advocates speak out against Texas Dream Act repeal
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Advocacy groups are raising concerns after a federal lawsuit repealed the Texas Dream Act. Signed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2001, it allows certain undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition. On June 4, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas. It alleged that the Texas Dream Act violates federal law by providing benefits to undocumented students that are not also extended to U.S. citizens. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office released a statement hours after the suit was filed, saying they would not contest the suit, leading to a default judgment. 'Ending this discriminatory and un-American provision is a major victory for Texas,' Paxton's statement read, in part. READ MORE: Law professors react to in-state tuition decision 'This is more than a legal challenge,' said Linda Corchado, senior director of immigration at Children at Risk. 'This is an attempt to dismantle one of Texas' most effective and visionary education policies.' Children at Risk is a research and advocacy nonprofit focused on improving the quality of life for Texas' children. Viridiana Carrisales is the co-founder and CEO of ImmSchools, a nonprofit that partners with school districts to help them better meet the needs of immigrant students. She claims this could discourage students from pursuing higher education or even staying in school. 'So this is going to have an implication where students are going to potentially drop out of school, of K through 12 school,' Carrizales said. 'It doesn't matter where we live in the state. It hurts all of us the moment students drop out of school.' The concerns go beyond student retention. Corchado pointed out the economic benefits students bring to Texas and what the state stands to lose without them. 'In [2021] alone, Dream Act students contributed over $81 million in tuition and fees,' Corchado said. 'Repealing the law could cost Texas $461 million each year in lost economic activity.' During the legislative session, lawmakers introduced bills to repeal the Texas Dream Act. However, despite hours of testimony, the bills were left pending and did not pass. Chelsie Kramer, a Texas state organizer with the American Immigration Council, framed the original 2001 legislation as an example for the rest of the nation. 'For more than two decades, the Texas Dream Act has really stood as a model of pragmatic, bipartisan policymaking,' Kramer said. 'Since 2001, similar laws have been passed in 24 other states, really showing that what Texas did back in 2001 was something the nation wanted to follow.' After the repeal, Texas Democrats composed a letter both criticizing the decision and offering a solution. They call for a new classification to allow students who qualified under the law to enroll in the fall semester 'at the rate they reasonably expected.' READ MORE: Lawmakers call for in-state tuition protection 'These students aren't asking for handouts,' Corchado said. 'They're investing in their future.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas, Fort Worth officials warn of dire impacts from proposed cut to Head Start
National and local Head Start providers in Texas are calling on community members to reach out to elected officials in light of reports that the federal government is proposing to slash the program that provides child care and creates job opportunities for low-income families. Head Start, a federally funded child care and preschool program for children ages 0-5, is among the latest programs being eyed for budget cuts by the Trump administration, according to a leaked proposal for fiscal year 2026 that allocates no money toward it. Any budget decisions would have to be approved by Congress. In a virtual press conference on Monday, April 28, program providers and advocates said dismantling Head Start would have far-reaching consequences for the Texas economy and workforce by taking away services that help children thrive and allow parents to go to work. The proposal also comes on the heels of recent cuts to the federal offices of Head Start and Child Care. Kriston Jackson-Jones, of the Dallas-based Child Care Group, said other services beyond child care such as health screenings, mental health supports and disability services are also at risk with the defunding proposal. 'That's the real power of Head Start. It builds strong children, strong families and most importantly, strong communities,' she said, noting that 19,000 jobs in Texas' early childhood sector are also on the line. More than 65,000 children and 50,000 parents in Texas rely on Head Start and Early Head Start, which focuses on infants and toddlers, according to child advocacy nonprofit Children at Risk. Texas' economy is estimated to be losing out on $9.4 billion a year due to affordability and accessibility issues in the child care system, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The return on investment, officials said on Monday, ranges from $7-9 for every $1 spent on Head Start. Henry Jones of the Texas Head Start Association said he's encouraging community members and organizations to contact local legislators to make sure they understand the value of keeping Head Start in place. 'People say that all politics is local. Well, we've got to actually get in touch with our local legislators and make sure that they understand that Head Start should exist and continue to do great things,' he said. The CEO of Center for Transforming Lives, a Head Start provider in Tarrant County, said defunding the program would negatively impact children's readiness for kindergarten during a time when local officials are attempting to tackle a literacy crisis. Only 35% of public school students in the area are reading on grade level, according to an analysis of 2024 test results from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. 'We cannot afford to turn our backs on early education. Head Start is not just a program; it is a lifeline that lays the foundation for future success. Eliminating it would be a step backward for Fort Worth's children, families and our community as a whole,' said CEO Carol Klocek. 'Children who benefit from early intervention — receiving the support they need to thrive academically and socially — would be left behind. Instead of entering school prepared to learn, many would require intensive special education services throughout their academic careers, creating long-term impacts for both the children and the broader educational system.' 'Moreover, cutting Head Start would worsen family instability and homelessness. This program increases family financial self-sufficiency by providing critical support services that help families learn new skills, improve their own education and/or employment, and become financially secure. Without access to early education, child care and wraparound support, more families would face housing instability, compounding the challenges for children and their parents,' Klocek added. Officials with Fort Worth-based Child Care Associates said they are 'currently monitoring the situation.' The nonprofit is among the largest child development organizations in North Texas.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump administration cuts to Head Start programs in proposed budget
The Brief A proposed budget by the Trump administration would cut funding for Head Start programs. Many were shocked to see funding eliminated from the program when a draft budget by the Trump administration was leaked. There are more than 1,200 Head Start programs across Texas and 50,000 parents in the state rely on Head Start childcare to be able to work or attend college. WASHINGTON D.C. - A proposed budget by the Trump administration would cut funding for Head Start programs. Experts say that would have a negative ripple effect across the country and here in Texas on everything from child health and development, to jobs. There are more than 1,200 Head Start programs across Texas and 50,000 parents in the state rely on Head Start childcare to be able to work or attend college. Due to rapid brain development, the first five years of a child's life will shape the remainder of his or her life in profound ways. Kim Kofron is the director of early childhood education for Children at Risk. A non-profit organization focused on safety, health and economic security for Texas children. She says the return on investment in early childhood education is profound. It's why many were shocked to see funding eliminated from the program when a draft budget by the Trump administration was leaked. What they're saying "If we pull funding from Head Start, we are not trimming the fat, but we are cutting into the bone of our future," said Kofron. "It reduces crime, it improves health options and health outcomes, strengthens families and fuels our economy." Dr. Deborah Bergeron says during her time working with the first Trump administration, there was increased funding for a head-start. "I want to first lead with saying I actually led the Office of Head Start for President Trump's first term and during that time, I experienced nothing but full support," said Bergeron. Dr. Bergeron says the program that also provides for mental and oral health is much more than an educational program. "The response during COVID was just amazing. We were able to support programs, programs stayed open, children continued to eat healthful food and receive support services," said Bergeron. The proposed cuts would not just impact children. Head Start programs in Texas employ 19,000 childhood educators. "When they enter Head Start, yes, their parents are experiencing poverty. They may be experiencing homelessness or other issues. But Head Start gives them the foundation to lift up and out of that situation. So ultimately, those children are no longer reliant on government services. This is exactly in line with the priorities of this administration," said Bergeron. Local perspective Kriston Jackson-Jones is with a child care group in Dallas. "What we know is what we know. The early childhood workforce is already in crisis in Texas and nationally. Cutting Head Start will turn the shortage into a collapse," said Jackson-Jones. "Simply put, this cut would add to unemployment and shrink the Texas economy." The Source Information in this article was provided by
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Scholarships for child care are drying up. Now families are paying the price
For parents who need to work but can't afford the steep cost of child care, federally funded scholarships can be a lifeline. Delivered through state child care assistance programs, the scholarships can mean the difference between a parent working full time — or not at all. But qualified families increasingly are being turned away, thanks to the rising costs of child care and the end of pandemic-era funds, and some families that had scholarships have seen them end. In at least three states — Arizona, Colorado and Texas — parents who apply face long waitlists. Other states, including Nevada and Oklahoma, have increased copayments for parents or have said they will serve fewer children. In Idaho, enrollment was paused for part of last year. Last week, the Trump administration laid off some employees who helped states implement child care assistance. It all has left advocates worried about the future of federal child care programs. 'What it means is that ultimately child care will become less safe, it's going to become more expensive, and it's going to become harder to find,' said Ruth Friedman, who was the director of the Office of Child Care under former President Joe Biden. As part of Trump's sweeping cuts to the federal government, the administration last week eliminated jobs in the Office of Child Care, which oversees federal child care subsidies and ensure states are enforcing safety standards. All staff in five of the 10 regional offices were cut, along with more in the office's headquarters in Washington, D.C. They included staff who upheld federal safety requirements for child care providers and ensured subsidies were being used effectively. They worked with states to enforce requirements to run background checks on child care employees, for example. They also safeguarded programs from waste and fraud. During the pandemic, Congress approved record spending to boost the child care industry, recognizing its importance to restarting the economy. States received $24 billion to help child care providers boost wages, buy masks and air purifiers and train staff, plus an extra $15 billion for child care assistance scholarships. That money expired in September. Congress declined to extend it, despite a push from Biden and child care advocates. Since then, some states have attempted to continue programs with their own taxpayers' money. But many, such as Arizona, have ended special pandemic-era programs, like those that helped teachers pay for child care. Now, Arizona parents who apply for basic child care assistance are put on waitlists — with no clear end in sight. 'There's a much bigger need than there are funds,' said Kim Kofron of the Texas-based advocacy group Children at Risk. 'We know all of these families are willing to work.' In Phoenix, child care worker Janeth Ibarra would have paid nothing last year for care for her twin boys, because she would have received a special scholarship for those in her field. This year, her income qualifies her for regular state child care assistance. But because the state ran low on money for the program, she was on a waitlist earlier this year. As it stands, Ibarra, 22, earns $16.50 an hour and is paying more than $1,200 a month for child care, after a steep discount from her employer. 'Even with overtime, it's barely survivable,' Ibarra said. At the end of last year, Ibarra had to spend the last of her savings on special formula for one of her sons, a purchase not covered by her food assistance benefits. She tried to breastfeed more to save money. In Idaho, where state lawmakers in 2023 rejected pandemic aid for child care, the state stopped accepting applications for its child care assistance program. When the applications resumed, the state tightened income restrictions. Now, the only families who qualify earn less than 130% of the federal poverty line, or $41,795 for a family of four. Before, a family of four could earn up to $56,000 and still receive a scholarship. In Colorado, a dozen counties stopped accepting new applications for the state's child care assistance program because they ran out of money, The Colorado Sun reported. Trump has been vague on his plans to make child care more affordable. He said during his campaign that he believed tariffs would rake in 'trillions of dollars.' Child care, he added, is, 'relatively speaking, not very expensive compared to the kind of numbers we'll be taking in.' Economists, though, have warned tariffs could cause prices for other household goods to skyrocket, squeezing family budgets, and it's unlikely there would be much money left over for the government to spend if Trump successfully implements steep tax cuts. Advocates are concerned child care funding could be cut as the president seeks to shrink the imprint of the federal government. For states trying to maintain child care assistance scholarships, the costs of running the programs have risen. Because many child care providers operate in the margins, the Biden administration increased the amount they receive when they take scholarship students. It's all evidence the problems that vex the child care industry have not necessarily abated with the pandemic, said Karen Schulman, the senior director of child care policy at the National Women's Law Center. 'The crisis was going on long before COVID,' Schulman said, citing the unaffordability of care for many families, along with the low pay of the child care workforce. Even as providers struggle to make a profit, child care is prohibitively expensive for many families. In a study of 2022 child care prices, the Labor Department found the median cost of care for an infant in a center was more than $15,600 in large counties — higher than the median rent in many places. When Brooklyn Newman divorced her husband, she moved with her two boys, now 2 and 4, into a trailer while she got back on her feet. The Phoenix mother was eager to send her older boy to preschool so he could have structure as the family weathered the split. But she could not afford tuition for her younger son until the preschool gave her a scholarship funded by pandemic aid. With both boys in school half-time, Newman was able to put in more hours at her job as a freelance business analyst. But when the scholarship ended, she had to pay out of pocket — adding $1,000 a month to her preschool tuition. She made a painful trade-off: She juggled working in the evening while watching her children at home — sacrificing quality time with her sons so she can earn enough money to continue to send them to preschool. 'I'm constantly behind a computer, you know, giving everything I can,' Brooklyn said earlier this year, her voice tightening with emotion. Occasionally, her sons will hide her computer mouse to keep her from working. But she can see growth from their time in preschool — in their language, in their confidence, in their relationships with teachers and classmates. 'You're watching them grow. It's just the best feeling. And that's why I do everything I can to have them there.' ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Here's how some Texas schools are making academic improvements, according to new study
Although Central Texas students may still be facing academic obstacles in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, a new education research analysis by children's advocacy nonprofit Children at Risk revealed signs of improvement in many Austin-area schools. The group's analysis, published Wednesday, however, found that schools in Central Texas could and should be doing more to improve outcomes for economically disadvantaged children, whose academic performance was more affected by disruptions to in-person learning caused by the pandemic compared with students from higher income backgrounds. The nonprofit ranked most schools in Central Texas that serve the highest proportion of economically disadvantaged students fairly low on scales measuring student growth, which evaluate if student scores improved on state tests, and on campus performance, which indicates how the school scored on tests compared with schools that have similar demographics. Despite this concern, the nonprofit awarded 50% more schools with Gold Ribbon status, a designation for campuses serving low-income students that are out-performing their peer schools. That's a good sign of academics trending in the right direction, said Robert Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, a public policy nonprofit focused on Texas children's issues. Although school administrators still must provide more supports to help students improve their academic outcomes, the progression is faring better, Sanborn said. 'Overall, right after the pandemic, we saw this sharp decline,' Sanborn said. 'It was exasperated by the state not increasing public school funding for two legislative sessions.' In the time since, however, many school districts have implemented initiatives to help students recover from learning gaps created in the pandemic, such as high-quality prekindergarten programs. Student outcomes also showed improvement in schools where superintendents and principals changed their teaching methods to meet students' changed learning needs, he said. 'It's not business as usual with the Texas student body,' Sanborn said. 'The things that those principals do that makes a difference is creating this cutlure of high expectations.' Children at Risk grades campuses based on how students perform on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test and on how the school performed overall compared with other campuses with students who have similar levels of poverty. The nonprofit also factors in students' growth on the STAAR test and, for high schools, students' college readiness. "Schools across every region of Texas are showing improvement, particularly among middle and high schools, with college readiness seeing the most progress," said Nadia Salibi, chief impact officer. Children at Risk also awards high-performing campuses that consist of at least 75% economically disadvantaged students with a Gold Ribbon status. More than 62% of Texas students were economically disadvantaged in the 2023-24 school year, a slight increase of 0.5% from the previous year, according to the Texas Education Agency. Locally, Children at Risk designated seven elementary campuses as Gold Ribbon Schools. The elementary schools awarded Gold Ribbon status were Guerrero Thompson in Austin, Smith in Del Valle, Patlan in Seguin, Newton Collins in Del Valle, Copperfield in Pflugerville, Rodriguez in Austin and Oralia R. Rodriguez in Seguin. Last year, Smith Elementary School in the Del Valle district was the only campus to be named a Gold Ribbon School in Central Texas. Only 17% of low-income schools meet the Gold Ribbon status, Salibi said, adding "There is still more work to do." While the increase in Gold Ribbon Schools is positive, more needs to be done to help economically disadvantaged students recover from pandemic-related disruptions, said Christine Thomas, senior associate director of the Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation at Children at Risk. 'It's a move in the right direction, but Central Texas is lacking in that department,' Thomas said. Overall, Sanborn would give the state an average rating in terms of educating students, he said. 'We have some great schools,' Sanborn said. 'We have some horrible schools, but when you look at all the schools, you get a C.' The Children at Risk data comes two weeks after the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as the Nation's Report Card, rang alarm bells for children's reading scores around the country. Despite some improvements in post-pandemic math performance, experts at that National Center for Education Statistics expressed concern for students' struggles in reading. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Nonprofit's school rankings signal some improvements for Texas schools
