Not enough capacity to handle Bexar County child care needs, study finds

SAN ANTONIO – A first-of-its kind study commissioned by the City of San Antonio is looking at the availability of high-quality child care in Bexar County, and the results do not paint a pretty picture.

Researchers from Texas A&M University-San Antonio presented their findings to the city council’s Economic and Workforce Development Committee on Friday, offering a glimpse at the current landscape of early childhood education based on data compiled from 54 Bexar County ZIP codes and all 10 City of San Antonio council districts. The study also offered policy recommendations to improve access, quality and affordability.

“We found that there’s not enough child care for the number of young children we have in San Antonio,” said Pre-K 4 SA CEO Sarah Baray. “And the child care that we have, there’s a limited amount of quality child care, particularly for infants and toddlers.”

The study found that Bexar County is home to more than 132,355 children under the age of 5, but there’s only enough childcare space (“licensed capacity”) for 89,000 children. “The total capacity as reported by regulatory agencies is sufficient to serve only 66% of children under the age of 5,” according to a presentation prepared for the council committee. However, the study also learned that the actual supply (“operational capacity”) is 30% lower than the “licensed capacity.” That means Bexar County providers are only operating at a level to serve around 62,000 local children.

“San Antonio has a capacity problem, and we need to expand that capacity,” said District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, who serves as chair of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee. “I’m not trying to be alarmist or hyperbolic about it, but it’s something that requires our attention.”

The percentages are even lower when you look at how many providers meet high-quality standards.

Staffing shortages and low wages for educators were named as big reasons for the quality and capacity issues.

“And (it needs to be) more affordable,” Baray added. “The study also talks about how expensive it is for families.”

Average monthly tuition ranges between $725 and $1,126, with only 16% of providers offering income-adjusted rates.

Sadie Ricks has two young daughters enrolled at the Pre-K 4 SA West Education Center. One daughter is 4 and the other is 3.

“I set an alarm for midnight on the day of registration so that I could sign them up right away and guarantee a spot,” Ricks said. “Because we’re a growing family and education’s expensive, especially quality like this.”

She now has a two-week-old son named Killian and says finances are tight for her and her husband, who’s in the Air Force.

“Pre-K 4 SA offers free tuition for military families, and for us that’s been huge,” she explained. “Our options would have been a whole lot more limited (otherwise).”

“Business leaders are stepping forward to say, ‘What can we do as businesses to make sure that their workers have access to care,” added Baray.

“It’s time that we really have a conversation not just about it being a luxury for mom and dad to have someone to watch their kids,” said Pelaez. “But, have a conversation with the public about how important this is to our economy.”