Child care subsidies are a necessity for many families with low incomes, helping parents afford the care that makes employment and education possible. Providers who participate in the subsidy system play a central role in expanding access to early learning, yet the system’s ability to meet demand depends on both public funding and the willingness of programs to enroll subsidized children.
In this brief, we draw on findings from the North Texas child care workforce and capacity study to examine how providers across the region engage with the subsidy system. Across North Texas, 21 percent of all occupied child care slots are filled by children whose families use subsidies to access care, and nearly half (48%) of all licensed providers participate in the subsidy system.
In contrast to the long subsidy waitlists across the region, the brief also reveals that providers already serving subsidized families show a strong willingness to serve more: approximately 9 in 10 directors reported they would enroll additional subsidized children, regardless of age group.
Together, these findings highlight the essential role that subsidy-accepting programs play in the early care and education landscape, and the opportunities that expanded investment could unlock for both families and providers in North Texas.
