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The McKenna Foundation, in collaboration with Early Matters San Antonio and the New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation, has officially launched the Path Forward for Early Learning and Care initiative following the inaugural session on August 24.

The event marked a significant milestone, uniting over 20 local childcare providers and 25 local business leaders in two separate but parallel sessions. These sessions provided a platform to voice concerns, share knowledge, and initiate the development of an improved early childhood ecosystem in New Braunfels.

In the session for providers, they were guided to posters on the walls displaying statements regarding the current state of early childcare in New Braunfels and tasked with identifying which ones resonated most with them. One of the statements that resonated most was, “The System is broken – it costs parents too much and we cannot pay educators enough.”

The numbers support this reality. In Comal County, an average of 11.5% of a family’s income is allocated to childcare, significantly surpassing the 7% threshold considered to be affordable. This was underscored by one provider who noted that a colleague could not afford childcare for their child at their center. Another highlighted that low wages are driving employees away from the sector, often to the food service or retail industries, where the pay is higher and the work less demanding.

Regarding employment, guest speaker Sara Redington of The Best Place for Working Parents highlighted to local business leaders the advantages of investing in childcare policies, noting that 83% of millennials would switch jobs for one that offers stronger family support and policies.

The assembly of childcare professionals also expressed concerns over a lack of awareness of the crucial brain development in the earliest stages of life. This topic was not only prevalent among the childcare providers but also among local business leaders who attended the corresponding session.

During the meeting with local business leaders, Pre-K 4 SA CEO Sarah Baray emphasized that 90% of brain development occurs before age five. This period is marked by a surge in synapse development, crucial for learning and memory formation. Within this realm, childcare professionals voiced concerns that their pivotal role in this stage is not widely recognized, emphasizing that they are seen as babysitters rather than educators.

Local providers further shared their worries about the increasing complexity of regulations, mandates, and certification demands. “The regulations that they have make it nearly impossible to take care of a child,” stated one local provider. Another added that we “need to find a way to regulate it without squeezing our necks.”

Mark Larson, the Executive Director of Early Matters San Antonio, supported these concerns. He noted that as of the beginning of April, only three of the 26 centers in New Braunfels will be eligible to accept scholarships and subsidies due to stringent regulations come October 2024. Specifically, centers will have to achieve a Texas Rising Star rating to receive scholarships, a process that is lengthy and expensive.

Though these initial discussions focused on brainstorming and education, they laid the groundwork for tackling the challenges faced by the early childcare sector in New Braunfels. With a draft of goals, strategies, and actions set into motion, future sessions will focus on implementing measures to advance this initiative and enhance the early childhood environment in the community.

McKenna would like to extend its gratitude to the following stakeholders and providers for sharing your expertise and perspectives in the first Path Forward for Early Learning and Care session: First Protestant School, CRRC, The Pillars Christian Learning Center, Gruene Tree Learning Center, Learning Their Way, Triple L Ranch, the Family Life Center, St. Paul Lutheran, Belong, the New Braunfels Food Bank, Ms. Debbie’s Darlings Preschool, the City of New Braunfels, and all else involved.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 5, from 10 am to 1 pm at the McKenna Events Center. If you did not attend the first session but would like to participate in the upcoming sessions, RSVP by emailing kfain@mckenna.org.