Texas 2036 has released insights into the current state of early education and childcare in Texas, emphasizing the importance of strategic decisions to improve future opportunities for children. According to a recent newsletter, only 40% of Texas voters believe that future generations will have equal or better opportunities than previous ones.

The organization highlights that 52% of third graders are not reading at grade level, with the figure rising to 62% among economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, 58% are not performing math at grade level. The data suggests that students who fall behind by third grade rarely catch up, with only 18% catching up in reading and 13% in math by middle school.

Texas 2036 advocates for smarter investments in early education and improved teacher training. A Rand study found that only 36% of Texas principals reported their math teachers had deep knowledge of math instruction. Gabe Grantham, Policy Advisor, said, "We often accept the idea that some people just aren’t math people. That is not a failure of students, but rather can be a failure of policy."

Legislation such as House Bill 123 by Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., and Senate Bill 2252 by Sen. Brandon Creighton aims to enhance teacher training through reading and math academies.

The issue extends beyond education to economic mobility, with childcare costs impacting workforce participation. An estimated $11.4 billion is lost annually due to childcare-related productivity issues. Charles Miller, Director of Health and Economic Mobility Policy, testified on improving childcare affordability through data integration systems.

Proposed bills like HB 2271 by Rep. Armando Walle seek to provide parents with data on available daycare options.

Texas voters show strong support for early intervention measures: 89% support identifying struggling readers before third grade, while 91% back additional support for these students.

Information from this article can be found here.