The Impact of Universal Pre-K on Child Care Providers in FWISD 2014
Transitioning Pre-K Students to After-School Programs While transitioning students to new or existing pre-k after-school programs would minimize loss for some child care programs (especially licensed centers), only 38% (22) of all 64 respondents currently provide after-school care to public pre-k students. Of the 27 centers (61%) that offer school-age after-school care (kindergarten and above), only 59% (16) currently provide after-school care for pre-k. 6 (55%) of the 11 after-school programs that do not currently enroll pre-k students indicate that they would begin to do so in response to lost 4year-old full-day enrollment. Interestingly, and mentioned in the economic analysis, 1 child care home and 5 child care centers report currently enrolling MORE public pre-k after-school-students than the amount lost from their full-day pre-k programs. Though this is not enough information to be conclusive, it does support Bassok et al’s68 private provider survival scenario and suggests that those providing pre-k after-school programs have potential to not only retain the 4 year-olds that leave for public pre-k, but also enroll additional pre-k students – possibly including some whose previous providers do not offer after-school programs. Even when enrollment is maintained by transitioning pre-k students from full-day to afterschool care, the child care provider sustains a measurable financial impact. Though the survey did not ask for tuition rates specifically for pre-k after-school programs, on average programs charge 43% less for after-school programs than they charge for full-day pre-k based on reported kindergarten after-school tuition. This is in alignment with differences in CCMS allowable rates, as the CCMS part-time allowable rates for 3 to 5-year-olds are 66% of the full-time rates for child care centers, 61% of the full-time rates for licensed homes, and 57% for registered homes. The maximum weekly allowable rates for CCMS for full and part-time care are illustrated in Table 14 below. As most respondents have some level of CCMS participation, this difference may influence the affordability of providing after-school services to four year-olds. Table 14. CCMS 2014 Subsidy Rates
Licensed Centers Licensed Centers (Enhanced)* Licensed Homes Licensed Homes (Enhanced)* Registered Homes Registered Homes (Enhanced)*
Full-Time $125 $132.50 $115 $122.50 $115 $122.50
Part-Time $82.50 $87.50 $70 $75 $65 $70
% of Full Time 66% 66% 61% 61% 57% 57%
Source: Texas Workforce Solutions CCMS Rate Sheet 1/1/2014 (included as Appendix II) * Enhanced Programs are Texas Rising Star Providers.
68
(Daphna Bassok, 2012)
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