Sujata Dand | KERA News

A new report on Texas women’s economic well-being finds little progress is being made – and access to affordable childcare is one of the biggest obstacles.

Texas families began receiving money from the state's new billion-dollar private school voucher program this summer, with another round of funding arriving earlier this month. Now, they're discovering just how much they can buy beyond tuition.

Families whose children attend private schools that don’t participate in Texas’ voucher program can still qualify for up to $2,000 in taxpayer- funded educational expenses.

Texas is trying to do a better job of including young children with disabilities in preschools and childcare centers alongside their peers.

Texas is trying to expand access to preschool by encouraging school districts to partner with private child care centers. But some longtime Dallas providers say the school district that's supposed to be their partner is also becoming their competition.

Data shows the number of Texas children on a waiting list for childcare payment assistance has spiked in recent years, and advocates worry the pressure on the system isn't letting up.

The federal government is considering giving states more power over Head Start. Providers in Texas worry that will lower childcare standards.