2015 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey
The Child and Family Research Institute (CFRI), in partnership with the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources (RMC), has undertaken the Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey 20151 as contracted by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This report summarizes child care market rate data for the entire state of Texas and for each of its 28 local workforce development areas (LWDAs). Three types of child care facilities were surveyed between September 2014 and March 2015: licensed child care centers, registered homes and licensed homes. In the survey, licensed and registered homes are grouped together, but separated for analysis.
A comparison of the daily market rates reported in this 2015 survey to those observed in 2013 reveal several interesting trends that are evident on a statewide level. Overall, across facility types and age groups, median daily rates decreased by about 4.3 percent during this period, or about -$0.87 per day, when compared to 2013 median daily rates. Although we typically find that rates increase from around two to five percent per year, it is not unusual for rates to decline. This is the second time in the last 7 annual surveys that typical overall rates were found to decline.
Schwab, J., Schroeder, D., Faulkner, M., & Marra, L. (2015). 2015 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey prepared for the Texas Workforce Commission. Austin, TX: The University of Texas at Austin, Child & Family Research Institute, Ray Marshall Center.