| Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott – gov.texas.gov

Report on the Launch of the Governor’s Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care in Texas

Introduction

On January 20, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott announced the establishment of the Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care in Schertz, Texas. This initiative aims to enhance the quality, accessibility, and affordability of child care services for families across Texas, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Objectives of the Task Force

The primary goal of the task force is to evaluate and improve child care and early learning programs administered by various state agencies. The task force seeks to:

1. Eliminate bureaucratic obstacles hindering access to early childhood education.
2. Clarify standards of care to ensure quality and consistency.
3. Reduce inflated costs to make child care more affordable for families.

These objectives contribute directly to SDG 4 by promoting inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all children.

Key Participants

Governor Abbott was accompanied by several notable officials and stakeholders, including:

• Senator Donna Campbell
• Representative Alan Schoolcraft
• Chairman Peter J. Holt
• Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Joe Esparza
• Representative Mark LaHood
• Representative John Lujan
• Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District Superintendent Paige Meloni
• Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath
• Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth

Legislative Framework

The task force was established under House Bill 117 (Schoolcraft/Campbell), which amends the Education Code to address governance and operational challenges within Texas’s early childhood education system. This legislative action supports SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by promoting effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

Task Force Membership

Governor Abbott appointed the following members to serve on the Task Force on the Governance of Early Childhood Education and Care, with terms expiring on September 1, 2027:

• Peter J. Holt – CEO and General Manager of HOLT Group, San Antonio
• Jeff Austin, III – Chairman of Austin Bank Texas, N.A. and Austin Bancorp, Whitehouse
• Leslie Callahan – Senior Director of Head Start and Early Childhood Development, Amarillo
• Lori Gabbert Charney – Texas Title V Director of Maternal and Child Health, Austin
• Grant Coates – CEO and President of The Miles Foundation, Fort Worth
• Reagan Curran – Special Education Teacher, Fort Worth
• Tracy Hanson, Ed.D. – Owner of Education Connection Preschool and Child Care, Killeen
• Marisela Nava – Director of Texas Southmost College Child Care Center, Brownsville
• John “J.” Puckett – Retired Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, Dallas
• Jennifer Stockemer, Ph.D. – Owner/Director of Ivy Vine Preschool, Prosper
• Nancy Windham – Regional Economic Development Advisor, Texas Forest Country Partnership, Nacogdoches

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The formation of the task force strongly supports the following SDGs:

• SDG 4: Quality Education – By improving early childhood education quality and access, the initiative fosters inclusive and equitable education for young children.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Ensuring affordable and quality child care contributes to the health and well-being of children and families.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Addressing affordability and access helps reduce disparities among families in different socioeconomic groups.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Enhancing governance and operational efficiency promotes accountable and transparent institutions.

Conclusion

The establishment of the Governor’s Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care represents a significant step toward enhancing early childhood development in Texas. Through targeted governance reforms and collaborative efforts, the task force aims to provide all Texas families with access to high-quality, affordable child care and education, thereby advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article focuses on improving early childhood education and care, which directly relates to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Maternal and child health is mentioned, indicating a connection to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Improving access to affordable child care supports parents’ ability to participate in the workforce, contributing to sustained economic growth and productive employment.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Addressing access and affordability of early childhood care aims to reduce inequalities among families in Texas.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.2: Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive, and effective learning environments.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, which relates to improving maternal and child health services.
   • Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including maternal health.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Access to Quality Early Childhood Education
   • Number or percentage of children enrolled in quality early childhood education programs.
   • Availability and affordability of child care services for families.
2. Quality Standards and Governance
   • Existence and implementation of clear standards of care and governance structures for early childhood education.
   • Reduction in bureaucratic barriers affecting access to early childhood education.
3. Maternal and Child Health Indicators
   • Access to maternal and child health services (e.g., coverage of maternal health programs).
4. Economic Participation
   • Improvement in parental workforce participation rates due to availability of affordable child care.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: gov.texas.gov