Texas to cut child care scholarships by 9.5%, reducing 14,000 seats

The Texas Workforce Commission has voted to reduce the state’s child care scholarship program by 9.5%, a move expected to eliminate approximately 14,000 subsidized seats. The reduction will occur over an 18-month period, lowering the statewide daily target from 146,736 subsidized seats in 2026 to 132,689 in 2027.

The cuts follow rising costs that depleted a $100 million investment intended to sustain the program through 2027. While North Central Texas, including Dallas and Fort Worth, is projected to see a funding increase, most other regions face seat reductions ranging from 80 to nearly 1,900. Advocates have expressed concern that the reduction will disproportionately affect working families already struggling with high costs for essentials like groceries and healthcare.