A guide to local, state, and federal programs supporting early childhood education in Austin, Texas.
Austin’s childcare landscape is undergoing a major shift. With new investments from Travis County, the City of Austin, and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), more public funding is available now than at any time in the past decade.
If you operate a childcare center, preschool, or home-based program in Austin, here’s how to navigate the current funding environment and position your program for long-term stability.
1. Federal & State Funding Channels for Austin Childcare
Head Start / Early Head Start
Competitive federal grants providing comprehensive services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in low-income families. These awards are significant but selective—keep an eye on Grants.gov and the Office of Child Care for open solicitations.
Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)
Federal childcare dollars flow through TWC to local workforce boards such as Workforce Solutions Capital Area.
By contracting locally, centers can:
- Serve subsidized families
- Access quality-improvement incentives
- Receive higher reimbursement rates based on TRS status
Texas Rising Star (TRS)
TRS is the state’s quality-rating and improvement system.
Benefits of joining TRS:
- Priority access to grants
- Higher reimbursement tiers
- Coaching and quality-improvement support Even TRS Entry-Level providers can begin receiving benefits while working toward a higher rating.
Preschool Development Grant B-5
Through 2025, Texas is using federal PDG funds to support community partnerships, professional development, and center-based quality projects. Many of these dollars are distributed as sub-grants or training awards.
2. County-Level Childcare Funding: Travis County
Raising Travis County
This voter-approved $75.5 million early childhood initiative is transforming access to childcare across the county.
Key components include:
- $21 million administered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area for childcare scholarships
- Gap-funding contracts to help centers cover the difference between reimbursement rates and actual costs of care
- Quality bonuses tied to TRS rating, extended hours, or expanded capacity
County–School District Partnerships
Travis County is investing in collaborations with Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, and Manor ISD to expand pre-K and after-school options.
Private centers may be eligible to:
- Share facilities
- Provide wraparound care
- Participate in extended-day partnerships
3. City of Austin Childcare Initiatives
Home-Based Provider Relief Grants
Launching in 2025 through United Way for Greater Austin, this program will offer financial assistance to licensed and registered family childcare homes—an important stabilizer for home-based providers.
Austin Public Health: Early Childhood Resources
While not direct funding, APH offers valuable no-cost supports such as:
- Professional development
- Health and safety materials
- Compliance guidance These resources can significantly offset operational expenses for both small and mid-sized programs.
4. How to Prepare and Qualify for Childcare Funding
5. Helpful Links
- Workforce Solutions Capital Area – Provider Portal https://www.wfscapitalarea.com/childcare
- Raising Travis County https://www.traviscountytx.gov/raising-travis-county
- City of Austin Early Childhood Team https://www.austintexas.gov/department/early-childhood
- United Way for Greater Austin https://www.unitedwayaustin.org
- Grants.gov** (Federal Opportunities)** https://www.grants.gov
For Austin childcare providers, 2025 is the year to plug into public funding systems.
Centers that:
- Contract with Workforce Solutions Capital Area
- Maintain TRS participation
- Monitor county initiatives
…will be first in line for quality bonuses, provider contracts, capacity-building grants, and long-term partnerships.
