Updated April 2024
We envision a Texas in which all children arrive on the first day of kindergarten ready to thrive for years to come.
To reach that vision, policymakers, local communities, and parents must ensure that during the first five years of life, every child has the experiences that support growing brains and bodies and provide the foundation for a strong future.
The Dashboard gives Texans the tools to measure progress towards that vision — both statewide and in individual communities — and set Texas-sized goals.
In four areas that are critical to school readiness, the data show where Texas stands and where we have opportunities to improve.
Texas has high rates of food insecurity and early childhood poverty, with significant racial/ethnic disparities. Many eligible kids also miss out on SNAP food assistance.
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Texas ranks 50th in daily reading to children and has high child maltreatment rates. Programs to support positive adult-child interactions at home do not serve enough families.
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Texas has high uninsured rates for kids and women. Eligible infants and toddlers are also missing out on ECI, Medicaid insurance, developmental screenings, and check-ups.
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Texas families struggle to access quality child care, and many do not qualify for public pre-k. Texas also lags behind other southern states in access to Early Head Start.
EXPLORE THE DATA >Texas has a large, diverse population of children under age six.
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