Texas Workforce Commission trims child-care scholarship seats by nearly 10 percent

The Texas Workforce Commission approved a 9.5% reduction in the state’s child-care scholarship program, cutting about 14,000 seats for low-income families. The cuts, slated to begin in some regions by the fourth quarter of 2026, stem from the rapid depletion of a $100 million one-time fund allocated in 2025, which was eroded by inflation and rising child-care costs. While the North Central Texas area—including Dallas and Fort Worth—will see a slight increase in seats, other regions such as those near El Paso and the Alamo will lose between 80 and 1,900 slots.

Critics, including Max Rombado of Texans Care for Children and state Rep. Armando Walle, argue the reductions will exacerbate an existing shortage of over 100,000 children waiting for scholarships. Workforce development boards are now tasked with meeting lower enrollment targets for 2027, and families on waiting lists may remain unserved until the new caps are reached. The decision highlights the broader challenge of sustaining child-care subsidies without additional federal or state funding.