Governor Greg Abbott today launched the Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care to improve the quality, access, and affordability of child care for Texas families.

"The real reason why we passed this bill, the real reason why we're having this announcement today, is because of the importance of helping parents across the entire state be able to access quality and affordable early child care and child education for their children," said Governor Abbott. "Today I am announcing the governor's task force on early childhood education and care. The goal is to evaluate child care and early learning programs across all state agencies. We must put an end to the endless bureaucracy, the unclear standards of care, and the inflated costs that make it difficult for parents to get the early childhood care and education that they need for their children."

The Governor was joined by 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, and Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth.

House Bill 117 (Schoolcraft/Campbell) amends the Education Code to establish the governor's task force on the governance of early childhood education and care for the purpose of addressing the governance and operational challenges of the early childhood education system in Texas. 

At the event, Governor Abbott named Peter J. Holt chair and appointed Jeff Austin, III, Leslie Callahan, Lori Gabbert Charney, Grant Coates, Reagan Curran, Tracy Hanson, Ed.D., Marisela Nava, John “J.” Puckett, Jennifer Stockemer, Ph.D. and Nancy Windham, to the Governor’s Task Force on the Governance of Early Childhood Education and Care for terms set to expire on September 1, 2027.