On Dec. 2, Deanna Schexnayder, senior research scientist at the Ray Marshall Center, presented an overview of the Texas Early Childhood Needs Assessment to the Texas Early Learning Council. The Ray Marshall Center began this new project earlier this summer in partnership with Rice University's Hobby Center for the Study of Texas. The project has several objectives:

• Understand and estimate the total number of children under age 13 and those who will be eligible for early childhood education programs;
• Understand and document the current supply across the state of Texas of formal providers of early childhood education programs and services as well as school-age care for children under the age of 13;
• Conduct a gap analysis based on data from completion of objectives 1 and 2; and
• Generate a comprehensive needs assessment analyzing Texas’ early childhood education and school-age care system.

An assessment of Texas' early childhood education programs has not been conducted in 40 years. Today's demographic trends and population growth necessitates an updated assessment in order to effectively plan and implement future early childhood programs.

The Texas Early Learning Council, the project sponsor, is a 19-member, governor-appointed advisory council on early childhood education and care.