Amarillo Independent School District is introducing a new childcare program aimed at addressing one of the most persistent challenges facing working parents in education: access to reliable care. The initiative is also designed to strengthen teacher and staff retention by offering in-district childcare as an employment benefit.
District leaders say the program will provide full-time employees with access to daycare options for infants and toddlers. Early Childhood officials emphasize that the effort is both a workforce support strategy and a way to improve recruitment for hard-to-staff positions across the district.
According to district early childhood leadership, the goal is to maintain high-quality care for young children while also helping employees remain in their roles or return to work after having children. The program is being positioned as a practical benefit that supports educators during critical stages of family life, with the broader aim of keeping classrooms fully staffed with qualified teachers.
The childcare program will not be free, but it is priced below many private market options in the region. Monthly tuition is set at approximately $800 for infants and $700 for toddlers. Officials note that the pricing structure is intended to make care more accessible while still sustaining program operations and quality standards.
The daycare will operate only during the academic year, following the district’s employee calendar. This means services will be available on school days but will pause during summer break and district holidays. The schedule is designed to align directly with staff work periods, providing coverage when employees need it most.
In addition to providing childcare, the program will incorporate an early learning curriculum for infants and toddlers. The district plans to use research-based instructional approaches that focus on developmental milestones, with staff delivering structured lesson plans designed to support cognitive, social, and physical growth from an early age.
The first site for the program will be located at Alice Landergin Elementary School. District officials have also indicated plans for potential expansion to additional campuses in the future. Community feedback has already identified a need for more childcare options in other areas of Amarillo, including neighborhoods north of the boulevard.
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