Senate District 21 — Judith Zaffirini

Executive narrative

Working-parent children per current authorized slot is materially above the chamber median (2.10 vs 1.51). Share of children under six outside the working-parent denominator is near the chamber median (25.3% vs 20.8%). HHSC nighttime-window authorized-capacity share is near the chamber median (3.0% vs 3.2%). Workers leaving home before 6 a.m. (ACS B08302) is near the chamber median (15.2% vs 15.2%). Resident-worker outbound share (LODES) is near the chamber median (85.2% vs 91.3%).

Childcare demand and supply

- Children under 6 (ZIP-area-weighted estimate): 74,983
- Working-parent children under 6: 56,035
- Current qualifying authorized capacity: 26,627
- Working-parent children per current slot: 2.10
- Children outside the working-parent denominator: 25.3%

Nighttime / nontraditional-hours context

- HHSC nighttime-window operations (ZIP-area-weighted estimate): 10
- HHSC nighttime-window capacity share: 3.0%
- Workers leaving home before 5 a.m. (ACS B08302): 5.6%
- Workers leaving home before 6 a.m. (ACS B08302): 15.2%

Workforce geography

- Resident primary jobs (LODES): 381,901
- Workplace primary jobs (LODES): 292,652
- Jobs-to-resident-worker ratio (LODES): 0.77
- Resident-worker outbound share (LODES): 85.2%

Methodology

Texas/TWC-compatible childcare desert measures and the HHSC 9 p.m.-6 a.m. nighttime-care window remain the governing Texas standards. ACS B08302 and LODES are supplemental context only.

District values are ZIP-boundary-area-weighted legislative estimates. The ZIP-level matrix remains the direct geographic evidence layer. Authorized capacity is not the same thing as vacancies or currently available seats.