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Wow, it has been a year since we started the Newsletter! I feel like we have really grown in the last year and hopefully your program has been able to get lots of great information and resources in the last year. Here is to another year of working towards Quality, for all of us.
(Please complete this provider survey it will help to inform us on how best to support your Early Learning Program.)
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Taxes
In November 2023 voters in Texas passed the Proposition 2 Child Care Facility Property Tax Exemption. The proposition left it up to each county and or municipality to ratify the proposition and approve the tax exemption for their area. Currently Hutchinson County, Moore County, Potter County and the City of Canyon have been the only ones in the Panhandle Region to adopt the tax exemption. If you would like to reach out to your local representatives and let them know how important this matter is to your business below find a sample letter and links to find your local representatives.
Child-Care Facility Property Tax Exemption
What you need to know, Tax Code 11.36 current with legislation from the 2023 Regular and Special Sessions signed by the Governor as of November 21, 2023.
Who qualifies for the Tax Exemption? A facility licensed by the Health and Human Services Commission to provide assessment, care, training, education, custody, treatment, or supervision for a child who is not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the owner or operator of the facility, for all or part of the 24-hour day, whether or not the facility is operated for profit or charges for the services it offers.
A child-care facility: (A) the owner or operator of which participates in the Texas Workforce Commission's Texas Rising Star Program as described by Section 2308.3155, Government Code, for that facility; and (B) at which at least 20 percent of the total number of children enrolled at the facility receive subsidized child-care.
A person is entitled to an exemption from taxation by the county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of: (1) the real property the person owns and operates as a qualifying child-care facility; or (2) the portion of the real property that the person owns and leases to a person who uses the property to operate a qualifying child-care facility.
More information available at:
TAX CODE CHAPTER 11. TAXABLE PROPERTY AND EXEMPTIONS (texas.gov)
Additional Information. Applicants must file the application and all supporting documents with the appraisal district office in each county in which the property is located. You must file the completed application with all required documentation beginning Jan.1 and not later than April 30 of the year for which you are requesting an exemption.
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 Taxpayers will be able to schedule an appointment starting January 13th. To schedule an appointment, go to Appointment Link or call (806)240-9955.
Appointments in Amarillo are seen at the North Branch Library located at 1500 NE 24th Ave. Appointments will only be available on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Appointments can also be scheduled at most of the rural offices. (Childress, Dalhart, Dimmitt, Friona, Hereford, Memphis, Pampa and Tulia) Appointment availability in the rural offices will vary.
You do not have to pay someone to prepare your tax return. In 2023, on average, a taxpayer paid $200 - $250 to have their return prepared. PCS-VITA will prepare and e-file your return for FREE.
Due to limited resources, we do have some eligibility guidelines....
In order to qualify for free tax assistance, you must meet ONE of the following:
- Have a household annual income of less than $75,000 OR
- You and/or your spouse is 55 or older OR
- You or your spouse is disabled OR
- You have limited English proficiency
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Training Resource
 Workforce Solutions Panhandle Child Care Services Will Reimburse the Registration Cost for the
First 100 Participants!!!
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 NAEYC Week of the Young Child Kick Off Committee Meeting
Online
Friday January 10th at 1:30pm
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 Lunch Club: The Art of De-Escalation in Small Business
Online with Lisa Ricketson, LPC
Wednesday, January 8th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Handling difficult customers or employees can be one of the most stressful parts of running a business. In Lunch Club, a one-hour webinar designed for busy small business owners, we’ll introduce the SET Method—Support, Empathy, and Truth—a proven framework to help you deescalate tense situations and resolve conflicts effectively.
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Director PLC
Join Us Online,
Tuesday, January 14th
from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Topic: How to Apply for the ECE STARS AWARD
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Feature Spotlight
Scholarship Awardees
The following Early Learning Programs have individuals that have been awarded Scholarships to Amarillo College from Workforce Solutions Panhandle Child Care Services
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Scholarships are vital for childcare workers for several reasons, they address challenges and create opportunities that benefit both the workers and the communities they serve. A total of 28 Scholarships were awarded this semester.
The following programs have individuals that were awarded Scholarships:
Amarillo College Lab School
Amarillo College MediPark Campus Hagy Center for Young Child
Bright Minds Academy Canyon Drive
Child Development Center in Pampa
Community Day Care Center Inc
Opportunity School
Opportunity School Edwards Campus
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church
Rock Star Daycare Preschool
Stepping Stones Learning Center
Texas Premier Childcare at Amarillo Netplex
Tulia Child Development Center
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Community Day Care Site III is a Licensed Center located in Pampa, Texas. Our 3 and 4-year-old preschool program at Community Daycare Site III services 28 children with a variety of different needs and we are proud to provide them and our community with high-quality early childhood learning experiences. We could not have done it without the hard work and dedication of the staff Emery Ridgway, Isabella Munoz, Alexandra Resendez, and Director Christia Ledet as well as support from our TWC mentor Aimee Rossi and executive director Kim Winegeart.
The program had their Recertification and retained a 4 Star Texas Rising Star Certification. Aimee Rossi is the Mentor.
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First Baptist Dimmitt Preschool & Daycare is a Licensed Center located in Dimmitt, Texas. They are licensed for 55 children and accept children birth to 4 years. The director is Shawn Sheffy. The program has 11 full time staff members with 6 open classrooms.
The program had their Recertification and retained a 4 Star Texas Rising Star Certification. Tiffany Lewis is the Mentor.
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Mammy’s Daycare is a Licensed Center located in Wellington, Texas with a total capacity of 47 children and serves birth to preschool age children. Mandy Rodriguez is the owner and Director. The program has 3 staff members and 2 classrooms.
The program earned a 2 Star Texas Rising Star Certification. Chase Harris is the Mentor.
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Nikkies Care Club is a Licensed Child Care Home located in Amarillo, Texas. They are licensed for 12 children and accept all ages. The director and owner is Omar Mendoza.
The program earned a 2 Star Texas Rising Star Certification. Marissa Moore is the Mentor.
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If your Early Learning Program has Spotlight worthy news, please submit the information to Cynthia Hixon at chixon@wspanhandle.com
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Welcome
New Providers to Child Care Services
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Caitlynn Hollis RCCH is a Registered Child Care Home located in Amarillo, Texas with a total capacity of 12 children and accepts all ages. |
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If your Early Learning Program needs assistance with resources or business supports, please contact me Cynthia Hixon, Child Care Industry Support Specialist and I will do my best to get the information you need. I can be reached Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm and my office is at Workforce Solutions, 3120 Eddy St., Amarillo, TX 79106 my direct line is 806-350-1722 or via email at CHIXON@wspanhandle.com.
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To schedule a meeting or a visit with me click the button below.
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This document contains vital information about requirements, rights, determinations, and/or responsibilities for accessing workforce system services. Language services, including the interpretation/translation of this document, are available free of charge upon request.
Este documento contiene información importante sobre los requisitos, los derechos, las determinaciones y las responsabilidades del acceso a los servicios del sistema de la fuerza laboral. Hay disponibles servicios de idioma, incluida la interpretación y la traducción de documentos, sin ningún costo y a solicitud.
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Workforce Solutions Panhandle is committed to Keeping the Texas Panhandle Working!
Workforce Solutions Panhandle assists employers and job seekers throughout our 26-county region, and partners with the Texas Workforce Commission to provide the largest job-matching database in the State of Texas.
Workforce Solutions Panhandle is overseen by the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC), the fiscal and administrative agent for workforce development programs and services provided to employers and job seekers in the Texas Panhandle.
Learn more about the services we offer on the What We Do Page, or by visiting a relevant section of our website for employers, job seekers, or for child care assistance.
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired customers may contact: Relay Texas: 800-735-2989 (TDD) and 711 (Voice) Equal Opportunity is the Law
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