Midland College is adding space for eight infants and 12 toddlers at the Helen L. Greathouse Children's Center. The expansion includes a new infant classroom and a renovated toddler classroom.
Shelly Haney Rubio, the college's associate vice president of early childhood and dean of education, said access to child care affects a family's ability to work, pursue an education and build a stable future. The center holds a four-star certification, the highest level, through the Texas Workforce Commission's Texas Rising Star program. It serves Midland College employees, students and the surrounding community, and it takes infants from 4 months to 2 years old.
Tanya Frantz, the center's director, said the curriculum focuses on hands-on activities, outdoor time, and independent and group play. A 2026 Children at Risk analysis found significant statewide shortages of subsidized and Texas Rising Star-certified child care. The college held an open house on Tuesday for interested families to tour the new and updated spaces.