Most of a child’s brain grows before they turn 4. When young children go to quality child care programs, they learn important skills and are more ready for school. This is why parents should choose child care that is safe, caring, and high‑quality.
Select any topic below and watch the short video about each of the five important indicators of quality child care.
Development
Safety
Quality Standards
Parent Involvement
Nutrition & Environment
Find a Child Care Provider
To look for a child care provider that fits your family’s needs, click the yellow button below.
What to Remember When Choosing a Child Care Provider
When you visit a child care center, pay close attention to what you see and hear.
Look for these things:
- How the inside and outside of the child care provider look
- Safety rules that keep children protected
- What activities the children get to do
- How the teachers talk to and play with the children
- If there are books for children to read
- How many toys and pieces of furniture there are, and if they are clean and in good shape
Try to visit more than once. If you can, make a surprise visit and compare it to your planned visit. Keep watching and paying attention every time you go.
Listen for these things:
- Children laughing, singing, and playing
- The teacher’s voice and how they speak to the children
- Sounds from group activities — it should not be silent
- Any loud or strange noises that don’t match what the children are doing (this might mean the teacher is not in control)
Pay attention to the number of children:
- How many children each teacher is watching?
- What child‑to‑teacher ratio feels right to you?
- Whether the child care provider has a better ratio than what the state requires?
Ask if the child care provider is quality-rated.
Types of Available Child Care
There are three types of childcare regulated by the Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Regulation Division (HHSC CCR).
Licensed Child Care Centers
Licensed Child Care Centers must be licensed by Child Care Regulation (CCR). These centers can be different types of child care businesses, such as small independently owned centers, large corporate chains, non‑profit programs, and church‑based programs.
All licensed centers are required to take part in the Texas Rising Star program. This makes them eligible to enroll children in the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Child Care Services (CCS) scholarship program and receive support through TWC’s quality improvement initiatives.
Licensed Child Care Homes
A primary caregiver must be licensed by Child Care Regulation (CCR) to care for children in their own home. Licensed child care homes receive the highest level of oversight and must follow strict health and safety rules set by HHSC—similar to the standards used for child care centers.
Licensed child care homes may care for 7 to 12 children on a regular basis. They can also accept CCS funding and may become certified through Texas Rising Star.
Registered Childcare Providers
A primary caregiver must be registered with Child Care Regulation (CCR) to care for children in their own home.
Registered child care homes may care for up to 6 unrelated children and must follow the minimum health and safety standards set by HHSC. They can also accept CCS funding and may become certified through Texas Rising Star.
Relative Care
Relative care is not regulated by CCR but may be an option for eligible families through CCS.
For more information, families can email: childcareproviderservices@wspanhandle.com
Quality Care Indicators on the Provider List
The provider list can help you see if a child care provider takes part in programs that focus on giving children high‑quality care. These programs show that the provider goes beyond the basic rules required by the state.
Texas Rising Star
Texas Rising Star is a quality rating and improvement system for child care programs that qualify to take part. Programs in Texas Rising Star work to give children high‑quality care and learning experiences.
To learn more about what child care providers must do to meet Texas Rising Star standards and the steps needed to earn Texas Rising Star certification, click the yellow button below.
To learn how the Texas Rising Star program helps you choose the best child care provider for your family by clicking the yellow button below.
To view a list of child care providers that meet quality indicators by clicking the yellow button below.
Please click the yellow button below to watch the TRS Parent Overview (it is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese).
Texas School Ready!™ (TSR) Grant Project
Texas School Ready! is a program that helps early childhood teachers learn the best ways to teach young children. It uses a research‑based curriculum, gives teachers ongoing training, and provides tools to track children’s progress. The goal of Texas School Ready is to help children build the skills they need to be ready for school. To learn more about Texas School Ready, click the yellow button below.
Pre-K Partnerships
Pre‑K partnerships happen when schools work together with high‑quality child care programs to help teach and care for young children. These partnerships give children more learning time and support before they start kindergarten.
To learn more about Pre‑K Partnerships, click the yellow button below.
Health and Safety Requirements
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Child Care Regulation has rules to help keep children safe and healthy in child care programs. These rules include:
- Preventing the spread of germs and illnesses
- Making sure buildings meet safety standards
- Training for child care providers
To learn more about these requirements, how to find your local HHSC CCR office, and to look up a provider’s compliance history, click the yellow button below.
Local Child Care Regulation Office
3521 S.W. 15th St.
Amarillo, TX 79102
806-354-5307
Developmental Screening and Early Intervention
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program
The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program is Medicaid’s full health care service for children and teens from birth through age 20. It includes:
- Medical care
- Dental care
- Checkups and screenings
- Help managing health needs
The goal of EPSDT is to help children stay healthy and get treatment early when they need it. To learn more about the EPSDT program, click the yellow button below.
Development Screening Services & Resources
To learn more about developmental screening services offered through Part B and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other resources through Early Childhood Texas, click the yellow button below.
