Parent Resources
PARENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
To view the Parent Rights and Responsibilities form, visit https://www.childcare.texas.gov/child-care-services/ccs-forms-families.
FINDING CHILD CARE
There are three types of child care regulated by the Child Care Regulation (CCR):
- Licensed Child Care Centers are brick-and-mortar programs licensed and regulated by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). There are a variety of child care operator types, including independently owned small businesses, corporate chains, non-profits, and church-based programs. These centers are required to participate in the Texas Rising Start program, making them eligible to enroll students in the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Child Care Services (CCS) scholarship program and receive support via TWC’s quality initiatives.
- Licensed Child Care Homes receive the highest level of oversight and must meet strict health and safety standards set by HHSC, similar to the rigor of center-based care. They may care for between 7-12 children regularly. Licensed Child Care Homes can accept CCMS funding and become certified by Texas Rising Star.
- Registered Child Care Homes may care for up to six, unrelated children and must meet the minimum health and safety standards set by HHSC. Registered Child Care Homes can accept CCMS funding and become certified by Texas Rising Star.
Relative care is not regulated by CCR but may be an option for eligible families through CCS.
To search for a provider, visit https://www.childcare.texas.gov/for-families/finding-child-care.
TEXAS RISING START – OVERVIEW FOR PARENTS
Texas Rising Star is a quality rating and improvement system for eligible child care programs. To learn about the Texas Rising Star program, including information on the child care provider criteria and requirements to achieve certification status, visit Texas Child Care Connection at https://www.childcare.texas.gov/texas-rising-star/about-texas-rising-star.
Learn how the Texas Rising Star program can help you choose the best child care provider for you at https://youtu.be/owtAK_0n7JI.
To view a list of child care providers that meet quality indicators, visit Texas Child Care Connection at https://www.childcare.texas.gov/for-families/understanding-quality-child-care.
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TEXAS SCHOOL READY & PRE-K PARTNERSHIPS
Texas School Ready is a comprehensive early childhood teacher training program combining a research-based, state-adopted curriculum with ongoing professional development and progress monitoring tools. The goal of this program is to help children prepare to enter school. To learn more about Texas School Ready, visit https://texasschoolready.org/.
Pre-k partnerships are when schools team up with high-quality childcare programs to help teach and care for children. To learn more about pre-k partnerships, visit https://www.childcare.texas.gov/for-families/child-development-and-wellness/learning-and-development.
ATTENDANCE
Parents are required to report each child’s attendance daily. Parents must record both the check-in and the check-out for each child every day. Failure to record both a check-in and a check-out will result in an unexplained absence.
You may report child care attendance through:
- TX3C: KinderSign – An app on your child care providers’ iPad or Android tablet that makes it easier for you to enter your child’s attendance status at the child care provider location.
- TX3C: KinderSmart – A mobile application for iPhone and Android phones that allows you to enter attendance information using your personal smartphone.
For children in care with a relative provider, parents must report a child’s attendance by using the relative provider’s phone number to call the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The IVR phone number is (713) 242-1606.
Only a parent may report a child’s attendance. However, in instances when there is not a parent performing the drop-off or pick-up of the child (such as when the provider is transporting the child to or from school), the provider may record the appropriate check-in or check-out. Providers may record only one check-in or check-out per day, and the parent is required to perform the other check-in or check-out.
Parents may backdate or make corrections to attendance records for up to six days in the past.
A parent will be notified by email when a child has accumulated 15, 30, and 40 unexplained absences. Please contact your CCMS caseworker immediately if you receive an attendance notice.
A child with 40 unexplained absences in a 12-month eligibility period will be terminated from the CCS program and will no longer receive their child care scholarship.
REQUESTING A PROVIDER TRANSFER
Families requesting a transfer from one child care provider to another must begin the process at least two weeks in advance.
Contact your CCMS caseworker if you are considering a change in provider.
HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Child Care Regulation (CCR) has health and safety requirements for child care providers, including infectious disease prevention, building safety standards, provider training, and provider regulatory compliance history. To learn about the requirements, how to find your local HHSC CCR office, and check the compliance history of a provider, visit https://www.childcare.texas.gov/for-families/child-development-and-wellness/health-safety.
DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING & EARLY INTERVENTION
To learn about the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program, visit https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/health-services-providers/texas-health-steps-providers.
To learn about developmental screening services through Part B and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), visit Early Childhood Texas at https://www.earlychildhood.texas.gov/child-development.
To access developmental screening resources, visit https://www.earlychildhood.texas.gov/child-development.
ADDITIONAL FAMILY RESOURCES
2-1-1 Texas offers access to community resources such as food, housing, and health services. To learn more, visit https://www.earlychildhood.texas.gov/find-program or dial 2-1-1 from a phone.
To find local parenting classes or family support resources, visit https://www.earlychildhood.texas.gov/find-program.