Education & Training
A wealth of resources is available to both Parents and Child Care Providers from ChildCareGroup and the community at large.
Through this Customer Portal, Parents can learn about quality child care, watch videos, read pertinent articles, and more. Providers will have access to professional development trainings, accreditation information, among others.
Through education and training, you play a role in nurturing the great in every child.
Parents
Types of Child Care
- Registered Child Care Homes
Registered Child Care Homes provide care in the caregiver's home for up to six children under age 14; they may also take in up to six more school-age children. The number of children allowed in a home is determined by the ages of the children. No more than 12 children can be in care at any time, including children of the caregiver. The application process requires that a registered child care home provider complete an orientation class and receive clearances on background checks. A registration certificate is issued after licensing staff completes an on-site inspection to ensure minimum standards are met. Registered homes are inspected every 1-2 years and to investigate reports alleging violations of standards or child abuse/neglect.
- Licensed Child Care Homes
Licensed Child Care Homes provide care for less than 24 hours per day for 7-12 children under 14 years old in the permit holder’s own home. No more than 12 children can be in care at any given time, including children of the caregiver. The application process requires that the licensed operation provider receive orientation and background checks are conducted. A license is issued after licensing staff completes on-site inspection(s) to ensure minimum standards are met. Licensed facilities are inspected at least once every 12 months and to investigate reports alleging violations of standards or child abuse/neglect.
- Licensed Child Care Centers
Licensed child care centers provides care for seven (7) or more children for less than 24 hours per day at a location other than the child’s or caregiver home. Centers may have different names, such as preschool, or child development center, or may serve a specific population, such as school-age children.
Licensed facilities have published standards they are required to follow and are routinely monitored and inspected. The application process requires that the licensed operation provider receive orientation and background checks are conducted. A license is issued after licensing staff completes on-site inspection(s) to ensure minimum standards are met. Licensed facilities are inspected at least once every 12 months and to investigate reports alleging violations of standards or child abuse/neglect. Licensed Facilities include day care and 24 hour residential care.
- Listed/Relative Care
Parents in the Child Care Assistance program are allowed to use an eligible relative of the child as the child care provider. An eligible relative is an individual who DOES NOT live in the same household as the child, is at least 18 years old, and is by marriage, blood relationship, or court decree one of the following:
- The child’s grandparent or great grandparent
- The child’s aunt or uncle (child’s parents sibling); or
- The child’s sibling
Relatives must list with Child Care Licensing to provide regular child care. After receipt of an application and licensing background check clearances, an Issuance Letter is furnished to the relative who will be providing the child care. The Listed Family Home caregiver must be at least 18 years old, however, there are no minimum standards, orientation or training requirements for listed homes. Listed Family Homes are not inspected unless a report is received alleging child abuse/neglect, an immediate risk of danger to the health or safety of a child, and/or if providing child care that is subject to regulation.
Child Care Regulation
In Texas, the Texas Health and Human Services Department oversees child care regulation. This includes:
- Regulating all child-care operations and child-placing agencies to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children in care.
- Permitting and monitoring operations and agencies for compliance with state regulation standards, rules and laws.
- Investigating complaints alleging violations of minimum standards in child care and residential child care operations.
- Informing parents and the public about child care, including how specific child care and residential child care operations are complying with minimum standards of care.
- Giving child-care providers technical assistance on meeting CCR minimum standards, rules, and laws.
Parents and child care programs - important information.
Child Care Regulation Website: Child Care Regulation | Texas Health and Human Services
Call Child Care Regulation: 800-862-5252
Email Child Care Regulation: CCRQuestions@hhs.texas.gov
Training
Texas AgriLife/Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service, in partnership with the TDFPS, Child Care Licensing Division, offers quality online training for parents. Click here to view their current trainings.
Texas Child Care Solutions
The Texas Child Care Solutions website was developed by the Texas Workforce Commission to provide parents access to accurate and consistent information to assist them in making informed choices to meet their child care needs. Click here to visit their site now.
WonderWise Parent Online
WonderWise is offered through Kansas State University—choose from 5 free courses by clicking here.
Providers
Provider Quality Ratings, Accreditations & Designations
Texas Rising Star (TRS)
Texas Rising Star (TRS) is a voluntary quality certification. Child care programs must meet a high standard of quality indicators and are eligible for enhanced reimbursement rates. CCA publishes a list of all providers with a TRS star rating to help parents in their search for quality child care.
Click here to get a current list, or visit the TRS website for more info
Texas School Ready! (TSR!)
Texas School Ready! certification is based on a child care provider’s demonstrated ability to prepare children for kindergarten. Preschool classrooms eligible for Texas School Ready! Certification are composed of children who will be attending kindergarten the following school year.
For more information, visit the TSR! website
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.
For more information, visit the NAEYC website
National Accreditation Commission (NAC)
The Association for Early Learning Leaders' National Accreditation Commission (NAC) helps to strengthen the knowledge, skills and abilities of directors, owners, emerging leaders and other early learning professionals to ensure quality programs for young children.
Click here to learn more about the NAC accreditation process
National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
NECPA encourages early care programs seeking to improve or receive recognition of their high quality care, to enroll for Accreditation. NECPA accredits all types of programs; center-based, family home, ministry or faith-based, and university centers, among others.
For more information, visit the NECPA website
National AfterSchool Association (NAA)
NAA is the national membership organization for professionals who work with, and on behalf of, children and youth during out-of-school time. NAA's mission is to foster development, provide education, and encourage advocacy for the out-of-school-time community.
For more information, visit the NAA website
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
NAFCC administers the only national accreditation system designed specifically for family child care providers. Accreditation is awarded to family child care providers who meet the eligibility requirements and the Quality Standards for NAFCC Accreditation.
For more information, visit the NAFCC website
Child Development Associate (CDA)
In keeping with its goal to meet the growing need for qualified early child care and education staff, the Council for Professional Recognition's Child Development Associate (CDA) Program is designed to assess and credential early childhood education professionals.
Click here for more information, and to apply for a CDA
Training
In order to have a quality child care program, you have to have a well-trained staff. ChildCareGroup is dedicated to providing you some free, low-cost options to help you gain your professional development requirement.
Free Webinars for Every Educator
Sign up for a free webinar hosted by edWeb.net. Click here to see all of their upcoming webinars.
Professional Development for Child Care Providers Caring for Children with Special Needs
These online courses and resources are developed and produced by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of the Texas A&M University System in cooperation with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Care Licensing Division, using funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and by the Texas Workforce Commission. Click here to view their online courses covering a variety of inclusive child care topics. All courses are free of charge.
Healthy Child Care Resources
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future is a nationwide program that continues the work of the Let’s Move! iniative by supporting early education providers in helping children get a healthy start to life. Visit the Healthy Kids, Healthy Future 5 Healthy Goals page to find training information and resources.
Online Child Care Professional Education Center
Child Care Aware offers a wide variety of paid training courses designed to help early childhood professionals complete annual training requirements or acquire required training hours for Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, CDA credential renewal or in-service training. Child Care Aware's courses provide a variety of engaging topics designed specifically for the early childhood professional. Click here to view what they have to offer.
On Demand Web Lessons
Penn State University offers free online training modules to provide practical strategies for implementing best practices in early care and education (ECE) settings for promoting healthy weight in young children. The training series includes six lessons that cover background information for childhood obesity prevention and the five best practice goals: increase physical activity, limit screen time, offer healthy beverages, serve healthy food and support infant feeding. Click here to go to the On Demand Web Lessons page. Once there, create an account and sign in, then select the lesson you are interested in.
Note: All of Better Kid Care's On Demand lessons are available at no cost to the participant. To receive professional development credit and obtain a certificate of completion there is a small fee of $5.