A Consumer’s Guide to Quality Child Care (Low-Income Families)
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Types of Child Care in Texas (back to top)
There are three types of child care regulated by The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). These include Licensed Child Care Centers, Licensed Child Care Homes and Registered Child Care Homes. Certain restrictions apply to all regulated caregivers. The restrictions limit care to ages from birth to 13 years; limit time in care to less than 24 hours per day; and set a ratio of caregivers to the number of children in care based on the ages of the children.
- Licensed Child Care Centers
Child Care Centers must be licensed by the DFPS. Child care is provided at a location other than the license holder’s residence. The center may care for seven or more children.
- Licensed Child Care Homes
The primary caregiver must be licensed by DFPS to provide child care in their own residence. The total number of children allowed in care varies with the ages of the children but must not exceed 12, including children related to the caregiver.
- Registered Child Care Homes
The primary caregiver must be registered with DFPS to provide child care in their own residence. The total number of children allowed in full day care varies with the ages of the children but must not exceed six. Care may be provided for no more than six additional elementary school children after school hours. The total number of children at any given time must not exceed 12, including children related to the caregiver.
Relative Care is not regulated by The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services but may be an option for eligible low-income families. Relative Care is subject to the same restrictions that apply to regulated care for age of the child, time in care and ratios of caregivers to children.
- Relative Care
To be qualified to provide this type of child care, a caregiver must be the child’s grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling who is at least 18 years of age. The relative must be related by marriage, blood relationship or court decree. In addition, the relative providing care must not reside in the same household as the child. Care may be provided in the relative’s residence or the child’s.
Steps to Finding Quality Child Care (back to top)
1. Look (Observe)
- Outside and inside
- Safety
- Centers/Activities
- Observe the interaction of children and caregivers
- Amount, quality, cleanliness of toys and furniture
- Books
- Visit the day care more than once if possible, make unannounced visits, and compare announced and unannounced visits
- Never stop the observation process
2. Listen
- Sounds - Children laughing, singing, and playing.
- Teachers Tone of Voice - Cheerful and patient, not shouting.
- Quiet - Appropriate to activity, like napping. Group activities with no interaction could indicate problems.
- Noisy - Needs to be appropriate to activity; too noisy could indicate lack of control.
3. Count
- The number of children and caregivers
- Observation of the ratio of the number of children per caregiver should be an on-going process
- Determine a ratio of children per caregiver with which you feel comfortable
- Does the center or home have a better children per caregiver ratio than what is required for licensing
- Ratios are important in all age groups, but especially important for infants
Consider a Texas Rising Star Provider (TRS) (back to top)
Choosing a child care provider can be a stressful experience for both you and your child. Knowing what to look for in a child care facility can make the task easier. The Texas Rising Star Provider Program is voluntary and exceeds the Department of Family and Protective Services Standards. Child care facilities that choose to participate in this program must be in good standing (Plan 2 or 3) with child care licensing and are monitored quarterly by a PWSCCS Child Development Specialist. They continuously strive toward:
- Offering high quality care for children
- Meeting and maintaining program criteria
- A program in which child development is the number one priority.
Be sure to ask child care facilities if they participate in the Texas Rising Star Program!!
How does my child benefit from a Texas Rising Star Program? TRS Providers are required to meet the following:
- Maintain good standing with TDFPS (licensing)
- Meet director qualifications
- Meet caregiver/staff qualifications
- Have extra staff training
- Smaller group size
- Have planned curriculum/activities
- Have positive caregiver/child interaction
- Ensure health and safety
- Follow nutrition/mealtime guidelines
- Involve parents
Additional Child Care Links (back to top)
Additional child care information is available through the organizations and agencies listed below. Texas Workforce Commission information includes:
- Child Care Services
- Child Care Providers Lists
- Child Care Rules
- Child Care Licensing
- Child Care Reports
- Child Care State Plan
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) information includes:
- Public Policy
- Early Childhood
- About Accreditation
- About Conferences
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services information includes:
- Child Care Licensing
- Child Care Standards and Regulations
- Child Care Licensing Offices
- Information for Child Care Professional