News and Events

Stay up to date with the latest news, research, and events.

NEWS

Texas Rising Star 4-year review for revisions to the certification guidelines was completed in 2019 and these revisions became effective January 25, 2021, and were implemented September 1, 2021. To see information regarding the revisions, visit the Texas Rising Star 4-year review webpage. The next review will begin in Fall 2023. To provide feedback on the Texas Rising Star program email TRS4yearReview@twc.texas.gov at any time.

Child Care by the Numbers is a report that includes data that gives an overview of Texas Rising Star since October 2014. Child Care by the Numbers provides information on the number of child care programs serving children participating in the TWC’s Child Care Services program, and the number and percent of these programs who are Texas Rising Star certified. Annual and monthly data is available by Board area or statewide. Data is updated quarterly. It also provides information on:

  • the number of children served, and
  • the number and percent of children who selected a Texas Rising Star certified program.

The Texas Child Care Availability Portal helps match families that need care with early learning programs that have available spots. It takes less than 1 minute to update the early learning program’s availability information using the Availability Form. Benefits to early learning programs include:

  • No-cost promotional information about your program, including your Texas Rising Star status
  • Easily accessed information about your current openings, updated by you on a weekly basis
  • Early access to new offerings such as distribution programs for supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE)

Child Care and Early Learning Newsletter – a quarterly newsletter distributed electronically by the TWC Child Care and Early Learning department. Sign up to receive this newsletter via email on the TWC website. Enter your email address in the “Sign up to receive workforce updates you can use” box, and select “Early Childhood Care and Education” as a subscription topic.

 

INITIATIVES

TWC sponsors various initiatives at a state level in which many early learning programs across the state can participate in. Current initiatives include the following:

Texas Infant Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN): An ITSN is a state-based system that supports and coordinates the work of specialists who serve infant and toddler care early learning programs, by creating a community of professional development and peer support to better the experiences for infants and toddlers in their classrooms. To learn more and potentially participate, visit the Texas ITSN website.

The ITSN will be traveling across Texas to provide free training and resources to teachers and directors within your local workforce development area. Visit the Texas ITSN Roadshow website for more details.

Texas Family Child Care Network (FCCN): A FCCN is a regional-based system that supports and coordinates the work of family child care programs (registered or licensed) by creating a community of professional development and peer support to better the experiences for the children and families they serve. The FCCN will offer free resources, training, and services, including mentoring and coaching from Avance, Inc (Travis County) and United Way of Denton County.

Child Care Business Training: The Collaborative for Children Business Accelerator Program provided business training for child care administrators, such as business management, financial stability, personnel management, increased recruitment and retention of staff, communication, family and community engagement. These trainings can also be accessed here: Child Care Business Courses

Professional Development for Early Childhood Education: Scholarships via the T.E.A.C.H. program for eligible early childhood educators to obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA), Associate or Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or participating in an early childhood apprenticeship.

Staff Retention: Together 4 Children will be providing regional supports for early learning programs regarding staff retention.

Child Care Business Coaching: Receive free one-on-one business coaching and business resources to help your child care business.  Visit childcare.texas.gov to request a business coach, join live office hour training sessions, access videos, and find resources you need to boost your business.

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Supports: HHSC ECI is offering regional trainings, as well as on-site training sessions at child care facilities, on the importance of early intervention, brain development and classroom strategies on fostering healthy brain development, identifying developmental red flags and strategies for discussing developmental concerns with parents.  Child care programs can contact their local ECI contractor to request the training. To find your local ECI contractor, use the ECI Program Search Tool located on the ECI website.

  • ECI personnel and Workforce Board mentors are in the process of receiving training on the administration of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Developmental Screening. Once trained, child care programs can receive training on using the ASQ as their developmental screener through their local Board mentor or ECI staff. Training opportunities will be shared with programs once they are available.
  • ECI is also planning four one-day in person conferences in different regions of the state to develop strong working relationships between Early Intervention personnel and child care program staff. Dates and locations for these trainings will be coming soon.

AgriLife Free Training Series: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is offering free trainings to Texas early childhood educators on the AgriLife Learn Platform.  These, along with several other trainings, can be linked to your Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS) Workforce Registry account:

  • The Texas Annual Training Series – a suite of 12 online courses (20 hours) aligned with HHSC Child Care Regulation’s annual professional development requirements from the minimum standards.
  • The Starting a Home-Based Child Care Business Training Series – a series for prospective family child care programs that includes guidance on starting and managing an effective business, maintaining a safe and healthy environment, creating engaging learning experiences, and connecting with statewide resources such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Texas Rising Star.
  • “Adding Nighttime Care to Your Early Childhood Program” – a two-hour course that will introduce directors, owners, and other decision-makers to the unmet need for nighttime care and offer practical suggestions for adding nighttime care to existing child care homes and centers.

 

EVENTS

TWC’s Child Care & Early Learning Division hosts conference style events for Texas Rising Star-certified early learning programs in an effort to assist early childhood educators in obtaining professional development to meet annual requirements. For more information on upcoming events, please visit the Child Care & Early Learning Events page.

Be sure to check here for more information regarding future events and initiatives.