The Texas Quad Agency Child Care Initiative promotes collaboration and coordination among state agencies to improve child care access, affordability, and quality. This initiative was established through House Bill 4903. passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, adding Chapter 74 in the Texas Human Resources Code.
About the Initiative
The agencies participating in the Quad Agency Child Care Initiative Commission are:
- Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), represented by Joe Esparza, Chairman and Commissioner Representing Employers.
- Texas Education Agency (TEA), represented by Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner of Standards and Programs
- Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), represented by David Kostroun, Deputy Executive Commissioner of Regulatory Services Division
- Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), represented by Clint Cox, Director of Child Care Investigations
Members are charged to work collaboratively to:
- Coordinate agency initiatives that impact the cost, quality or accessibility of child care in Texas
- Consider and start interagency initiatives to expand access to quality, affordable child care
- Review and recommend actions to streamline existing or proposed regulations, rules, policies, or any other participating agency actions that impact the child care industry to:
- Resolve regulatory conflicts and duplication
- Lower insurance costs for child care providers
- Protect the health and safety of children in child care
- Advance quality education for child care providers
- Create consistent, predictable and reasonable enforcement mechanisms among participating agencies
The Quad Agency Commission members have adopted the Quad Agency Child Care Initiative Procedural Agreement to outline how the Quad Agency Commission will conduct business.
Public Comment and Reviews
The Quad Agency Initiative welcomes input from the public.
Suggest a Review
Stakeholders, including elected officials, state agency leaders, and members of the public, can request that the Commission review existing or proposed regulations, rules, policies, or actions that may impact the cost, quality, or accessibility of child care.
To Submit a Suggestion: Email QuadAgencyChildCare@twc.texas.gov. Please include:
- Specific Details: Clearly describe the regulation, rule, policy, or action you are suggesting be reviewed
- Explanation of Impact: Explain how the item impacts the cost, quality, or availability of child care
- Suggested Solutions: Provide any suggested solutions or improvements.
Requests for review should address issues within the responsibility of the participating agencies. Providing your name and contact information are optional but can help the Commission clarify your request.
Summaries of suggestions are available to stakeholders. The summaries will group suggestions and comments into themes and include participating agency responses to each grouping. These responses outline current work underway, planned activities, or barriers to the suggestions and comments received.
- March 2026 Quad Agency Child Care Initiative Commission: Responses to Public Comments (includes comments and suggestions received November 2025 through February 2026)
Comment on Active Reviews
Public comments relevant to this topic are welcome for 30 days (through 4/24/26 at 11:59pm) and can be sent to QuadAgencyChildCare@twc.texas.gov.
Active Reviews
March 24.2026: The Chairman announced that the Quad Agency Commission would initiate a review of Pre-K Partnership data collection. Details of this review are outlined in the Briefing Paper: Quad Agency Commission Review of Data Collection for Pre-K Partnerships.
Past Reviews
Currently there are no past reviews.
Quad Agency Commission Meetings
The Quad Agency Commission meets at least three times per year.
Upcoming Meeting(s)
The next meeting is not yet scheduled.
Agenda and public comments:
Agenda will be posted at least 8 days prior to the next meeting and will include instructions for virtual and in-person participation.
Past Meetings
March 24, 2026
- Agenda
- Supporting Documents
• Early Matters Report: Building a New Future for Early Childhood in Texas
• Children at Risk Report: Thinking Bigger for a Better Texas - Zoom Recording
- Report to the Office of the Governor (pending - due 4/24/26)
November 17, 2025
Resources
The participating agencies’ programs are governed by state and federal laws and regulations and agency policies and practices. State and federally funded organizations offer technical assistance and best practice information for these programs. The resources provided below are not comprehensive. They are intended to assist the public with understanding the early childhood landscape in Texas and provide quick access to rule or policy references when submitting requests or comments.
State Agency Resources
- Texas Workforce Commission (TWC):
- Child Care & Early Learning Program: Learn about TWC’s programs supporting families and child care providers in Texas.
- Texas Rising Star Program: Discover how the Texas Rising Star program recognizes and supports high-quality child care providers.
- TWC Prekindergarten Partnerships: Find information about partnerships to enhance prekindergarten programs.
- Child Care Services Guide: Access a comprehensive guide to child care services in Texas.
- Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC):
- Child Care Regulation: Access regulations and information for licensed, registered, or listed child care programs.
- Minimum Standards: Review the minimum standards required for licensed child care settings.
- Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS):
- DFPS - Child Care Investigations (CCI): Learn about DFPS’s role in investigating child abuse and neglect in child care settings.
- Texas Education Agency (TEA):
- Early Childhood Education: Find resources and information about early childhood education programs in Texas public schools.
State Laws and Rules:
- Texas Administrative Code Title 40 Part 20 Chapter 809 (Child Care Services): Details on the laws and rules for Child Care Services administered by Texas Workforce Commission.
- Texas Administrative Code Title 26 Part 1 Chapter 745 (Licensing): Details on the laws and rules for Child Care Regulation related to all child care programs.
- Texas Administrative Code Title 26 Part 1 Chapter 746 (Licensing): Details on the laws and rules for Child Care Regulation related to licensed child care centers.
- Texas Administrative Code Title 26 Part 1 Chapter 747 (Licensing): Details on the laws and rules for Child Care Regulation related to child care homes.
- Texas Administrative Code Title 19 Part 2 Chapter 102: Details on the laws and rules for Texas Education Agency related to prekindergarten programs
Federal Laws and Regulations for Child Care:
- Congressional Research Service: “The Child Care and Development Block Grant: In Brief”: A brief overview of the CCDBG program.
- CCDBG Act: The full text of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act.
- Child Care and Development Fund Regulations: Federal regulations governing the Child Care and Development Fund.
Other Federal and National Resources:
- Caring for our Children |National Resource Center: Providing recommendations to help improve the health and safety of children in child care settings.
- Child Care Technical Assistance Network: Providing technical assistance related to child care services.