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Overview

The Child Care Services (CCS) program provides scholarships for child care. Child care scholarships are available to help parents work, search for work, or attend school or job training.

The CCS program works to inform parents about the availability and benefits of high-quality child care.

CCS supports child care providers improve the quality of services through the Texas Rising Star program. CCS supports and encourages child care programs to expand through the Pre-K Partnership program. 

Teacher with children in a classroom setting

 

Visit Texas Child Care Solutions to learn how your child may be eligible for a scholarship.

Go to the Child Care Availability Portal to find available child care in your area that meets your needs.

Use the Texas Child Care Solutions Contact Form for questions about child care services and scholarships in your area.

 


Texas Rising Star

Texas Rising Star logo.  TWC seal with Texas Rising Star and star.

The Texas Rising Star is a quality rating and improvement system for CCS programs. Texas Rising Star programs meet a higher level of quality than Child Care Regulation standards. 

More details are available on TWC's Texas Rising Star page.

 


Child Care and Public Prekindergarten Partnerships

A child care/pre-K partnership is a collaboration between public-school pre-K and child care programs. This is also called an “early learning partnership.” Texas Rising Star Three- and Four-Star certified programs are eligible for pre-K partnerships. 

Learn more at Public Prekindergarten Partnerships.


What We Do

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Information

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Financial Aid

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Education & Training

Child Care and Development Fund

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Care, funds the CCS program. 

CCDF is authorized by the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act and Section 418 of the Social Security Act

TWC is the lead agency for CCDF in Texas. The Texas State Legislature allocates the majority of CCDF funds to TWC to:

  • provide direct child care services to eligible families
  • support the improvement of child care quality across the state. 

TWC in turn allocates most of these dollars to the 28 Local Workforce Development Boards (Boards) to oversee service delivery through Workforce Solutions Offices.

TWC directs funds statewide initiatives to improve child care quality. TWC also provides funds to Texas Health and Human Services Commission to administer Child Care Regulation.

Learn more about funding at TWC's Data and Reports webpage.

Child Care Laws, Regulations, and Policy

Stakeholder Opportunities & Input

Stakeholders can learn about policy and funding decisions by virtually attending Commission meetings. The meetings also offer the public an opportunity to provide input. To view meetings, agendas, and materials, visit TWC Commission Meetings.

Additionally, the Commission works with staff to provide opportunities for:

  • Child care and early learning stakeholders to offer input on the CCS program
  • TEA, school districts, charter schools, businesses, and the public to offer input on CCS and pre-K coordination.
  • Child care programs to offer input on making health and safety regulations more effective
  • Child care programs to offer input on reducing burdens related to CCS program regulations while maintaining the goal of the regulation.

TWC notifies stakeholders of opportunities to attend regional meetings and of other child care updates. Stakeholders interested in receiving updates should sign up to receive workforce updates you can use by entering your email address and selecting the child care topic areas of their interest.

TWC is seeking your input on the 2025-2027 Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan and the Texas Rising Star program.

TWC develops a CCDF State Plan every three years, and we are seeking input as we develop our next CCDF State Plan, which will cover fiscal years 2025-2027. The CCDF State Plan Survey was open from January 19, 2024 to February 12, 2024, and collected 5,481 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated.

In addition, every four years TWC conducts a comprehensive review of the Texas Rising Star program, working in consultation with a Texas Rising Star Four-Year Review Workgroup. We are seeking input on the Workgroup recommendations through regional stakeholder meetings. 

Regional Stakeholder Meetings

In February 2024, TWC held a series of public regional meetings to gather stakeholder input on the 2025-2027 CCDF State Plan and the Texas Rising Star Four Year Review proposed revisions. 

All Meetings were hosted by local Workforce Solutions partners.

CityDate
AbileneThursday, February 8th
Round RockTuesday, February 13th
HoustonWednesday, February 21st
McAllenThursday, February 22nd
DallasMonday, February 26th

Virtual

Listen to the recording:

Child Care & Early Learning Stakeholder Meeting: https://youtu.be/lOk7N93tGs4

CCDF State Plan Slide Deck

Texas Rising Star Slide Deck

Wednesday, February 28th

For more information on the areas that TWC is seeking stakeholder feedback on see:

Stakeholders may provide input to TWC’s Child Care and Early Learning Division at any time by emailing ccel@twc.texas.gov.