Texas Rising Star > Providers > Entry Level Designation

Entry Level Designation

Texas Government Code §2308.3155 requires all Child Care Services (CCS) child care and early learning programs be included in the Texas Rising Star program, beginning at an Entry Level designation and requires TWC implement a maximum length of time that a child care and early learning program can participate at Entry Level designation. Entry Level programs may receive technical assistance, resources, and materials, and mentoring to support them attaining Texas Rising Star certification.

Eligibility for Entry Level Designation

To qualify for Entry Level designation, a child care and early learning program must meet the minimum quality standards outlined below and will receive technical assistance and support under the Texas Rising Star program:

  • be licensed or registered with Child Care Regulation (CCR) (may have an initial permit) or regulated by the United States Military;
  • not on Corrective or Adverse Action with CCR; and
  • meets the points threshold of 75 for high- and medium-high-weighted CCR deficiencies (based on a review of CCR licensing history within the most recent 12 months)

Child care and early learning programs with initial permits or programs with fewer than 12 months of licensing history will be reviewed based on all available CCR licensing history.

The points threshold of 75 is based on points assigned to CCR-weighted high and medium-high deficiencies received within the child care and early learning program’s most recent 12 months of CCR licensing history. Point assignments are calculated as follows:

  • high-weighted deficiencies receiving 5 points each
  • medium-high-weighted deficiencies receiving 3 points each

Child Care rule §809.20 states that only “certified” Texas Rising Star child care and early learning programs are eligible to receive enhanced reimbursement rates, therefore, programs with the Entry Level designation are not eligible for the enhanced reimbursement rates until they are Texas Rising Star-certified at a Two-, Three-, or Four-Star level.

Texas Rising Star Certification Timeframe

Once designated as Entry Level, the child care and early learning program will have a maximum of 24 months to attain star-level certification in Texas Rising Star. Designated Entry Level programs can be assessed for star-level certification at any time within the 24-month timeframe if they meet certification eligibility and screening requirements prior to the prescribed deadlines.

New CCS regulated programs

New CCS regulated programs must meet Entry Level Designation at the time a CCS Provider Agreement is initiated with the Local Workforce Development Board (Board) and have 24 months from that date to achieve star-level certification.

Entry Level designated programs will be screened for Texas Rising Star certification eligibility at 12 months to determine if they are eligible for assessment.

If the program is not eligible for certification as Texas Rising Star by the 18th month, the program cannot receive CCS referrals for new families as an Entry Level provider, unless the program is located in a child care desert or serves an underserved population and is approved by TWC to accept new family referrals.

As of October 3, 2022, during the 24-month Entry Level period, regulated child care and early learning programs that are new to CCS must achieve the milestones shown in the table below:

Entry Level Timeline – New CCS Regulated Programs

No Later Than… Action
CCS Agreement Start Must meet Entry Level designation eligibility
12th Month from CCS Start Screening review for initial star-level certification
18th Month from CCS Start If not meeting Texas Rising Star certification, no new family referrals
24th Month CCS Start Deadline for attaining Texas Rising Star certification

Current CCS regulated programs

For child care and early learning programs that have CCS agreements with Boards as of October 3, 2022, the 24-month Entry Level period will begin on October 3, 2022 and programs will have 24 months, until September 30, 2024, to achieve star level certification.

Current CCS child care and early learning programs that exceed the points threshold for Entry Level designation as of October 3, 2022, will be provided a period of six months, through March 31, 2023, to comply with Entry Level designation.  If the current CCS program fails to attain Entry Level designation after the six-month period, the program will no longer be an eligible CCS program but may apply for Entry Level designation at a later date.

At minimum, Entry Level designated programs will be reviewed for Texas Rising Star certification no later than the 12th month of the 24-month period (September 30, 2023). If an Entry Level designated program is not eligible for certification as Texas Rising Star by the 18th month (March 31, 2024), the program cannot receive CCS referrals for new families, unless the program is located in a child care desert or serves an underserved population as defined and is approved by TWC to accept new family referrals.

Entry Level Timeline – Current CCS Regulated Providers

No Later Than…

Action
October 3, 2022 Determine if meeting Entry Level designation
March 31, 2023 Deadline for meeting Entry Level designation
September 30, 2023 Screening review for initial star-level certification
March 31, 2024 If the program is not meeting Texas Rising Star certification criteria, no new family referrals may be made
September 30, 2024 Deadline for attaining Texas Rising Star certification

Entry Level Extension Waiver

Child care and early learning programs that are unable to achieve Texas Rising Star certification by the end of the 24-month timeframe, may submit a request to their Board for an extension waiver.

To be eligible for an Entry Level extension waiver the child care and early learning program must be:

  • located in a child care desert (an area where the number of children younger than six years of age who have working parents is at least three times greater than the capacity of licensed child care programs in the area); or serving an underserved population* as determined by TWC;
  • Unable to meet the certification requirements due to a declared emergency/disaster; or
  • Unable to meet the certification requirements due to conditions that are outside the child care program’s control.

*Note: An underserved population could include limited availability of infant capacity or care for children with disabilities.

TWC will review all Entry Level extension waivers and may grant the program up to an additional 36 months to remain at Entry Level in order for the program to achieve Texas Rising Star certification.