Eligibility for Entry Level Designation
To qualify for Entry Level designation, a child care and early learning program must meet the following minimum quality standards outlined:
- 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
- not exceed the points threshold of 40 for high- and/or medium-high-weighted CCR deficiencies (based on a review of the most recent six months of CCR licensing history)
Child care and early learning programs with initial permits or programs with fewer than six months of licensing history will be reviewed based on all available CCR licensing history.
The points threshold of 40 is calculated by assigning the following points to high- and medium-high–weighted CCR deficiencies received within the most recent six months of CCR licensing history:
- Five points are added for each high-weighted deficiency.
- Three points are added for each medium-high-weighted deficiency.
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. Entry Level-designated programs may be assessed for star-level certification at any time within the 24-month timeframe if they meet certification eligibility and screening requirements
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.
Child care and early learning programs that are interested in participating in CCS must submit an Interest Form to start the process.
Entry Level designated programs will be screened for Texas Rising Star certification eligibility at 12 months from the time the CCS Provider Agreement is signed to determine if they are eligible for assessment.
If, at the 18th month of a program’s Entry Level designation time, the program will not be eligible for Texas Rising Star certification by the end of the Entry Level designation time frame, the program may not receive CCS referrals for new families until it attains star-level certification.
An exception is allowed if the program is located in a child care desert or serves an underserved population as defined and approved by TWC. If the program qualifies for an exception, it may continue to receive referrals for new families during the last six months of its 24-month entry-level period.
Entry Level Timelines-CCS programs will follow the Entry Level Designation timeline below:
| Timeline | Action |
| CCS Provider Agreement start date | Child care and early learning program must meet Entry Level designation eligibility. |
| No later than 12 months | Boards must screen programs for initial star-level certification. |
| 18 Months | If the program is not meeting Texas Rising Star certification, no new family referrals may be made. The program will be reviewed monthly for the remainder of the designation timeline. |
| 24 Months | The program must achieve Texas Rising Star certification or be ready for and request assessment to continue providing CCS. |
To access resources and more information about Entry Level designation, visit the TWC Texas Rising Star-Entry Level Designation webpage.
Entry Level Points Threshold Screening
Entry Level designated programs will be reviewed for compliance with the CCR licensing history points threshold each October 1st and April 1st. Programs who exceed the 40-point threshold at these screenings will not be eligible to continue to provide CCS.
Programs that do not meet the points threshold at the October and April screenings are not eligible for an Entry Level or CCS provider agreement waiver. Once the program meets the Entry Level points threshold, it may return to providing CCS and will have the remaining time left of their Entry Level designation to become certified.
Entry Level–designated programs may continue to provide CCS if they are placed on Corrective Action with CCR, as long as they do not exceed the points threshold at the applicable October or April review.