Getting Ready to Apply to Texas Rising Star

All interested child care and early learning programs should participate in a Texas Rising Star orientation. The Texas Rising Star orientation includes an overview of the Texas Rising Star program application process, an overview of the required and points-based measures on which a child care and early learning program’s quality certification is determined, and an introduction to the on-site assessment process through which a program attains Texas Rising Star certification. TWC Chapter 809 Child Care Services rule at §809.133(a) requires all prospective Texas Rising Star child care and early learning programs to participate in an orientation before submitting their application. An online, self-instructional orientation is available via CLI Engage’s Course Catalog for early learning programs to view. A live orientation session may also be provided by local Texas Rising Star staff.

For information on accessing the orientation on CLI Engage, please see Provider Resources, under Children’s Learning Institute.

After reviewing the orientation module or attending a Texas Rising Star orientation session, programs are encouraged to complete the Texas Rising Star Interest Form.  This online form collects basic information about the program (for example, facility address and CCR licensing number) and submits it to the Board in the program’s local workforce development area (workforce area). Submission of the interest form informs the Board of a program’s interest in becoming a Texas Rising Star–certified program.

A self-assessment or self-evaluation is a way for programs to improve the quality of their services by reflecting on their own comfort with and expertise in areas known to enhance child care and early childhood environments and experiences. The purpose of the Texas Rising Star self-assessment tool is to provide applicants with a guided review of their programs to determine if they are ready to proceed with the Texas Rising Star Initial Assessment. The tools cover all Texas Rising Star required and points-based quality measures that are scored in the Initial Assessment.

TWC Chapter 809 Child Care Services rule §809.133 requires that applicants complete a Texas Rising Star self-assessment of the Facility Assessment Record Form (FARF). The self-assessment must be submitted with the Texas Rising Star application and accompanying documents (see Step 4 below).

In addition to the FARF, which is required for the self-assessment, programs may opt to submit the Classroom Assessment Record Form (CARF) for each classroom in their program. Completing the CARF self-assessment can clarify whether a program would benefit from additional time and mentoring before the Initial Assessment. The FARF and the CARF are available on the TRS Tools tab of the Texas Rising Star website.

Programs are encouraged to contact their local Board for mentoring and technical assistance.

Helpful resources are also available on the Provider Resources page of the Texas Rising Star website.

Tips for Self-Assessment

• Read over the self-assessment tools, the FARF, and the age-appropriate CARF completely before beginning. Have staff read all information, too.
• Go back and look at each measure and item individually. Start with one that is manageable and look for required (met/not met) items—these will be shaded gray.
• Identify what items are ready for the assessment, what will need to be completed before the assessment, and what questions should be asked of Texas Rising Star staff in order to be completely prepared.
• Determine what changes or modifications may be needed before having the Texas Rising Star assessor come for the assessment.
• Contact a Texas Rising Star mentor or assessor, or the appropriate Board, to discuss the results of the self-assessment, ask questions, and take the next step in the assessment process.

Each program must complete the Texas Rising Star application. Additionally, programs must complete the appropriate Texas Rising Star Screening Form. Assessors will also screen the program for licensing deficiencies and corrective and/or adverse actions before the Initial Assessment.

As part of the certification eligibility packet, the program must complete the following documents for application.

All forms are available on the TRS Tools tab of the Texas Rising Star website.

• Texas Rising Star Application
• Texas Rising Star Screening Form (applicable to the facility type)
• Texas Rising Star FARF
• Texas Rising Star CARF for each classroom (optional)

Finally, the program must collect several documents that are used to verify required and points-based measures for the facility and staff. These documents must be made available for review during the Initial Assessment, but they do not have to be submitted with the application, unless requested by the local Board. A detailed list of these documents is included in the  Facility Assessment Record Form (all facilities).  Two checklists are provided: the first refers to measures that are required for certification. The second refers to points-based measures. Programs are not required to meet all the points-based measures.

Programs must submit the Texas Rising Star Application, Texas Rising Star Screening Form, and the FARF to the appropriate Board through the Board’s preferred method or via online submission through the program’s Engage account (created upon submittal of Interest Form). After Texas Rising Star staff receives the application package and confirms the program’s eligibility, staff contacts the program within 20 calendar days with an estimated time frame for scheduling the Initial Assessment.