As provided in Texas Government Code §2308.3155, the TRS program is a voluntary, quality-based child care rating system of child care providers participating in the Commission-subsidized child care program. Additionally, a child care provider is eligible to apply for TRS certification if the provider has a current agreement to serve Commission-subsidized children and the provider:
- has a permanent (non-expiring) license or registration from CCL;
- has at least 12 months of licensing history with CCL; and is not on:
- corrective action with a Board pursuant to Subchapter F of this chapter;
- a “Notice of Freeze” with the Commission pursuant to Chapter 213 of the Texas Labor Code (Enforcement of Texas Unemployment Compensation Act) or Chapter 61 of the Texas Labor Code (Payment of Wages); or
- corrective or adverse action with CCL; or
- is regulated by and in good standing with the US Military.
Additionally, TRS providers must demonstrate consistent compliance with minimum state licensing requirements. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is the child care licensing and regulatory agency for the state of Texas. The TRS Certification Guidelines include a list (beginning on page 2.2) of licensing deficiencies that affect a provider’s eligibility to participate in the Texas Rising Star program.
A child care facility is not eligible to apply for TRS certification if, during the most recent 12-month CCL licensing history, the provider had:
(1) any critical licensing deficiencies, as listed in the TRS guidelines;
(2) five or more high or medium-high licensing deficiencies, as listed in the TRS guidelines; or
(3) 10 or more total licensing deficiencies of any type.
Are you interested in applying to Texas Rising Star?
There are several steps to complete your program’s application for Texas Rising Star certification. All relevant documents for your program’s TRS application are in the tabs below. After you complete Steps 1-5, a representative from your local workforce development board will contact you to schedule your program’s assessment. Click here to view a diagram of the TRS certification process. TRS Certified Providers will have access to online professional development and child progress monitoring resources on CLI Engage, an e-learning platform, through a partnership between TWC and the Children’s Learning Institute at UTHealth. Learn more about the CLI Engage resources available to TRS Certified Providers.
- 1. Orientation
The Texas Rising Star Orientation can be found on the TRS Provider homepage. This orientation video includes an overview of the TRS program application process, an overview of the required and points-based measures on which a provider’s quality designation is rated, and finally, an introduction to the on-site assessment process through which TRS certification is attained. The Child Care Rules (809.133[a]) require all prospective TRS providers to view this orientation prior to submitting their applications.
- 2. TRS Interest Form
After reviewing the orientation video, a provider completes the Texas Rising Star Interest Form. This form collects basic information about the provider (facility address, Child Care licensing number, etc.) and submits it to the provider’s local workforce development Board. A provider can complete this interest form in order to inform the local Board of their interest in becoming a TRS certified provider.
- 3. TRS Self-Assessment Tools
The purpose of the TRS self-assessment tools is to provide applicants with a guided review of their programs to determine if they are ready to proceed with the full TRS Initial Certification Assessment. Two types of self-assessment tools can be completed: Facility (required) and Classroom (optional). The Facility Self-Assessment should be completed by the site owner/director and must be submitted with the application. A Classroom Self-Assessment is optional and can be completed by any lead teacher. These tools cover all TRS required and points-based quality measures on which the provider is rated in the Initial Certification Assessment. Copies of the self-assessment tools can be found below and in the TRS certification guidelines. TWC Child Care Rules require applicants to complete the TRS facility self-assessments. The facility self-assessment must be submitted with the TRS application and accompanying documents (see next step below).
- 4. TRS Application, TRS Screening, and Document Checklists
Each provider must complete the TRS application (below). Additionally, providers must complete the appropriate TRS screening form based on their program type (below) and the TRS Site Visit Form. Assessors will screen the provider for licensing deficiencies and corrective/adverse actions prior to the on-site assessment.
Finally, the provider 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 on-site assessment, but they do not have to be submitted with the application. A detailed list of these documents is compiled in the TRS Document Checklists (below). Two checklists are provided: one refers to measures that are required for certification at the 2-star level. The second checklist refers to measures that are points-based. Providers are not required to meet all the point-based measures. If the provider does not have the documentation on the checklist for a point-based measure, the assessor will not score that measure.
Providers are asked to submit a completed copy of each checklist with their application as an attestation that they will have the documents available on-site.
Note: Nationally accredited providers must submit a TRS application and licensing screening form; they do not have to submit the document checklists.
- 5. Submission of Application
Providers must submit the:
- TRS Application;
- TRS Site Data Form;
- Facility Self-Assessment (one per facility);
- TRS Provider Certification Screening Form; and
- Document Checklists;
These materials must be submitted to the local workforce development Board by the Board’s preferred method. Scroll down to view a table of local boards and their preferred submission method(s) and any related instructions.
After TRS staff receive the application package and confirm the provider’s eligibility, they will contact the provider within 20 calendar days to schedule the on-site Initial Certification Assessment.
Application Submission
Find your local workforce development board, and then learn how you can submit your TRS application to your local workforce development board.
| Board No. | Board Name | Application Submission Options | Mailing Address / Fax Number / Email Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Workforce Solutions Panhandle | Mail, Email | 1206 SW 7th Avenue Amarillo, Texas 79101 Email: trs@wspanhandle.com |
| 2 | Workforce Solutions South Plains | Mail only | 1301 Broadway, Ste. 201 Lubbock, Texas 79401 |
| 3 | Workforce Solutions North Texas | Mail, Email | 719 Scott Ave Ste 800 Wichita Falls, TX 76301-2612 Email: sharon.hulcy@ntxworksolutions.org |
| 4 | Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas | Mail only | PO Box 5888 Arlington, Texas 76005 |
| 5 | Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County | Mail, Fax, Email | 305 NE Loop 820 Hurst, Texas 76053 Fax: 817-222-1055 Email: terri.kilman@childcareassociates.org |
| 6 | Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas | Mail, Fax, Email | 1420 W. Mockingbird, Ste. 300 Dallas, Texas 75247 Fax: 214-905-2471 Email: providerinfo@ccgroup.org |
| 7 | Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas | Mail, Fax, Email | 911 N. Bishop, Bldg. A100 Wake Village, Texas 75501 Fax: 903-794-8012 Email: TRS@netxworks.org |
| 8 | Workforce Solutions East Texas | Mail only | 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, Texas 75662 |
| 9 | Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas | Mail, Fax, Email | 500 Chestnut Street, Ste. 1200 Abilene, Texas 79602 Fax: 325-795-4300 Email: trs@workforcesystem.org |
| 10 | Workforce Solutions Borderplex | Mail, Email | 300 E. Main Street, Ste. 800 El Paso, Texas 79901 Email: Vera.Olivas@borderplexjobs.com |
| 11 | Workforce Solutions Permian Basin | Email only | Email: pattie.stewart@workforcepb.org |
| 12 | Workforce Solutions Concho Valley | Mail only | 202 Henry O. Flipper Street San Angelo, TX 76903 |
| 13 | Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas | Mail only | 1416 S. New Road Waco, Texas 76711 |
| 14 | Workforce Solutions Capital Area | Mail, Fax, Email | 6505 Airport Blvd, Ste. 101-C Austin, Texas 78752 Fax: 512-597-7192 Email: wfs.trs@wfscapitalarea.com |
| 15 | Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area | Mail only | 1101 Arrow Point Dr, Ste. 203 Cedar Park, Texas 78613 |
| 16 | Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley | Mail, Email | PO Drawer 4128 Bryan, Texas 77805 Email: txrisingstarbrazosvalley@bvcog.org |
| 17 | Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas | Mail only | 539 South Chestnut Drive, Ste. 300 Lufkin, Texas 75901 |
| 18 | Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas | Mail/Drop off in person, Email | 304 Pearl Street, Ste. 300 Beaumont, Texas 77701 Email: mary.hammon@setworks.org |
| 19 | Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent | Mail only | 120 S. Main, Ste. 501 Victoria, Texas 77902 |
| 20 | Workforce Solutions Alamo | Mail, Fax, Email | 100 N. Santa Rosa, Ste. 120 San Antonio, Texas 78207 Fax: 210-272-3292 Email: trs_providers@wsalamo.org |
| 21 | Workforce Solutions for South Texas | Mail only | 2389 E. Saunders Laredo, Texas 78041 |
| 22 | Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend | Mail only | 520 N. Staples Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 |
| 23 | Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley | Mail/Drop off in person, Fax, Email | 3101 W. Business 83 McAllen, Texas 78501 Fax: 1-866-867-8264 Email: trsappl@wfsolutions.org |
| 24 | Workforce Solutions Cameron | Mail, Email | 851 Old Alice Rd Brownsville, Texas 78520 Email: llugo@wfscameron.org |
| 25 | Workforce Solutions Texoma | Mail, Fax, Email | 5904 Texoma Parkway Sherman, Texas 75090 Fax: 903-957-7413 Email: julie.craig@wfstexoma.org |
| 26 | Workforce Solutions of Central Texas | Mail, Fax, Email | P.O. Box 450 200 North Main Belton, Texas 76513 Fax: 254-939-3207 Email: sherry0621@workforcelink.com |
| 27 | Workforce Solutions Middle Rio Grande | Mail only | PO Box 760 Uvalde, Texas 78802 |
| 28 | Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast | Mail, Email | 1111 N. Loop West, Ste. 600 Houston, Texas 77008 Email: trs.gulfcoast@wrksolutions.com |