High-quality early learning is critically important to a child’s growth and development. At Collaborative for Children, we created our own set of quality indicators for licensed or registered child care home providers in our area. Based on information provided by the child care providers, we assign a rating of Excellent, Good or Minimal in the following areas, and based on the criteria listed below.
This category refers to the education of the child care home provider.
Excellent: The licensed or registered child care home provider has a Child Development Associate credential, a Certified Child Care Professional credential, Montessori certification or an Associate or Baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
Good: The licensed or registered child care home provider has six hours of completed college credits in courses related to early childhood education and child development or a certification such as a Director’s credential.
Minimal: The licensed or registered child care home provider meets the requirements for Education in the Texas Minimum Standard Rules established by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (currently a high school diploma or equivalent and 30 clock hours of training annually).
This category refers to the length of experience a home provider has in caring for children.
Excellent: The home provider has 10 or more years of experience caring for children in a regulated child care program (licensed child care center, licensed or registered home or church-regulated child care setting, i.e., Mother’s Day Out program).
Good: The home provider has more than five but less than 10 years of experience caring for children in a regulated child care program.
Minimal: The home provider has less than five years of experience caring for children in a regulated child care program.
This category refers to the relevant tools, programs and activities the home provider uses in his or her business, as well as professional memberships.
Excellent: The home provider offers seven or more of the following: Family Child Care Home Association membership; parent handbook; parent conferences; written daily reports; family events; newsletters; nutrition program participation; professional early education organization membership; participation in an Early Care and Education Quality Improvement project.
Good: The home provider offers four to six of the following: Family Child Care Home Association membership; parent handbook; parent conferences; written daily reports; family events; newsletters; nutrition program participation; professional early education organization membership; participation in an Early Care and Education Quality Improvement project.
Minimal: The home provider offers three or fewer of the following: Family Child Care Home Association membership; parent handbook; parent conferences; written daily reports; family events; newsletters; nutrition program participation; professional early education organization membership; participation in an Early Care and Education Quality Improvement project.
Other Important Factors to Consider When Selecting a Child Care Home Provider:
Fewer children in care enables the licensed or registered child care provider to offer more individualized care and attention.
Texas Minimum Standard Rules require licensed and registered child care home providers to ensure the following:
Texas Minimum Standard Rules require licensed and registered child care home providers to offer the following:
Texas Minimum Standard Rules require licensed or registered child care home providers to offer specific learning opportunities for infants through school-age children. The following are some of the requirements:
