Offering Child Care Services

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) conducts a Market Rate Survey and issues a Cost of Quality Report annually. Market rates are estimated using survey data and TWC data from providers. Base rates are set at the higher of the 75th percentile of the local market rate, or at the baseline cost to meet minimum standards based on the Cost of Quality Report. The 75th percentile means that 75 percent of providers charge less than that rate, and 25 percent charge more.

View current and prior Market Rate Surveys and Cost of Quality Reports on the University of Texas at Austin Texas’s Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing School of Social Work’s Child Care Studies website.

CCS providers may be eligible for higher than base rates for:

• achieving a Texas Rising Star certification level;
• offering care during nontraditional hours (after hours, on weekends, or both); and
• serving children with disabilities who require specific accommodations (inclusion).

Regardless of the base rate and any eligible enhancements, providers whose published rate is below TWC’s rate, will be paid at the lower provider published rate. The published rate is the rate providers generally charge private pay families.

CCS providers are paid prospectively every two weeks. View the most current provider payment rates, payment schedule, and more on the CCS Forms for Providers webpage.

Providers must first submit a Texas Rising Star Interest Form and then sign a Provider Agreement with their Board to become a CCS provider. New CCS providers must also attend a program orientation. 

To apply to become a CCS provider, submit your Texas Rising Star Interest Form and reach out to your Local Workforce Solutions Office. 

CCS providers must comply with all terms in the Provider Agreement. These terms may include, but are not limited to, requiring providers to:

•    meet eligibility requirements (HHSC CCR minimum standards);
•    submit all required documentation;
•    participate in the Texas Rising Star program;
•    follow attendance reporting and tracking requirements; and
•    notify your Board of business-related changes within a specified number of days.

Don’t forget-we want you to succeed. Your Local Workforce Solutions Office is here to support you and answer questions along the way. 

The CCS program is based on parent choice. Parents may select any provider with an active agreement to accept CCS participants. Parents can search for available child care spots at CCS providers in the Texas Child Care Connection (TX3C) Availability Portal. You can help parents find and choose your program by keeping information about your available openings in the portal up to date. 

Providers who need resources and KinderSystems support can visit the support website.