Eligibility

To qualify for Entry Level designation, a child care and early learning program must meet minimum quality standards. 

Entry Level designation is based on a program meeting the points threshold. This threshold is based on high- and medium-high-weighted Child Care Regulation (CCR) deficiencies received within the most recent six months of CCR licensing history.  

Entry Level-designated programs have 24 months to attain star-level certification. 

You can find more information on the eligibility requirements in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines.

Initial Certification Requirements 

All programs requesting initial Texas Rising Star certification must: 

• have an active Child Care Services (CCS) Provider Agreement with a Board;
• have a permanent (non-expiring) license or registration from CCR*;
• have at least 12 months of licensing history with CCR*;
• demonstrate a high level of compliance with CCR minimum standards* over the preceding six months in accordance with the Texas Rising Star Initial Screening Form; and
• ensure that a center director account is in the Workforce Registry (WFR) and that the director encourages their staff members to create individual accounts within the WFR.  

*Programs regulated by the US military and in good standing are also eligible to request Texas Rising Star certification. 

You can find more information on eligibility requirements in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines.

TWC expects Texas Rising Star programs to maintain a consistent and high level of minimum licensing standard compliance. 

Programs may face impacts to their Texas Rising Star certification if they obtain specific CCR licensing deficiencies or are placed on CCR corrective or adverse action within the last six-months. These impacts may include a star-level drop, probation, or suspension.

Specified deficiencies 

Deficiencies resulting in immediate impact include: 

• Criminal Convictions or Central Registry Findings;
• Background Check Requirement;
• Reporting Suspected Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation; and
• Responsibility of Caregivers—Ensure No Child is Abused, Neglected, or Exploited. 

You can find more information about CCR licensing impacts in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines. 

Programs with a TWC-recognized national accreditation may participate in Texas Rising Star and will receive a modified assessment. These programs are required to comply with the annual monitoring visit and recertification assessments. 

Texas Rising Star staff will verify each program’s national accreditation status at least annually. 

You can find more information in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines. 

TWC-recognized national accreditations 

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
• National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
• National Accreditation Commission for Early Child Care and Education (NAC)
• Council of Accreditation (COA)
• Cognia
• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
• Early Head Start and/or Head Start Programs (regulated by CCR offering wrap-around services)
• American Montessori Society (AMS)
• Association Montessori International/USA (AMI/USA)
• Middle States Association (MSA) 

Note: This list is subject to change.