Child Care Services program

Child Care Services program is sponsored by Texas Workforce Commission. This program provides financial assistance to Texas families who meet income requirements to afford child care services. It also works to improve and expand child care services across the state.

Child Care & Early Learning Program - Texas Workforce Commission Child Care & Early Learning Program TWC manages the Child Care Services (CCS) program with funding from the federal Child Care and Development Fund. The CCS program helps low-income Texas families pay for child care through scholarships. CCS also supports the quality of child care across the state.

Families can learn about CCS program eligibility requirements, copays, and how to apply on the Child care scholarships webpage of the Texas Child Care Connection website. Providers can learn how to serve families in the CCS program on the Offering child care services webpage of the Texas Child Care Connection website.

This webpage provides information on child care-related topics for employers, policymakers, researchers, and the general public. Topics include: TX3C – Child Care Case Management System Stakeholder Opportunities & Input Texas Child Care Connection One-stop-shop for families and for child care providers looking for information on Texas child care and related state services.

Learn more about the quality rating and improvement system for Texas child care programs that accept state subsidies. Quad Agency Child Care Initiative Cross-agency Commission working to improve child care access, quality, and affordability for Texas families. Learn more and share...

Employer Child Care Solutions Technical assistance services for employers interested in employer-based child care services. Child Care Data, Reports & Plans View and download Child Care & Early Learning plans, reports, and data. Pre-kindergarten Partnerships A pre-k partnership is a collaboration between a quality-rated child care provider, such as a Texas Rising Star Three- or Four...

TX3C – Child Care Case Management System TX3C is the child care case management system for TWC’s CCS program.

TX3C is made up of several modules: KinderBridge API: Application Programming Interface that allows provider to upload child attendance records to KinderConnect from providers’ third-party child care management systems KinderConnect: attendance tracking for CCS children and secure communication portal used by providers, CCS caseworkers, and enrolled parents KinderSign : tablet-based time/attendance app, used by child care providers for parents to record attendance KinderSmart: optional smartphone app used by parents to check children in/out of child care each day KinderTrack: eligibility, enrollment, and payment calculation functionality used by CCS caseworkers Parent Central: online portal where families can submit applications, recertification paperwork, and upload required documents Provider Central: online portal where providers can enter information about their programs, including available slots, to help families who are looking for child care Families, child care providers, and Local Workforce Solutions staff can access resources about TX3C at TX3C Child Care Case Management – TX3C Child Care Case Management – Information Site Families can apply for CCS on the Texas Child Care Connection website at https://www.

childcare. texas. gov/for-families/child-care-scholarships Update on TX3C August 26, 2026 Stakeholder Opportunities & Input Stakeholders can learn about policy and funding decisions by virtually attending Commission meetings.

The meetings also offer the public an opportunity to provide input. To view meetings, agendas, and materials, visit TWC Commission Meetings .

The Commission also works with staff to provide opportunities for: Child care and early learning stakeholders to offer input on the CCS program Texas Education Agency (TEA), school districts, charter schools, businesses, and the public to offer input on CCS and pre-K coordination Child care programs to offer input on making health and safety regulations more effective Child care programs to offer input on reducing burdens related to CCS program regulations while maintaining the goal of the regulation See TWC's Child Care Stakeholder Input Policy for more information.

Amendments to TWC’s Child Care Services Rules On September 1, 2026, the Commission adopted amendments to 40 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) CCS, to streamline certain rules, simplify Texas Rising Star parameters, and make programmatic improvements; and to review rules in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001. 039, previously published for public comment in the June 5, 2026 , issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 3777).

Amended Subchapters A through E (CCS) will be effective on October 1, 2026 . Amended Subchapter G (Texas Rising Star) will be effective on November 1, 2026 . Texas Early Childhood Inclusion Plan 2026-2030 Texas law requires the TEA, Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and TWC to work together to improve early education for children with disabilities or delays.

Based on feedback from families and educators statewide, these agencies created the Texas Early Childhood Inclusion Plan to guide this work over the next four years. Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) CCDF is authorized by the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG) and Section 418 of the Social Security Act and funds TWC's CCS program.

CCDF is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Care . TWC is the lead agency for CCDF in Texas.

The Texas State Legislature appropriates the majority of CCDF funds to TWC to: Provide direct child care services to eligible families Support the improvement of child care quality across the state TWC, in turn, allocates most of these dollars to the 28 Local Workforce Development Boards to oversee service delivery through Workforce Solutions Offices. Learn more about Budget & Allocations at TWC's Agency Reports webpage.

TWC uses a portion of CCDF funds for statewide initiatives to improve child care quality. TWC also provides funds to Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to administer Child Care Regulation (CCR). Laws, Regulation & Policy CCDF Final Regulations, Title 45 - Public Welfare Part 98 Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Part 20, Chapter 809 Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Part 20, §800.

58 Texas Child Care Regulation Minimum Standards Report Suspected Child Care Fraud Find your local Workforce Solutions offices in Texas .