7.1 Quality Activities Needs Assessment

7.1.1 Needs assessment process and findings a. Describe the Lead Agency needs assessment process for expending CCDF funds on activities to improve the quality of child care, including the frequency of assessment, how a range of parents and providers were consulted, and how their views are incorporated: Local Quality Activities and Needs Assessments Four percent of Boards’ annual CCDF allocation is set aside for local activities that improve the quality of child care. To support Boards in their use of these funds, TWC issued the Child Care Quality Strategic Planning & Expenditures Guide. The guide helps Boards plan, execute, evaluate, and report on activities that are both allowable and impactful and to provide a framework and support for strategic, data-driven decision-making and program design. To support their design of local quality improvement activities, many Boards conduct local needs assessments. The scope and frequency of these assessments vary by Board area. Boards are required to submit an annual plan as well as quarterly reports to TWC for their quality activities, and TWC in turn publishes this information regularly on its website. CC&EL staff regularly assesses local quality activities and collaborates with Boards to understand the needs they seek to address with their child care quality funds. Statewide Survey and Stakeholder Meetings TWC conducted a statewide survey and stakeholder input meetings during the State Plan development. TWC’s 2025-2027 CCDF State Plan Stakeholder Survey was available via Survey Monkey from January 15, 2024, to February 12, 2024 in English and Spanish. The survey was posted to the TWC website and widely distributed to child care providers, parents, Boards, advocacy groups, community organizations, and employers. TWC received 5,481 responses from the following: 2,750 child care providers; 2,193 parents; 115 Board staff members; 288 Early childhood care and education stakeholders; and 135 Employers. TWC analyzed survey results and used the data and comments to inform the development of the CCDF State Plan and quality improvement for the CCS program. Texas Rising Star Stakeholder Input State statute (Government Code §2308.3155) requires that TWC conduct a regular review of the Texas Rising Star program standards. Pursuant to CCS rule §809.130(e), TWC must conduct a review of the Texas Rising Star Guidelines every four years and the review must consider input from stakeholders and must include at least one public hearing. During the four-year review, TWC convenes a workgroup comprised of child care providers, Board representatives, state agency staff, and other child care stakeholders. The most recent four-year review began in July 2023. The workgroup met regularly for several months to develop a set of recommendations. TWC presented the workgroup’s recommendations during the stakeholder meetings held in February 2024 (as described above), soliciting the public’s input on the recommendations. TWC will consider this input in the development of the final proposed rule amendments, and in the updates to the Texas Rising Star Guidelines. The public will also have an additional opportunity to comment on the draft revisions to the guidelines and the proposed rule amendments arising from the recommendations. TWC has the following goals for high-quality, subsidized child care in Texas: Improve child care services by assisting child care providers in achieving quality standards such as Texas Rising Star certification and national accreditation Increase access to quality child care for families by increasing the number of Texas Rising Star-certified and nationally accredited facilities; and Improve the quality of teacher-child interactions and learning environments by increasing professional development opportunities for child care and Pre-K teachers who work in early childhood education. Each month, TWC tracks the number and percent of the following for each level of Texas Rising Star: Subsidized providers participating in Texas Rising Star; Subsidized children in Texas Rising Star-certified provider care; Texas Rising Star providers as a share of regulated providers; and Texas Rising Star providers by provider type (center-based, registered home, and licensed home). This and other data can be found at the Child Care by the Numbers webpage at https://ccbn.twc.texas.gov/childcarenumbers/Texas_Statewide_System_monthly.html. Statewide Early Childhood System Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan As part of the PDG B-5 Renewal Grant, TWC contracted with University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health to conduct the 2023 Early Childhood System Needs Assessment in Texas. This builds upon the 2019 needs assessment conducted by the TELC. For the 2023 needs assessment, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston consulted with state agencies (TWC, TEA, HHSC, DFPS and DSHS) and surveyed early childhood care and education providers and parents. The results of this needs assessment, along with additional input from the TELC members, parents, and early childhood care and education providers, fed into the Texas Early Learning Strategic Plan 2024-2026. The Texas early learning system, including state agencies and organizations supporting young children, set the following four goals to meet its vision that every young child in Texas has the resources to build resiliency, adaptability, and autonomy to succeed: Goal 1: Families can easily meet their basic needs and access the early learning services, programs, and resources they need, and are meaningfully engaged to provide feedback on services. Goal 2: The early learning workforce is well paid, trained and supported; can reach and obtain the professional development resources they need throughout their careers; and is large enough to meet Texans’ needs. Goal 3: Local early learning systems are well-coordinated, appropriately resourced, and successfully support the children and families in their communities. Goal 4: State early learning system entities are collaborating to make family and data informed decisions to improve services, programs and resources for children and their families. b. Describe the findings of the assessment, including any findings related to needs of different populations and types of providers, and if any overarching goals for quality improvement were identified: Statewide Survey and Stakeholder Meetings: Findings Through the 2025-2027 CCDF State Plan Stakeholder Survey and public stakeholder meetings TWC held, parents and early childhood programs across the state expressed their interest in TWC’s policies and programs regarding: Texas Rising Star; PKPs; Child Care for Children with Disabilities or Specials Needs; Statewide FCCN; Capacity Expansion; Employer Child Care Solutions; Business Coaching; Family Engagement; and Work-Based Learning Initiatives. TWC will use this data to inform policy development and investments in quality improvement activities. Texas Rising Star Stakeholder Input: Findings Stakeholder-driven program revisions were presented to the Commission in April 2024 and are expected to be implemented effective September 1, 2024. Some proposed revisions are as follows: Revising the Initial and Certified Screening Form for consistency and reducing of barriers to certification; Removing duplicative measures that are captured within CCR or other Texas Rising Star measures; Revising measures to support consistency in scoring and provide scoring clarification; Revising facility change protocols for certified programs to minimize financial impacts; and Adding new measures to focus on high quality child progress monitoring and workforce registry participation. The next four-year review will be slated for Summer of 2027. Statewide Early Childhood System Needs Assessment: Findings The Texas Early Learning Strategic Plan 2024-2026, informed by the 2023 Early Childhood System Needs Assessment in Texas, sets four goals to meet its vision that every young child in Texas has the resources to build resiliency, adaptability, and autonomy to succeed. Each goal includes strategies, actions, and measures of success. Below are selected actions and measures that pertain to improving the accessibility and quality of child care. Goal 1: Families can easily meet their basic needs and access the early learning services, programs, and resources they need, and are meaningfully engaged to provide feedback on services. Action 1.1.1 TEA, THSSCO, and TWC will simplify application practices by launching a common eligibility screener. Measure: Common eligibility screener is published. Action 1.2.5 TWC will continue funding Child Care Navigators at HHSC Child Care Regulation to increase high-quality child care provider access in Texas. Measure: Increase of 4,500 Texas Rising Star Providers in FFY 2024-2026. Action 1.2.7 TWC will provide technical assistance to Texas employers to examine the child care needs of their employees, including strategies to increase the supply of available child care. Measure: 100 Texas employers have received child care-related technical assistance by the end of 2026. Goal 2: The early learning workforce is well-paid, trained and supported; can reach and obtain the professional development resources they need throughout their careers; and is large enough to meet Texans’ needs. Action 2.3.1 TWC and TEA will connect high schools throughout the state to child care providers and offer work-based learning opportunities to students. Measure: TWC and TEA have identified target numbers of high schools and child care provider connections to promote work-based learning opportunities to students by the end of 2024. Action 2.3.2 TWC will conduct and publish a landscape analysis of Institutions of Higher Education offering early childhood degrees and local educational agencies offering Early Learning CTE programs of study. Measure: An early childhood degree and program landscape analysis report has been published by the end of 2026. Action 2.3.3 TWC will publish guidance resulting from work sessions with Institutions of Higher Education on credit transfer. Measure: Guidance on credit transfer has been published by the end of 2026. Action 2.3.4 TWC, through the 28 Boards, will assist early childhood programs by providing workforce development expertise and support, including job matching and employer supports. Measure: TWC has provided early learning-related guidance and support to all 28 Boards in FFY 2024-2026. Action 2.4.2 TWC will continue to offer child care business training and coaching and training about evidence-based staff retention strategies. Measure: 210 child care providers have received child care business training about evidence-based staff retention strategies by the end of 2026. Action 2.4.7 TWC and TEA will offer trainings for early learning professionals to address challenging behaviors, children with special health care needs, and child development and brain development. Training topics include restorative discipline, teacher-student interactions, and inclusive practices. Measure: TWC and TEA have offered 30 trainings to early learning professionals to address challenging behaviors, children with special health care needs, and child development and brain development by the end of 2026. Goal 3: Local early learning systems are well-coordinated, appropriately resourced, and successfully support the children and families in their communities. Action 3.1.2 TWC and TEA will continue to support statewide staff working towards pre- kindergarten and child care partnerships. Measure: 300 TWC-supported Pre-K and child care partnerships have been formed in the years 2024-2026. Action 3.1.6 TWC will explore how Boards can partner with their city, county, school district, and business leaders to support child care. No corresponding measure. Goal 4: State early learning system entities are collaborating to make family- and data- informed decisions to improve services, programs and resources for children and their families. Action 4.3.1 TEA, THSSCO and TWC will streamline early learning program eligibility screening and applications by developing a mechanism to notify families of other service and program eligibility. No corresponding measure. Action 4.3.4 TEA, THSSCO and TWC will explore streamlining early learning program eligibility screening and applications to reduce redundancy in program applications. No corresponding measure.