Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers

Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers

Child Care Regulation

Texas Health and Human Services Commission October 2021

Revised: 11/10/2021

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ................................................................................... 2

Introduction ........................................................................................... 5 Minimum Standards ............................................................................5 Deficiencies........................................................................................ 5 Weights ............................................................................................. 5 Maintaining Compliance .......................................................................6 The Inspection....................................................................................6 Technical Assistance............................................................................7 Investigations ...................................................................................7 Your Rights and Entitlements ................................................................8 For Further Information .......................................................................8

Subchapter A, Purpose, Scope, and Definitions .................................... 10 Division 1, Purpose ........................................................................... 10 Division 2, Scope .............................................................................. 10 Division 3, Definitions ........................................................................ 11

Subchapter B, Administration and Communication ............................... 20 Division 1, Permit Holder Responsibilities .............................................. 20 Division 2, Required Notifications......................................................... 24 Division 3, Required Postings .............................................................. 31 Division 4, Operational Policies ............................................................ 33

Subchapter C, Record Keeping.............................................................. 39 Division 1, Records of Children ............................................................ 39 Division 2, Records of Accidents and Incidents ....................................... 48 Division 3, Records That Must be kept on File at the Child-Care Center ...... 51 Division 4, Personnel Records ............................................................. 55

Subchapter D, Personnel ...................................................................... 57 Division 1, Child-Care Center Director .................................................. 57 Division 2, Child-Care Center Employees and Caregivers ......................... 72 Division 3, General Responsibilities for Child-Care Center Personnel .......... 75 Division 4, Professional Development ................................................... 78 Division 5, Substitutes, Volunteers, and Contractors ............................... 95

Subchapter E, Child/Caregiver Ratios and Group Sizes ........................ 97 Division 1, Ratios and Group Sizes at the Child-Care Center..................... 97 Division 2, Classroom Ratios and Group Sizes for Centers Licensed To Care for 13 or More Children ............................................................... 100 Division 3, Classroom Ratios and Group Sizes for Centers When 12 or Fewer Children are in Care .................................................................... 107 Division 4, Ratios for Field Trips ........................................................ 111 Division 5, Ratios for the Get-Well Care Program.................................. 113 Division 6, Ratios for Nighttime Care .................................................. 115 Division 7, Ratios for Water Activities ................................................. 115

Revised: 11/10/2021

Subchapter F, Developmental Activities and Activity Plan .................. 120

Subchapter H, Basic Care Requirements for Infants ........................... 127

Subchapter I, Basic Care Requirements for Toddlers.......................... 144

Subchapter J, Basic Care Requirements for Pre-Kindergarten Age Children ......................................................................................... 148

Subchapter K, Basic Care Requirements for School-age Children ....... 152

Subchapter L, Discipline and Guidance ............................................... 156

Subchapter M, Naptime ...................................................................... 159

Subchapter N, Field Trips ................................................................... 162

Subchapter O, Get-Well Care Program................................................ 164

Subchapter P, Nighttime Care ............................................................ 171

Subchapter Q, Nutrition and Food Service .......................................... 174

Subchapter R, Health Practices .......................................................... 183 Division 1, Environmental Health ....................................................... 183 Division 2, Diaper Changing .............................................................. 194 Division 3, Illness and Injury ............................................................ 197

Subchapter S, Safety Practices ........................................................... 205 Division 1, Safety Precautions ........................................................... 205 Division 2, Medication and Medical Assistance...................................... 209 Division 3, Animals at the Child-Care Center........................................ 213 Division 4, First-Aid Kits ................................................................... 215 Division 5, Release of Children .......................................................... 217 Division 6, Product Safety ................................................................ 218

Subchapter T, Physical Facilities ........................................................ 220 Division 1, Indoor Space Requirements............................................... 220 Division 2, Outdoor Space Requirements ............................................ 224 Division 3, Toilets and Sinks ............................................................. 228 Division 4, Furniture and Equipment .................................................. 232

Subchapter U, Indoor and Outdoor Active Play Space and Equipment 236 Division 1, Minimum Safety Requirements........................................... 236 Division 2, Swings........................................................................... 240 Division 3, Maintenance ................................................................... 242 Division 4, Use Zones ...................................................................... 243 Division 5, Surfacing ....................................................................... 247 Division 6, Soft Contained Play Equipment .......................................... 250 Division 7, Inflatables ...................................................................... 252

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Subchapter V, Swimming Pools, Wading/Splashing Pools, and Sprinkler Play................................................................................................ 253

Subchapter W, Fire Safety and Emergency Practices .......................... 257 Division 1, Fire Inspection ................................................................ 257 Division 2, Emergency Preparedness .................................................. 258 Division 3, Fire Extinguishing and Smoke Detection Systems.................. 263 Division 4, Gas and Propane Tanks .................................................... 267 Division 5, Heating Devices .............................................................. 268 Division 6, Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems .................................. 269

Subchapter X, Transportation............................................................. 272 Appendix I: Definitions....................................................................... 281 Appendix II, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases ....................................... 286

Revised: 11/10/2021

Introduction

Minimum Standards

The minimum standards tell you (the child care operation permit holder) what requirements you, your employees, and your caregivers must follow.

These minimum standards:

were developed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with the assistance of child-care operations, parents, stakeholders, and other experts in a variety of fields;

reflect what the citizens of Texas consider reasonable and minimum; and meet the guidelines set forth in Chapter 42 of the Texas Human Resources Code (law) for

what must be included in the minimum standards.

The Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act requires that proposed minimum standards be published for public comment before they are adopted as rules. All members of the public, including providers, are encouraged to provide input when proposed minimum standards are published for public comment. The commission considers recommendations from interested persons or groups in formulating the final draft, which is filed as rules with the Secretary of State.

Deficiencies

A deficiency is any failure to comply with a minimum standard, rule in Texas Administrative Code Chapter 745, law, specific term of the permit, or specific condition of probation or suspension.

Weights

The minimum standards and rules are weighted based on a common understanding of the risk to children presented if the standard or rule is violated. The weights are high, medium-high, medium, medium-low, and low. The assigned weights do not change based on the scope or severity of an actual deficiency. Scope and severity are assessed by Child Care Regulation (CCR) staff, documented, and considered in conjunction with the weight when making CCR decisions. You will see the weight is noted at the end of each standard or subsection in green. Only those minimum standards and rules which can be cited as a deficiency are weighted. For example, the minimum standard prohibiting physical discipline is weighed but standards that are definitions are not weighted.

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Maintaining Compliance

It is essential that you, your employees, and your caregivers recognize four critical aspects of CCR's efforts to protect the children in care and to help operation employees and caregivers comply with the law, rules, and standards. The four aspects are:

Inspection Technical assistance Investigations Caregiver's rights and entitlements

The Inspection

Various aspects of regulated operations are evaluated for compliance with the minimum standards, rules, and law during regular inspections. The emphasis on these inspections is to prevent risk to children in care. The frequency of inspections will fluctuate depending on the type of permit and the operation's history of compliance with the minimum standards, rules, and law. During any inspection, if we find that your operation does not meet minimum standard, rule, or law, the deficiencies are discussed with the person in charge at the time of the inspection. You will be given an opportunity to correct deficiencies within a specified period of time. If you have questions, concerns, or disagree with the citation, we encourage you to talk with us before we leave your operation. If your concerns are not resolved, you may request an administrative review.

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Technical Assistance

We are available to offer consultation to potential applicants, applicants, and permit holders regarding how to comply with minimum standards, rules, and laws. While we most often provide technical assistance during inspections and investigations, technical assistance can be requested at any time. The Child Care Regulation section of the HHSC website has a Technical Assistance Library that allows you to view or download information about a variety of topics related to child care. You can view it by going to and selecting Technical Assistance Library from the Resources section. A feature of the minimum standards publication is the Helpful Information boxes following certain minimum standards that provide additional guidance, clarification, resources, and/or best practices.

Investigations

When a report alleges a violation of minimum standards, rule, or law, CCR must investigate the report, notify you of the investigation, and provide a written report to you of the investigation results within prescribed time frames. When a report alleges abuse, neglect, or exploitation, the Department of Family and Protective Services must investigate the report, notify you of the investigation, and provide a written report to you of the investigation results within prescribed time frames.

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Your Rights and Entitlements

Waivers and Variances

You may request a waiver if your operation is unable to comply with a standard for economic reasons. You may request a variance if your operation wishes to meet the intent of a standard in a way that is different from what the standard specifies. Waiver and variance requests are submitted through your online provider account or made in writing to your assigned CCR inspector.

Administrative Review

If you disagree with a CCR decision or action, you may request an administrative review, during which you are given an opportunity to show compliance with applicable minimum standard, rule, law, action, permit restriction(s) and/or permit condition(s).

Appeals

You may request an appeal hearing on a CCR decision to deny an application, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a permit or a condition placed on the permit after initial issuance. Appeal hearings are conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).

For Further Information

It is important that you, your employees, and your caregivers clearly understand the purpose of minimum standards and the reasons for CCR's inspections and investigations. Do not hesitate to ask us questions that will help you understand any aspect of our regulation. You may obtain information about minimum standards or procedures by calling your local CCR office or by visiting the HHSC Website at .

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Revised: 11/10/2021

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