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The Texas Child Care Market Rate Study and Child Care Cost of Quality Study provide information about child care prices and the costs of providing quality care across Texas. Findings from these annual studies help the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) make informed decisions about child care services for families and providers.
If you are a child care provider who was asked to participate in one or both of these studies, thank you for considering taking part. Your participation helps make sure the experiences of child care providers in your area are reflected in the study findings. This page answers common questions about the studies, what to expect if you participate, and how your responses will be used.
Participating in the Child Care Studies
How can you participate?
If you are selected to participate in either study, a research assistant from the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) will call you to complete the survey(s) over the phone. You will also receive an introductory leaflet letting you know that you were selected for that year’s study. Do not worry if you receive a phone call before you receive the leaflet. Sometimes leaflets get lost in the mail or are delayed. If you have questions, our research team will be happy to answer them when we call.
Why does my participation matter?
Only some child care providers are selected each year, so your response is important. By participating, you help make sure providers in your area are represented in statewide child care data. The information you share helps TWC and Local Workforce Development Boards better understand child care prices and the costs of providing quality care across Texas. This information supports decisions about child care services for families and providers.
Do I have to participate?
No. Participation in both studies is optional. However, your responses are very helpful because they contribute to a more accurate picture of child care prices and costs in your region of Texas. While you are not required to participate, your time and input are extremely valuable and greatly appreciated.
Can you mail/email me the survey?
Unfortunately, we cannot mail or email surveys at this time. All surveys are conducted via phone interviews to standardize the method of data collection. We are happy to arrange a time to complete the survey that works best for you. If you would like to review a sample of the questions ahead of time to prepare for the phone interview, you may view an overview of the survey questions here:
Who conducts this study?
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) contracts with researchers from the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing and the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources at The University of Texas at Austin to conduct the Child Care Market Rate and Cost of Quality Studies.
How long will the survey take?
The Child Care Market Rate Survey typically takes 5–10 minutes to complete. If you are also asked to participate in the Child Care Cost of Quality Survey, the interview may take 15–20 minutes. Survey length may vary depending on factors such as the number of children enrolled for home-based providers or the number of age groups served by child care centers.
Who will see my responses?
Your individual level responses will be kept confidential. They will never be shared with anyone outside of the research team.
Are my responses published?
Only aggregate data is published. We will not publish the responses of any individual childcare facility. All providers who complete the survey(s) will also receive, via mail or email, a copy of the published market rate results for their area in late summer.
How was my child care facility selected to be a part of this study?
Child care facilities are randomly selected each year from the public list of licensed and registered child care facilities provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Child Care Regulation department (HHSC CCR).
General Questions
What are the market rates for my area right now?
For information on market rates in your area, please contact your local workforce development board (LWDB).
Who do I call to get my subsidy payment rates raised?
All comments and inquiries regarding subsidy payment rates should be directed to your local workforce development board.
What is the Texas Rising Star Program?
The Texas Rising Star program is a quality rating and improvement system for Texas early childhood programs. Texas Rising Star offers three levels of quality certification (Two-Star, Three-Star, and Four-Star) to encourage child care and early learning programs to attain progressively higher levels of quality. These certification levels are tied to graduated enhanced payment rates for children receiving child care scholarships. All Child Care Services (CCS) regulated providers are now required to participate in Texas Rising Star. New CCS providers and current CCS providers who are not Texas Rising Star certified must meet the minimum quality standards to receive Entry Level Designation as part of the certification process.
Accreditation
What does accreditation mean?
Accredited homes and centers voluntarily measure up to national standards of quality that have been established by national childcare organizations. Programs that are accredited have gone beyond minimum licensing standards and have made a commitment to provide the kind of care, attention, and stimulating activities that children require.
Examples of Center-Based Accreditations:
• NAEYC – National Association for the Education of Young Children
• NECPA – National Early Childhood Program Accreditation
• NAC – National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs
• COA – Council on Accreditation
• Cognia Accreditation (Formerly AdvancED Quality Early Learning Standards, QELS)
• Montessori Accreditation (AMS or AMI)
• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
Example of a Home-Based Accreditation:
• NAFCC – National Association for Family Child Care