WD Letter 27-14 - Texas Workforce Commission

TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION LETTER
ID/No:
Date:
Keyword:
Effective:
WD 27-14
September 23, 2014
Child Care; TWIST
November 23, 2014
To:
Local Workforce Development Board Executive Directors
Commission Executive Offices
Integrated Service Area Managers
From:
Reagan Miller, Director, Workforce Development Division
Subject:
Texas Rising Star Provider Certification for Nationally Accredited
Child Care Providers and Providers Regulated by the US Military
PURPOSE:
To provide Local Workforce Development Boards (Boards) with information and
guidance on Texas Rising Star (TRS) provider certification for nationally
accredited child care providers and providers regulated by the United States (US)
military.
BACKGROUND:
The TRS Provider Certification Guidelines state the following:
Child care providers who are regulated by the military or who have attained
one of the following national accreditations may be certified as a TRS
Provider without going through the TRS Provider assessment process and are
initially enrolled as a Four-Star or fully certified provider:
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• National Early Childhood Program Accreditation
• National Accreditation Commission for Early Child Care and Education
Program
• Association of Christian Schools International
• National Association of Family Child Care
• National AfterSchool Association
Detailed information on the TRS application and certification process for child
care providers that are nationally accredited or regulated by the US military is on
page 11 of the TRS Provider Certification Guidelines at
http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/childcare/provcert.pdf.
WD Letter 08-14, issued April 10, 2014, and entitled “Texas Rising Star Provider
Certification—Update” sets forth the minimum child care licensing requirements
for all child care providers applying to or being recertified for the TRS program.
PROCEDURES:
Boards must be aware that the enhanced rates in the Texas Workforce
Commission’s Child Care Services rule §809.20(b) are only available to
nationally accredited providers and providers regulated by the US military that are
certified as TRS providers using the certification process described on page 11 of
the TRS Provider Certification Guidelines.
Boards must ensure that the TRS provider certification screening process set forth
in WD Letter 08-14 is conducted for nationally accredited child care providers
prior to initial TRS provider certification, and at each recertification.
Boards must be aware of the following:
• A nationally accredited child care provider cannot receive TRS program
certification if the provider does not meet the minimum child care licensing
requirements set forth in WD Letter 08-14; and
• Child care providers regulated by the US military are exempt from child care
licensing and, therefore, exempt from the prescreening requirements set forth
in WD Letter 08-14.
Boards must ensure that, following the determination that a nationally accredited
child care provider meets the minimum child care licensing requirements in WD
Letter 08-14, the provider follows the certification process for nationally
accredited child care providers set forth in the TRS Provider Certification
Guidelines at http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/childcare/provcert.pdf.
Boards must ensure that providers:
• are in good standing with the national accrediting organization or the US
military;
• receive a TRS Provider Certification Application including:
 the TRS provider certification criteria;
 related policies and procedures applicable to provider type; and
 a copy of the TRS assessment form used to assess the facility;
• complete the TRS Provider Certification Application; and
• sign the required assurances.
NLF
NLF
NLF
NLF
NLF
Boards must be aware that the TRS provider certification process does not require
nationally accredited providers or providers regulated by the US military to be
assessed on the TRS criteria.
NLF
However, Boards must ensure that the monitoring requirements set forth in the
TRS Provider Certification Guidelines and in WD Letter 22-08, issued June 24,
2008, and entitled “Updates to the Texas Rising Star Provider Certification
NLF
WD Letter 27-14
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Guidelines” are enforced for nationally accredited providers and providers
regulated by the US military. Monitoring must include:
• ensuring the provider is in good standing with the national accrediting
organization or the US military; and
• completion of the TRS provider certification screening process set forth in
WD Letter 08-14.
Nationally Accredited Providers in TWIST
Boards must ensure that nationally accredited child care providers certified as
TRS providers are designated under the Provider tab in The Workforce
Information System of Texas (TWIST) with the following:
• 6—TRS 4-Star (for centers); or
• 8—TRS Fully Certified (for homes); and
• 9—National Accreditation.
If a nationally accredited child care provider does not meet the requirements of
TRS certification, Boards must ensure that the provider is designated under the
Provider tab in TWIST only with 9—National Accreditation.
NLF
NLF
US Military Providers in TWIST
Boards also must ensure that child care providers regulated by the US military
and certified as TRS providers are designated under the Provider tab in TWIST
with 6—TRS 4-Star.
Boards must be aware that the enhanced rate will only be applied to providers
designated in TWIST as TRS-certified providers.
INQUIRIES:
Direct inquiries regarding this WD Letter to [email protected].
RESCISSIONS:
None
________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCE:
Texas Workforce Commission Child Care Services Rules: 40 TAC, Chapter 809
Texas Rising Star Provider Certification Guidelines,
http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/childcare/provcert.pdf
WD Letter 08-14, issued April 10, 2014, and entitled “Texas Rising Star Provider Certification—
Update”
WD Letter 22-08, issued June 24, 2008, and entitled “Updates to the Texas Rising Star Provider
Certification Guidelines”
FLEXIBILITY RATINGS:
No Local Flexibility (NLF): This rating indicates that Boards must comply with the federal and
state laws, rules, policies, and required procedures set forth in this WD Letter and have no local
flexibility in determining whether and/or how to comply. All information with an NLF rating is
indicated by “must” or “shall.”
WD Letter 27-14
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NLF
Local Flexibility (LF): This rating indicates that Boards have local flexibility in determining
whether and/or how to implement guidance or recommended practices set forth in this WD Letter.
All information with an LF rating is indicated by “may” or “recommend.”
WD Letter 27-14
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