Minimum Standards for Licensed and Registered Child-Care Homes Child Care Regulation Texas Health and Human Services Commission April 2021 1 Revised May 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 ............................................................................ 6 Investigations .................................................................................... 7 Your Rights and Entitlements ................................................................ 7 For Further Information ....................................................................... 8 Publication Updates ............................................................................. 8 Subchapter A, Purpose, Scope, and Definitions .................................... 10 Division 1, Purpose ........................................................................... 10 Division 2, Scope .............................................................................. 10 Division 3, Definitions ........................................................................ 13 Subchapter B, Administration and Communication ............................... 21 Division 1, Primary Caregiver Responsibilities ........................................ 21 Division 2, Required Notifications ......................................................... 26 Division 3, Required Postings .............................................................. 32 Division 4, Operational Policies ............................................................ 34 Subchapter C, Record Keeping.............................................................. 37 Division 1, Records of Children ............................................................ 37 Division 2, Records of Accidents and Incidents ....................................... 48 Division 3, Records that Must be Kept on File at the Child-Care Home........ 50 Division 4, Records on Caregivers and Household Members ...................... 53 Subchapter D, Personnel ...................................................................... 57 Division 1, Primary Caregiver Qualifications for a Registered Child-Care Home ................................................................................................. 57 Division 2, Primary Caregiver Qualifications for a Licensed Child-Care Home61 Division 3, Assistant and Substitute Caregivers ...................................... 73 Division 4, Professional Development ................................................... 77 Division 5, Household Members, Volunteers, and People who Offer Contracted Services ...................................................................................... 94 Division 6, General Responsibilities for Caregivers and Household Members 97 Subchapter E, Child/Caregiver Ratios and Group Sizes ........................ 99 Division 1, Determining Child/Caregiver Ratios and Group Sizes ............... 99 Division 2, Regular Ratios and Group Sizes in the Registered Child-Care Home ............................................................................................... 102 Division 3, Regular Ratios and Group Sizes in the Licensed Child-Care Home ............................................................................................... 104 2 Revised May 2021 Division 4, Ratios for Field Trips ........................................................ 108 Division 5, Ratios for Water Activities ................................................. 110 Subchapter F, Developmental Activities and Activity Plan .................. 115 Subchapter H, Basic Care Requirements for Infants ........................... 123 Subchapter I, Basic Care Requirements for Toddlers .......................... 137 Subchapter J, Basic Care Requirements for Pre-Kindergarten Age Children ......................................................................................... 141 Subchapter K, Basic Care Requirements for School-Age Children ....... 145 Subchapter L, Discipline and Guidance ............................................... 149 Subchapter M, Naptime ...................................................................... 152 Subchapter N, Field Trips ................................................................... 154 Subchapter P, Nighttime Care ............................................................ 156 Subchapter Q, Nutrition and Food Service .......................................... 159 Subchapter R, Health Practices .......................................................... 167 Division 1, Environmental Health ....................................................... 167 Division 2, Diaper Changing .............................................................. 177 Division 3, Illness and Injury ............................................................ 180 Subchapter S, Safety Practices ........................................................... 187 Division 1, Safety Precautions ........................................................... 187 Division 2, Medication and Medical Assistance ...................................... 191 Division 3, Animals at My Child-Care Home ......................................... 195 Division 4, First-Aid Kits ................................................................... 198 Division 5, Release of Children .......................................................... 200 Division 6, Product Safety ................................................................ 202 Subchapter T, Physical Facilities ........................................................ 204 Division 1, Indoor Space Requirements............................................... 204 Division 2, Outdoor Space Requirements ............................................ 208 Division 3, Toilets and Sinks ............................................................. 212 Division 4, Furniture and Equipment .................................................. 215 Subchapter U, Indoor and Outdoor Active Play Space and Equipment 218 Division 1, Minimum Safety Requirements ........................................... 218 Division 2, Swings ........................................................................... 222 Division 3, Playground Use Zones ...................................................... 224 Division 4, Playground Surfacing ....................................................... 228 Division 5, Inflatables ...................................................................... 230 Subchapter V, Swimming Pools, Wading/Splashing Pools, and Sprinkler Play................................................................................................ 231 3 Revised May 2021 Subchapter W, Fire Safety and Emergency Practices .......................... 235 Division 1, Fire Inspection ................................................................ 235 Division 2, Emergency Preparedness .................................................. 235 Division 3, Fire Extinguisher and Smoke Detection System .................... 241 Division 4, Gas and Propane Tanks .................................................... 244 Division 5, Heating Devices .............................................................. 245 Division 6, Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems .................................. 246 Subchapter X, Transportation ............................................................. 249 Appendix I: Definitions ....................................................................... 257 Appendix II, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases ....................................... 261 4 Revised May 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