Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers Compliant

Texas ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with Texas Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers regulations. Bloomily helps Texas childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Staff-to-Child Ratios

Required ratios for Texas licensed childcare facilities

Age Group	Staff : Children	Max Group Size	Regulation
Infants (0-12 months)	1:4	10 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC
Young Toddlers (12-24 months)	1:5	13 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC
Older Toddlers (24-36 months)	1:9	18 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC
two_year	1:11	22 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC
preschool_3	1:15	30 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC
preschool_4	1:18	35 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC
school_age_5 5-year-olds; ratio rises to 1:26 at age 6	1:22	35 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC
school_age_6plus Age 6 through 13; upper bound 156 months (13 years) per TX licensing scope	1:26	35 children	26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.1601 (caregiver:child ratios) and § 746.1609 (maximum group size), Subchapter E, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, Texas HHSC

Bloomily automatically monitors staff-to-child ratios in real-time and alerts you when you're approaching limits.

Required Certifications

Certifications required for Texas childcare staff

Annual Training (24 hours)

Texas 24-hour annual in-service training requirement

Renew annuallyDocument required

Background Check (Texas)

Texas DFPS background check clearance

Document required

First Aid

First Aid certification

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Food Handler Certificate

Texas food handler certification (if preparing food)

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Mandated Reporter Training

California mandated reporter training for child abuse

Document required

Pediatric CPR

CPR certification for infants and children

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Pre-Service Training (8 hours)

Texas 8-hour pre-service training for new employees

Document required

TB Test

Tuberculosis screening test

Renew annuallyDocument required

Bloomily tracks certification expiration dates and sends automated renewal reminders before they lapse.

Emergency Drill Requirements

Required safety drills for Texas childcare facilities

Required Drills

Fire Drill

Monthly

Children must be able to safely exit the building within 3 minutes

Ref: 26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.5205 (Subchapter W, Division 2, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers), Texas HHSC

Lockdown/Security

Quarterly

Lockdown drill for volatile or endangering person required at least 4 times per calendar year per § 746.5205

Ref: 26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.5205 (Subchapter W, Division 2, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers), Texas HHSC

Severe Weather

Quarterly

Sheltering drill required at least 4 times per calendar year per § 746.5205

Ref: 26 Tex. Admin. Code § 746.5205 (Subchapter W, Division 2, Chapter 746, Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers), Texas HHSC

Bloomily automatically schedules drills and tracks completion to ensure you never miss a requirement.

Texas Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers requirements • 45 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: §746.501

Permit capacity not exceeded

Ref: §746.1601

Operation within licensed hours

Ref: §746.501

Written operational policies available

Ref: §746.501

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: §746.501

Physical Environment

Indoor space meets minimum (30 sq ft per child)

Ref: §746.3403

Outdoor play area (80 sq ft per child)

Ref: §746.3503

Temperature maintained 65-85°F

Ref: §746.3407

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: §746.3409

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: §746.3501

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: §746.3501

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: §746.3413

Napping equipment clean and appropriate

Ref: §746.2409

Health Practices

Daily health checks performed

Ref: §746.3601

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: §746.3603

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: §746.3605

Medications stored and administered properly

Ref: §746.3801

First aid supplies stocked

Ref: §746.3701

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: §746.3601

Safety Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: §746.4801

Smoke detectors working

Ref: §746.4801

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: §746.4803

Fire/evacuation drills monthly

Ref: §746.4805

Severe weather drills quarterly

Ref: §746.4807

Emergency preparedness plan posted

Ref: §746.4801

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: §746.3509

Swimming pool secured (if applicable)

Ref: §746.3513

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: §746.4901

Staff Requirements

Background checks current for all staff

Ref: §745.601

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: §746.1015

CPR certification current (all caregivers)

Ref: §746.1309

First aid certification current

Ref: §746.1309

Annual training hours completed (24 hrs)

Ref: §746.1315

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: §746.1601

TB test results on file

Ref: §746.1201

Child Records

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: §746.601

Emergency contact information current

Ref: §746.601

Immunization records on file

Ref: §746.603

Health statements current

Ref: §746.605

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: §746.601

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: §746.605

Attendance records maintained

Ref: §746.607

Nutrition

Menus posted and followed

Ref: §746.3301

Food stored properly

Ref: §746.3303

Kitchen area clean and sanitary

Ref: §746.3305

This checklist is provided for reference only. Always verify requirements with your state licensing agency.

Pre-Inspection Checklist

45 items based on Texas Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers requirements

Licensing(5)Physical Environment(8)Health Practices(6)Safety Practices(9)Staff Requirements(7)Child Records(7)Nutrition(3)

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: §746.501

Licensing

Permit capacity not exceeded

Ref: §746.1601

Licensing

Operation within licensed hours

Ref: §746.501

Licensing

Written operational policies available

Ref: §746.501

Licensing

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: §746.501

Licensing

Indoor space meets minimum (30 sq ft per child)

Ref: §746.3403

Physical Environment

Outdoor play area (80 sq ft per child)

Ref: §746.3503

Physical Environment

Temperature maintained 65-85°F

Ref: §746.3407

Physical Environment

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: §746.3409

Physical Environment

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: §746.3501

Physical Environment

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: §746.3501

Physical Environment

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: §746.3413

Physical Environment

Napping equipment clean and appropriate

Ref: §746.2409

Physical Environment

Daily health checks performed

Ref: §746.3601

Health Practices

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: §746.3603

Health Practices

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: §746.3605

Health Practices

Medications stored and administered properly

Ref: §746.3801

Health Practices

First aid supplies stocked

Ref: §746.3701

Health Practices

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: §746.3601

Health Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: §746.4801

Safety Practices

Smoke detectors working

Ref: §746.4801

Safety Practices

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: §746.4803

Safety Practices

Fire/evacuation drills monthly

Ref: §746.4805

Safety Practices

Severe weather drills quarterly

Ref: §746.4807

Safety Practices

Emergency preparedness plan posted

Ref: §746.4801

Safety Practices

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: §746.3509

Safety Practices

Swimming pool secured (if applicable)

Ref: §746.3513

Safety Practices

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: §746.4901

Safety Practices

Background checks current for all staff

Ref: §745.601

Staff Requirements

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: §746.1015

Staff Requirements

CPR certification current (all caregivers)

Ref: §746.1309

Staff Requirements

First aid certification current

Ref: §746.1309

Staff Requirements

Annual training hours completed (24 hrs)

Ref: §746.1315

Staff Requirements

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: §746.1601

Staff Requirements

TB test results on file

Ref: §746.1201

Staff Requirements

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: §746.601

Child Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: §746.601

Child Records

Immunization records on file

Ref: §746.603

Child Records

Health statements current

Ref: §746.605

Child Records

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: §746.601

Child Records

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: §746.605

Child Records

Attendance records maintained

Ref: §746.607

Child Records

Menus posted and followed

Ref: §746.3301

Nutrition

Food stored properly

Ref: §746.3303

Nutrition

Kitchen area clean and sanitary

Ref: §746.3305

Nutrition

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Texas compliance and operations resources

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Nearby State Requirements

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Requirements vary by state. Click to view specific licensing requirements.

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