Texas Rising Star, explained for parents
Texas Rising Star is the state's voluntary quality rating for childcare programs. Kids Connect of Pasadena is a certified 2-Star program — here's exactly what that means for your family, in plain language.
What Texas Rising Star is
Texas Rising Star is the official quality rating and improvement system for child care in Texas, administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. Participation is voluntary — programs choose to be measured against standards that go beyond basic state licensing.
Independent assessors review the things that matter most: how teachers interact with children, the quality of the curriculum, staff qualifications and training, and the learning environment inside and out.
Every certified star exceeds the minimum
Texas Rising Star certifies programs at three levels. Certification at any level means a program has been independently reviewed and performs above the state's basic licensing requirements.
2-Star Certified
Independently assessed and exceeding Texas minimum licensing standards — with a structured plan for continuous improvement.
3-Star Certified
Meets a higher scoring threshold across teacher-child interaction, curriculum, and environment measures.
4-Star Certified
The program's highest certification level — and the summit we're climbing toward, one improvement at a time.
Being honest with families matters to us: we're a 2-Star program today, out of a possible 4 — certified, independently reviewed, and actively working with our Workforce Solutions mentors to keep rising.
What our certification means for you
- An outside assessor — not just us — has reviewed our quality
- Teacher-child interactions measured against state benchmarks
- A real curriculum, not just supervision
- Qualified staff with ongoing required training
- Required for CCS — so scholarship families can enroll with confidence
Texas Rising Star FAQ
Who runs the Texas Rising Star program?
Texas Rising Star is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) together with local Workforce Solutions boards. It's the state of Texas's official quality rating and improvement system for child care.
Is a 2-Star rating good?
Yes. Every certified program — 2, 3, or 4 stars — has been independently assessed and exceeds the state's minimum licensing standards. Most licensed centers in Texas hold no Texas Rising Star certification at all, so 2 stars already places us above baseline, with a clear path to climb.
What does the assessment actually measure?
Assessors review teacher-child interactions, curriculum and learning activities, staff qualifications and training, and the indoor and outdoor learning environments — all beyond what basic licensing inspections check.
Does Texas Rising Star matter for CCS families?
Yes. Providers participating in the Child Care Services (CCS) scholarship program are required to earn Texas Rising Star certification. Our certification is part of why we can proudly welcome CCS families.
Come judge our quality for yourself
Certifications tell part of the story — the rest is in our classrooms. Visit and see the difference.
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