1. (a) A Board shall ensure that providers receive orientation, technical assistance, and ongoing training to improve the quality of child care.
2. (b) A Board shall ensure that the quality of child care is improved by recognizing providers who voluntarily exceed the minimum regulatory standards set by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services by using the Texas Rising Star Provider criteria (formerly known as the Designated Vendor criteria) as established by the Commission.
3. (c) A Board shall ensure that the quality of child care is improved by using quality improvement activities including, but not limited to, the activities described in 45 Code of Federal Regulations §98.51, except the Boards may not provide loans.

4. (d) In addition to the Texas Rising Star Provider criteria, a Board may establish other voluntary criteria for improving quality and recognize providers that meet or exceed the voluntary standards for quality.

   1. (1) The quality improvement criteria may include, but are not limited to one or more of the following activities:

      1. (A) reducing group sizes;
      2. (B) improving health and safety conditions;
      3. (C) improving linkage to parents and community services; or
      4. (D) improving teacher training.
   2. (2) Boards may also choose to recognize professional accreditation as a means to improve quality.

Source Note:The provisions of this §809.15 adopted to be effective February 11, 1999, 24 TexReg 800; amended to be effective September 3, 2001, 26 TexReg 6724.