Yes. The Early Childhood Eligibility Screener is for anyone who takes care of a child who may qualify.
Each program has different rules to qualify. Read more about rules for each program below.
Child Care Services (CCS)
A child may qualify for CCS if the child lives in Texas and is:
- either younger than 13 years old, or under 19 years old with a disability
- a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
AND one or more of the following applies to your household:
- Your family lives in Texas and:
- Meets the income limits (at or below 85% of the State Median Income); and
- Has less than $1 million in assets; and
- Needs child care so you can work, look for a job, go to school, or take part in job training
- Your family is experiencing homelessness
- The child has a deployed military parent, and the household meets the income limit
Visit Texas Workforce Commission’s Child Care Data, Reports & Plans webpage and scroll down to Income Limits and Parent Copays to learn more about income limits.
Early Head Start
A child may qualify for Early Head Start if the child is living in Texas and:
- between the ages of birth to age three and the child’s family is considered low income according to the federal Poverty Guidelines (To view the current poverty guidelines, visit the Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.)
- in foster care
- experiencing homelessness
- living with family receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI, or SNAP)
- A U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
Pregnant women may also be eligible for Early Head Start services.
Head Start programs may enroll families that have incomes above the poverty guidelines.
Head Start
A child may qualify for Head Start if the child lives in Texas and:
- between the ages of three to five and the child’s family is considered low income, according to the federal Poverty Guidelines (For the current poverty guidelines, view the Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.)
- in foster care
- experiencing homelessness
- living with family receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI, or SNAP)
- A U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
Head Start programs may enroll families that have incomes above the poverty guidelines.
Public Pre-k
A child may qualify for public pre-k if the child lives in Texas and:
- at least three years old on or before September 1 of the current school year (if a 3-year-old program is available) or
- four years old on or before September 1 of the current school year
- speaks a language other than English
- qualifies for free or reduced-price school lunch meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) (Learn more about the NSLP by visiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service website.)
- is experiencing homelessness
- currently or previously in foster care
- has a parent or guardian who:
- is active-duty military
- was injured or killed while serving in active duty military
- is a recipient of the Star of Texas Award
- is employed as a classroom teacher at a public primary or secondary school in the school district that offers a prekindergarten class
Contact your local school district if your child's birthday is close to September 1 (the school district deadline). Find your local school district by visiting the Texas Education Agency website.
Include all adults and children that live in the home. Each program has its own way of defining a household or family. You can read more about these definitions below.
Child Care Services (CCS)
Two or more people related by blood, marriage, or decree of court who are living in a home and at least one of the following:
- two individuals, married or by common-law, and household dependents
- a single parent and household dependents
A household dependent is a person living in the home who is one of the following:
- an adult considered as a dependent of the parent for income tax purposes
- the child of a teen parent
- a child or other minor living in the household who is the responsibility of the parent
Early Head Start
All people living in the same house who are:
- supported by the child’s parent(s)’ or guardian(s)’ income and
- are related to the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) by blood, marriage, or adoption
OR
- are the child’s authorized caregiver or legally responsible party
Head Start
All people living in the same house who are:
- supported by the child’s parent(s)’ or guardian(s)’ income and
- are related to the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) by blood, marriage, or adoption
OR
- are the child’s authorized caregiver or legally responsible party.
Public Pre-k
A group of people who are not residents of an institution or boarding house but are living as one economic unit. This means they usually live in the same house and share expenses such as rent, utilities and food.
You may choose to count your unborn child in the household count. Eligibility for programs will depend on the number of people in your household when services start.
Provide your best estimate of the average income per pay period.