Can Texas' new business coaching for child care providers make centers stronger? - post

Texas is rolling out new ways to help child care leaders run better businesses. This article explains how business coaching and state support can help your #providers program be more stable and grow. We point to easy resources you can use right away, mostly from ChildCareEd and other Texas partners. Remember: state requirements vary - check your state licensing agency.

What is Texas offering and why does it matter?

1. 🔹 The Texas Workforce Commission launched a Child Care Business Support initiative that offers business coaching and training for centers and homes. See the TWC news and local coverage at The Comanche Chief.
2. 🔹 Nonprofits and counties are creating accelerators and pilots that give coaching, money, and tools to centers (example: a Houston accelerator and a county pilot in Harris County).
3. 🔹 Employers and Workforce Solutions offices can partner with providers to bring steady families and funds to your program. See local Workforce Solutions info for providers: Workforce Solutions - Providers.

Why it matters:

1) Business coaching helps you manage money, staff, and enrollment so your program can last. 2) Stronger programs help families keep jobs and support the local #workforce. 3) Research shows good early care pays off for kids and communities — see the RAND brief on benefits of early childhood investment. These supports aim to turn child care into a stable local #business part of the economy, not just a service.

What supports can my center use, and how do I get them?

1. 📞 Contact your local Workforce Solutions office to learn about employer partnerships, subsidy rules, and technical help. See local contact pages at Workforce Solutions - Providers.
2. 💼 Apply for business coaching, accelerators, or training. ChildCareEd summarized examples and steps in their guide to business coaching and employer partnerships: Can Texas Child Care Providers Turn Business Coaching....
3. 📚 Use state training systems like TECPDS to track staff training and credentials: TECPDS guide.
4. 🧰 Use ready tools: ChildCareEd's Resource Guide for Starting and Operating a Child Care Business has templates and courses to help with budgets and policies: Resource Guide.

Practical first steps (easy to do this week):

1. 📄 Make a one-page facts sheet about your program: hours, ages, rates, capacity, and contact. Use it when you call employers.
2. 📅 Block one hour with staff to list your top 3 business needs (payroll, enrollment, marketing).
3. 💻 Sign up for a business coach slot or a small accelerator pilot, or ask Workforce Solutions about local pilots and grants.

How can I start a coaching plan that works for my team?

Coaching helps teachers grow; supervising keeps kids safe. Use both. Read more about coaching goals in ChildCareEd's leadership pieces: What Is the Difference Between Coaching and Supervising? and a short definition for a coach role: Define the role of a Coach.

2) A simple 4-step coaching plan:

1. 🙂 Step 1 — Start small: pick 1 classroom or 1 staff member for a 6-week pilot.
2. ✍️ Step 2 — Set 2 clear goals (example: improve drop-off routine, lower staff turnover by 10%).
3. 🔁 Step 3 — Meet weekly for short check-ins (15–20 minutes) and use coaching questions from ChildCareEd (ask, listen, reflect).
4. 📊 Step 4 — Measure results: track attendance, staff hours, family feedback, and small financial changes.

3) Tools to help:

1. 🧾 Use the ChildCareEd Resource Guide and business courses for templates and budgeting help: Resource Guide.
2. 📈 Use simple spreadsheets or enrollment tools like those in some pilots (example: Wonderschool partnership in a ChildCareGroup pilot).

What common mistakes happen, and how do I measure success?

Common mistakes (and fixes):

1. ❌ Mistake: Waiting for perfect funding before trying something. ✅ Fix: Run a 1–3 staff pilot with a simple MOU.
2. ❌ Mistake: Not documenting employer or coach agreements. ✅ Fix: Use short written agreements and timelines.
3. ❌ Mistake: Saying yes to too many projects at once. ✅ Fix: Pick one coach program, measure, then scale.

How to measure success (simple numbers to watch):

1. 📌 Enrollment change (new employer-referred children).
2. 📌 Staff retention (months per teacher).
3. 📌 Financial health (monthly cash flow, small profit or reduced losses).
4. 📌 Quality signals (classroom observations, parent satisfaction).

Tools and partners to check:

1. 📚 ChildCareEd courses on business and administration: Child Care Administration.
2. 🤝 Local Workforce Solutions and Texas Rising Star support: Texas Rising Star info.
3. 📑 Read examples of local pilots and wage supports in news stories like the Fort Worth pilot: Star-Telegram.

Summary

1) Texas' push for #businesscoaching and employer partnerships gives real tools to #providers. 2) Start with a one-page facts sheet, a small coaching pilot, and calls to Workforce Solutions. 3) Use ChildCareEd resources for training, templates, and tracking — see this guide and the Resource Guide. Stronger centers help families, children, and the local #workforce. Keep it simple, document results, and celebrate small wins. State requirements vary - check your state licensing agency.