If you want to ensure that kids in Texas child care get the attention and nutrition they deserve, it's time to speak up. Monday, October 10th is the deadline to submit your comments to state officials to shape the new Texas child care standards.

As you may know, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is required to update child care standards at least once every six years. As part of that process, the agency recently proposed new standards for child care centers, which closely mirror the standards that have been in place for the last six years.

We encourage you to contact DFPS at [email protected] to urge the agency to strengthen the draft standards.

As we've explained in this public radio story and other media stories, we're calling on the agency to improve standards for child nutrition and child-caregiver ratios.

If you want to read up a little on these issues, take a look at our recent policy brief on nutrition in child care and this new op-ed on child care ratios by Dallas early childhood policy leaders.

Thank you for speaking out for Texas kids!