Child care centersChecked against the rule 2026-10-19

Texas Daycare Ratios and Group Sizes

By Jayesh Parayali, Founder, CareCam · 15+ years building daycare camera systems

The staff-to-child ratios Texas requires in licensed child care centers, by the state's own age bands, from 26 TAC §746.1601 and §746.1609. Below the table, a calculator tells you how many staff the children in your building need right now.

Educational reference, not legal advice. Family and group child care homes follow different ratios. Confirm with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation.

Texas center ratios by age

Age group	Ages	Staff : children	Max group size
Infants	0 to 11 months	1:4	10
Infants	12 to 17 months	1:5	13
Toddlers	18 to 23 months	1:9	18
Toddlers	2 years	1:11	22
Pre-kindergarten	3 years	1:15	30
Pre-kindergarten	4 years	1:18	35
Five-year-olds	5 years	1:22	35
School-age	6 to 8 years	1:26	35
School-age	9 to 13 years	1:26	35

•These ratios apply when 13 or more children are in care, and the ratio for a group is set by its specified age, which is the age of the middle child when the group is listed from youngest to oldest (26 TAC §746.1603).
•With 13 or more children in care, infants may be grouped with older children only if the oldest child is no more than 18 months older than the youngest (26 TAC §746.1605).
•For children 18 months and older, the ratio may be reduced by 50% at naptime in a central sleeping location with extra staff in the building, and groups of up to 16 children per caregiver are allowed during the first and last 45 minutes of the day (26 TAC §746.1613 and §746.1615).
•Centers with 12 or fewer children in care follow a separate mixed-age chart (26 TAC §746.1701), and school-age and before- or after-school programs are regulated under 26 TAC Chapter 744.

How many staff do I need right now?

Enter the children in the building right now, by age group. The numbers update as you type and nothing is sent anywhere.

Age group	Ratio	Children	Staff needed
Infants0 to 11 months	1:4max group 10
Infants12 to 17 months	1:5max group 13
Toddlers18 to 23 months	1:9max group 18
Toddlers2 years	1:11max group 22
Pre-kindergarten3 years	1:15max group 30
Pre-kindergarten4 years	1:18max group 35
Five-year-olds5 years	1:22max group 35
School-age6 to 8 years	1:26max group 35
School-age9 to 13 years	1:26max group 35
Total

Counts each age group as its own room. For a mixed-age room, Texas like most states applies the ratio of the youngest child present to the whole group. Ratios apply the whole day, including naps, transitions and the first and last hour. Confirm against the rule linked above before you schedule.

Inspections in Texas

Child Care Regulation conducts unannounced inspections at licensed operations at least once per year. Inspections may be more frequent based on an operation's ability to comply with statutes, rules, and minimum standards. Source. The licensing agency is the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation. Inspection reports are public: look up a center's reports.

The Texas inspection checklist is the walk-through a licensor does, written as things to check before they arrive, with your ratios and agency filled in.

Proving the room was in ratio

When a parent or licensor asks what the toddler room looked like at 4:45 on Tuesday, your own cameras answer. CareCam runs on the cameras a center already has and adds a live, video-only view for parents of their own child's room, during the hours you set. No audio, so Texas's one-party consent rule never comes into it.

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Related for Texas: daycare camera laws. Other states: daycare ratios by state.

Texas daycare ratio FAQ

What is the daycare ratio in Texas?

Texas sets its center ratios by age: 1:4 for infants (0 to 11 months), 1:5 for infants (12 to 17 months), 1:9 for toddlers (18 to 23 months), 1:11 for toddlers (2 years), 1:15 for pre-kindergarten (3 years), 1:18 for pre-kindergarten (4 years), 1:22 for five-year-olds (5 years), 1:26 for school-age (6 to 8 years), 1:26 for school-age (9 to 13 years). The rule is 26 TAC §746.1601 and §746.1609.

What is the infant ratio for daycare centers in Texas?

One caregiver for every 4 infants (0 to 11 months), with no more than 10 infants in one group.

What is the toddler ratio in Texas?

1:9 for toddlers (18 to 23 months), maximum group size 18.

How many 3-year-olds can one teacher have in Texas?

15 children per teacher for pre-kindergarten (3 years), in a group of no more than 30.

Does Texas set maximum group sizes?

Yes. Infants: 10; Infants: 13; Toddlers: 18; Toddlers: 22; Pre-kindergarten: 30; Pre-kindergarten: 35; Five-year-olds: 35; School-age: 35; School-age: 35. A group may not exceed these numbers no matter how many adults are in the room.

How often are daycare centers inspected in Texas?

Child Care Regulation conducts unannounced inspections at licensed operations at least once per year. Inspections may be more frequent based on an operation's ability to comply with statutes, rules, and minimum standards. The licensing agency is the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation. Inspection reports are public; the lookup is linked on this page.

Can cameras count toward the ratio in Texas?

No. The ratio counts adults physically in the room with the children. Cameras let a director confirm afterwards that ratios were kept, and with CareCam they give parents a live, video-only view of their own child's room during the hours the center sets.

Run a Texas center? See if your cameras can do double duty

Tell us your camera brand and we'll confirm whether the cameras you already have can give parents a secure, live, video-only view of their own child's room. We reply within one business day.