Texas daycare ratios by age
Texas's child care center rule (26 Tex. Admin. Code §746.1601 (ratio), §746.1609 (group size)) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 15 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 30. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Texas child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 4 | 10 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | 13 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 11 | 22 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 15 | 30 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 18 | 35 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 22 | 35 |
How many adults does my room need in Texas?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Centers licensed for 13+: 0-11 mo 1:4 group 10; 12-17 mo 1:5 group 13; 18-23 mo 1:9 group 18; 2 yrs 1:11 group 22; 3 yrs 1:15 group 30; 4 yrs 1:18 group 35; 5 yrs 1:22 group 35; 6-8 and 9-13 yrs 1:26 group 35 (mapped: toddler=12-17 mo row, our band splits evenly with 18-23 mo 1:9/18; stricter row chosen)
Rule: 26 Tex. Admin. Code §746.1601 (ratio), §746.1609 (group size). Read on 2026-10-31 at hhs.texas.gov. Where the rule's ages split one of ours, the younger, stricter figure is shown. This is the rule for licensed centers; family child care homes, school-age care and mixed-age groups have their own rules. A reading of public regulations, not licensing advice.
Every stateThe sign-in book's live countHow to read your state's ratio rule