Quality public and private child-care facilities are available throughout the Houston area. Parents will want to explore the many options to find the right environment for their child and a situation that meets the family's needs. The Texas Department of Human Services provides a wealth of information for daycare facilities of all types. Information is available by telephone or online:

Texas Department of Human Services

Daycare Information

800-862-5252

www.tdprs.state.tx.us/Child_Care

Private Schools

Over 400 private schools — both independent and parochial — are available as alternatives to public education in the Houston area. Parents who are interested in exploring options for private education will find the following resources helpful. The Texas Private School Accreditation Commission offers a Texas School Directory on its website:

Texas Private School Accreditation Commission

903-643-8770

www.tepsac.com

Ensures the quality of private schools by monitoring and approving organizations that accredit the various non-public elementary and secondary educational institutions in Texas.

Testing and Assessment

The statewide assessment program in Texas includes a variety of standardized tests:

*           Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS)

*           State-Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA)

*           End-of-Course Examinations (EOC)

*           Reading Proficiency Tests in English (RPTE)

For the testing calendar, comparative data, and scores for individual schools or school districts, contact:

Division of Student Assessment

512-463-9536

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/assessment.html

Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS)

www.tea.state.tx.us/teks

Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools organized and operated by individuals or groups rather than the state. These schools are designed to foster educational competition and offer parental choice in education. They enjoy a significant amount of freedom to create innovations in educational and administrative practices. For more information about charter schools or a list of charter schools in your area, contact:

Division of Charter Schools

512-463-9575

www.tea.state.tx.us/charter

Magnet Schools

Houston Independent School District (HISD) offers magnet schools with special programs such as fine arts, math/science, and Montessori in addition to a strong core curriculum. Magnet schools "attract" students to specialized fields of study. For more information on magnet programs, contact:

HISD Magnet Department

713-556-6005

www.houstonisd.org