(a) The 20 clock hours of annual training must be relevant to the age of the children for whom the operation provides care.
(b) At least six clock hours of the annual training hours must be in one or more of the following topics:
  (1) Child growth and development;
  (2) Guidance and discipline;
  (3) Age-appropriate curriculum;
  (4) Teacher-child interaction; and
  (5) Serving children with special care needs.
(c) At least one clock hour of the annual training hours must focus on prevention, recognition, and reporting of child maltreatment, including:
  (1) Factors indicating a child is at risk for abuse or neglect;
  (2) Warning signs indicating a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect;
  (3) Procedures for reporting child abuse or neglect; and
  (4) Community organizations that have training programs available to employees, children, and parents.
(d) While there are no clock hour requirements for the topics in this subsection, the annual training hours must also include training on the following topics:
  (1) Emergency preparedness;
  (2) Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases, including immunizations;
  (3) Administering medication, if applicable, including compliance with §744.2653 of this chapter (relating to What authorization must I obtain before administering a medication to a child in my care?);
  (4) Preventing and responding to emergencies due to food or an allergic reaction;
  (5) Understanding building and physical premises safety, including identification and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; and
  (6) Handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials including compliance with §744.2523 of this chapter (relating to Must caregivers wear gloves when handling blood or bodily fluids containing blood?).
(e) An operation director or program director with:
  (1) Five or fewer years of experience as a designated operation director or program director must complete at least six clock hours of the annual training hours in management techniques, leadership, or staff supervision; or
  (2) More than five years of experience as a designated operation director or program director must complete at least three clock hours of the annual training hours in management techniques, leadership, or staff supervision.
(f) The remainder of the 20 clock hours of annual training must be selected from the training topics specified in §744.1309(e) of this division (relating to What areas of training must the annual training for caregivers and site directors cover?).
(g) An operation director or program director may obtain clock hours or CEUs from the same sources as caregivers.
(h) A director may not earn training hours by presenting training to others.
(i) At least four of the required 20 annual training hours must come from instructor-led training. The remaining 16 required annual training hours may come from self-instructional training, of which no more than three hours may come from self-study training.
(j) The 20 clock hours of annual training are exclusive of any requirements for orientation, pre-service training, pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR training, and transportation safety training.

Source Note: The provisions of this §744.1311 adopted to be effective September 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 7469; amended to be effective March 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 916; amended to be effective September 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 6225; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909; amended to be effective October 8, 2018, 43 TexReg 6645; amended to be effective March 1, 2023, 48 TexReg 921