Editor's Note: This article is part of a series of stories The Herald-Zeitung will pursue in 2026 surrounding the Early Matters New Braunfels initiative and the various challenges that early childcare providers face.

Finding the time and effort to attain a Texas Rising Star rating can prove challenging for already overwhelmed childcare providers as they grapple with staffing shortages and financial constraints.

However, while Program Director Mandy Pelletier at Bracken Preschool acknowledges that acquiring a Texas Rising Star rating took significant work, she also found it has provided her school with several benefits, including grants for supplies, staff retention bonuses and the ability to enroll students with Texas Education Freedom Accounts.