Starting September 1, 2026, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) requires every subsidy attendance record sent to KinderConnect to include three things: a photo of the adult, their signature, and the location of the device used. This applies to check-ins, check-outs and absences.

If your Texas program uses the Wonderschool KinderConnect integration, the Wonderschool app (version 2.30.16 or later, on the App Store and Google Play) collects all three automatically. There is nothing new to set up.

Who this applies to

The new steps appear only for a child who:

• has a KinderConnect ID matched in Wonderschool (Apps > KinderConnect > Manage, student list), and
• is enrolled at a program located in Texas with the KinderConnect integration turned on.

Nothing changes for any other child, program or state. If you check in several children at once and at least one of them has a KinderConnect ID, the app asks for one photo, one signature and one location for the whole group.

New to the integration? See KinderConnect Integration/Management Process.

What the app collects

• Photo: a fresh photo of the adult doing the drop-off or pick-up, taken with the front camera. A profile photo does not count.
• Signature: the adult signs on screen, as before.
• Location: the device's GPS location, read once when the record is saved.

Wonderschool sends this information to KinderConnect along with the attendance record. It is not shown in your attendance feed or reports.

Before you start: update the app

Make sure every device used for attendance, including program tablets and families' own phones, is on version 2.30.16 or later. Older versions of the app do not collect a photo or location, so records made with them will not meet the Texas requirement. We recommend turning on automatic updates (iPhone/iPad | Android).

What staff and families will see

When checking in, checking out, or marking absent a child with a KinderConnect ID:

1. A Photo of the adult step appears at the top of the form. Tap Take photo, fill the frame with your face, and take the picture. The row then reads Photo taken. (Tap it again to retake.)
2. Complete any health questions as usual and tap Next.
3. Sign on the signature screen.
4. Tap Check in (or Check out / Absent). The first time, the phone asks to allow location access. Choose Allow While Using App. After that, location is collected automatically.

The extra steps usually add well under a minute once people are used to them.

Signing on behalf of someone else: if a staff member picks a different person as the signer (for example, a parent at the front desk), the photo must be of that person, so the app asks for a new photo.

If camera or location access is turned off

The app will not save the record without all three pieces of information, because KinderConnect would reject it. You will see a message such as "Location is required" or that the camera is disabled. To fix it, open your phone's Settings > Wonderschool, turn on Camera and set Location to While Using the App, then try again. If the app says it could not get your location, move to an area with better signal and tap the button again.

Fixing records with a missing photo

Some attendance records will not have a photo, for example an automatic check-out at the end of the day, a record entered on the website, or one made with an older version of the app. On the child's activity feed in the app, these show "Photo needed for KinderConnect".

To fix one, open the entry in the app, tap Edit, take the photo, sign, and save. The label disappears once the record is complete. Texas allows these corrections for up to 6 days after the attendance date, so please fix flagged entries promptly.

FAQs

Is this a state requirement?
Yes. The Texas Workforce Commission requires a photo, signature and device location on subsidy attendance sent to KinderConnect, effective September 1, 2026.

Can we check children in from the website instead?
The website cannot take a photo or read a device location, so website entries will not meet the requirement for KinderConnect children. Use the Wonderschool mobile app on a phone or your program's tablet for these children. Families without the app can check in on the program's tablet.

Does this apply to absences?
Yes. Marking a KinderConnect child absent asks for the same photo, signature and location.

Will families need to allow location every time?
No. It is a one-time permission on each device. After that, location is captured automatically at each check-in or check-out.

What about children without a KinderConnect ID, or programs outside Texas?
Nothing changes. Check-in works exactly as before.

Do I need to tell families?
Yes, we recommend it. Let families know the app now asks Texas subsidy families for a quick photo and location at drop-off and pick-up because of a state rule, and ask them to update the app. This avoids surprises at the door.

Can I turn this off?
No. It turns on automatically for children with a KinderConnect ID at Texas programs using the integration, so your program stays compliant.

Still have questions?
Contact Wonderschool Support at support@wonderschool.com.