Sproutstart Academy
4926 N SHEPHERD DR, Houston, TX 77018 · Harris County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 99
- Ages
- Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten
- Hours
- 07:00 AM-06:00 PM
- Director / administrator
- Laura Whitley
- Phone
- (713) 206-0031
- Regulated since
- May 2, 2019
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 1317011 · number 1681558
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | Supervision & ratios (1) |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | Cleanliness & sanitation (1), Illness & medication (2), Supervision & ratios (1) |
| 2024 | 4 | 2 | Illness & medication (1), Safety & premises (1), Staff background & training (2) |
| 2023 | 12 | 8 | Supervision & ratios (5), Safety & premises (3), Staff background & training (1), Other (3) |
| 2022 | 9 | 3 | Supervision & ratios (2), Staff background & training (5), Records & paperwork (2) |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | Cleanliness & sanitation (1), Supervision & ratios (1) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
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Sep 30, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jul 29, 2026 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios Serious
The franchise tax status of the LLC that owns the operation has been delinquent since 2.27.2026
HHSC 745.247 — Franchise Tax Delinquent
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-09-03. Correction verified 2026-09-17.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Nov 18, 2025 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
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Illness & medication
An epi pen expired on 8.26.25.
HHSC 746.3809 — Medication No Longer Used
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-11-25.
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Illness & medication
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Oct 17, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Oct 6, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
A part of the base of the wall in the infant room had the border removed and showed black spots on the wall.
HHSC 746.3407(9) — Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-20. Correction verified 2025-10-17.
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Illness & medication
An epi pen expired on 8.26.25 and two inhalers expired on 6.2025 and 7.2025.
HHSC 746.3809 — Medication No Longer Used
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-20. Correction verified 2025-11-18.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation does not have documentation of the daily building and playground checks.
HHSC 746.4751(d) — Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Keep Records for 3 Months
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-20. Correction verified 2025-10-17.
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Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
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Oct 22, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Staff background & training
Five staff members have not completed the administering medication training.
HHSC 746.1309(e) — Documented Annual Training- Required Content
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-11-05. Correction verified 2024-11-04.
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Safety & premises Serious
An active ant bed was present on the playground.
HHSC 746.3701 — Safety - Areas Free From Hazards
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-11-05. Correction verified 2024-11-04.
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Staff background & training
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Mar 5, 2024 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
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Staff background & training Serious
The director first aid has expired on 2/5/2024.
HHSC 746.1315(a) — Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric first aid with rescue breathing and choking.
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-04-05. Correction verified 2024-03-19.
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Illness & medication
The incident report did not have the required information (missing director information, operation number, child's date of birth, information that child care regulation was notified or what type of first aid was conducted).
HHSC 746.603(a)(7) — Children's Records - Incident/Illness Form
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-03-22. Correction verified 2024-03-22.
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Staff background & training Serious
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Feb 29, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Dec 11, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Nov 15, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios Serious
In the infant classroom it was 6 children with one caregiver specified age group 12-17 months old, the caregiver was one over ratio. In the second classroom the caregiver had 12 children specified age group 2 years old, it was one over ratio, this was doing morning time of care.
HHSC 746.1601 — Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-11-15. Correction verified 2023-12-11.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Nov 1, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios Serious
The caregiver in charge was unable to give access to the rest of the building to inspected other classroom. Corrected: When the director made it to the operation and the inceptor was able to inspected the other classrooms.
HHSC 745.8411(b)(4) — Responsibilities - Not delay or prevent inspection or investigation
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2023-11-01.
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Other Serious
Caregiver did not have information of the ages of children that were in care.
HHSC 746.1205(a)(3) — Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know children's names and ages
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-11-01. Correction verified 2023-11-15.
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Staff background & training
The three caregivers First Aid and CPR cards did not have the trainers qualifications
HHSC 746.1329(b)(5) — Documentation of Training Requirements - Trainer's Qualifications
HHSC risk weight: Low. Corrected 2023-12-11. Correction verified 2023-12-01.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
In the infant classroom it was 8 children with one caregiver SAG 12-17 months old, the caregiver was three over ratio. In the second classroom the caregiver had 14 children SAG 2 years old, it was three over ratio, this was doing morning time of care.
HHSC 746.1601 — Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-11-01. Correction verified 2023-11-15.
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Safety & premises Serious
On the children's playground in the area of the rocker it was missing unitary surfacing materials around the rocker structure.
HHSC 746.3407 — Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-12-11. Correction verified 2024-01-11.
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Safety & premises Serious
Two children's food allergy plan was not signed by a heath care professional.
HHSC 746.3819 — Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-11-10. Correction verified 2023-11-09.
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Other Serious
They was a mixed age group of children in the voyagers classroom in the morning, the ages of the children were 12 months to 4 years old.
HHSC 746.4203 — Space Requirements - Under 18 Months of Age Separate from Older Children
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-11-01. Correction verified 2023-11-15.
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Other
Children did not have an individual hook labeled with their name that would be assisted to them.
HHSC 746.4505 — Storage for Individual Belongings
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-11-03. Correction verified 2023-11-02.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have in their operational policies on how they would promotion the indoor and outdoor physical activity.
HHSC 746.501(a)(18)(A) — Written Operational Policies - Benefits
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-11-10. Correction verified 2023-11-08.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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May 19, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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May 16, 2023 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jan 17, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Safety & premises Serious
The outdoor playground had a ants pile and grass area was not maintain.
HHSC 746.3407 — Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-01-20. Correction verified 2023-01-20.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation did not provide documentation for the unitary surfacing on the playground.
HHSC 746.4913 — Required Documentation for Unitary Surfacing Materials
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-01-31. Correction verified 2023-01-24.
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Safety & premises Serious
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Nov 1, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Staff background & training Serious
Six caregivers did not have pre-service training preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma for safe sleep practices and preventing sudden infant death syndrome and for early childhood brain development, the caregivers had a certificate in the file this certificate did not have the caregivers name of date a training was taken. The only thing on the certificate was a signature of the training.
HHSC 746.1305(b) — Pre-service Training for Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-11-11. Correction verified 2022-11-02.
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Staff background & training
A caregiver is missing 7 hours of annual training for training year 4-12-2021 to 4-12-2022.
HHSC 746.1309(a) — Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-15. Correction verified 2022-11-02.
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Staff background & training Serious
One caregivers did not have CPR training.
HHSC 746.1315(b) — Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric CPR
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-11-15. Correction verified 2022-11-09.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have a updated children's product form the last form was signed 1/27/2021.
HHSC 746.4135(b) — Children's Products- Annual Certification
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-08. Correction verified 2022-11-02.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
The operation did not have documentation of the last fire inspection.
HHSC 746.5103 — Documentation of Fire Inspection
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-12-19. Correction verified 2022-12-13.
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Staff background & training
One caregiver is missing documentation of taking orientation.
HHSC 746.901(10) — Required Personnel Records- signed dated statement that employee attended abuse/neglect training
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-08. Correction verified 2022-11-02.
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Staff background & training
Two caregivers are missing information on how they meet education qualifications.
HHSC 746.901(2) — Required Personnel Records- Meets Requirements
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-11-08. Correction verified 2022-11-02.
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Records & paperwork
Two caregivers are missing signed affidavit in their files.
HHSC 746.901(4) — Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2022-11-08. Correction verified 2022-11-02.
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Staff background & training Serious
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Feb 25, 2022 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
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Records & paperwork
A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2021 data from February 23, 2022, revealed that the center had not reported the number of employees who left employment in 2021 by February 22, 2022, as required.
HHSC 746.303(b) — Report Number of Employees
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2022-03-02. Correction verified 2022-02-25.
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Records & paperwork
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Nov 19, 2021 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Nov 2, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
During the inspection a caregiver stated that she uses the hand washing sink to clean the infants bibs.
HHSC 746.2419(8) — Requirements for Feeding Infants - Other Use of Handwashing Sink
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2021-11-02. Correction verified 2021-11-19.
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Supervision & ratios
During review of infants the operation did not have current feeding instructions for 4 infants present not yet eating table food.
HHSC 746.2421(b) — Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2021-11-09. Correction verified 2021-11-19.
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Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
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Oct 22, 2021 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
Get the full file
HHSC publishes inspections, investigations and assessments from October 2017 onward, with each cited deficiency and its risk weight. Investigation narratives, complaint files and older history require a public information request. The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why.
Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)
- Send to
- HHSC Open Records Coordinator, MC-1070 · OpenRecordsRequest@hhs.texas.gov · fax 512-424-6586 · 4601 W. Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78751-3146 · agency instructions
Show the letter text
If something is happening now, report a concern to HHSC Child Care Regulation. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.
Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, via Child Care Regulation datasets on data.texas.gov. Last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is HHSC's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan. About this data.