Smart Start Montessori School
10674 FM 1641, Forney, TX 75126 · Kaufman County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 102
- Ages
- Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 06:30 AM-06:00 PM
- Director / administrator
- Catherine Mathis
- Phone
- (972) 357-7766
- Regulated since
- Sep 2, 2016
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 1234774 · number 1617629
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | Safety & premises (1) |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | Illness & medication (1), Staff background & training (1), Records & paperwork (3), Other (1) |
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | Supervision & ratios (2), Safety & premises (1), Staff background & training (2) |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | Safety & premises (1), Other (2) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
-
Aug 12, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Safety & premises Serious
Three children with food allergies, did not have food allergy plans signed by a health care professional.
HHSC 746.3819 — Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-08-26. Correction verified 2026-08-31.
-
Safety & premises Serious
-
Apr 16, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Apr 15, 2026 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Dec 11, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
1 of the 9 staff files had training that expired 10/17/25. 6 of the 9 staff files reviewed had training that expired 8/8/25.
HHSC 746.1309(a) — Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-01-02. Correction verified 2026-01-14.
-
Other
1 of the 10 child files reviewed did not have a health statement
HHSC 746.611(b) — Health Statement on File within 1 Week of Admission
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-01-02. Correction verified 2026-01-14.
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Illness & medication Serious
1 of the 10 child files reviewed did not have shot records
HHSC 746.613(a) — Required Immunizations
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-01-02. Correction verified 2026-01-14.
-
Records & paperwork
1 of the 9 staff files did not have the notarized affidavit.
HHSC 746.901(4) — Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2985)
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2026-01-02. Correction verified 2026-01-14.
-
Records & paperwork
3 of the 9 staff files reviewed did not have the preemployment affidavit.
HHSC 746.901(5) — Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2912)
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2026-01-02. Correction verified 2026-01-14.
-
Records & paperwork
5 of the 9 staff files did not have a copy of the staff's photo identification.
HHSC 746.901(9) — Required Personnel Records - Photo Identification
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-01-02. Correction verified 2026-01-14.
-
Staff background & training
-
Aug 12, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Jan 21, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Feb 21, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training Serious
The Director of the operation did not have 30 hours of annual training on file for review.
HHSC 746.1301(a)(6)(A) — Training Requirements for Employees, Caregivers, and Directors - 30 Annual Training
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-03-06. Correction verified 2024-03-06.
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Staff background & training
Caregivers had training certificates stating they completed 24 hours of annual training but there were no dates on the certificates.
HHSC 746.1329(b)(2) — Documentation of Training Requirements - Date
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2024-02-28. Correction verified 2024-03-04.
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Safety & premises Serious
A garden on the playground had some barbed wire sticking out.
HHSC 746.3701(5) — Safety - Play Materials and Equipment Safe
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-02-28. Correction verified 2024-03-06.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have the CPSC form posted but did review the website and sign the form at the inspection.
HHSC 746.4135(c) — Children's Products-Posting of CPSC website
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2024-02-21.
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Staff background & training Serious
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Jan 19, 2024 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios
The operation failed to complete the employees who left survey for 2023 in a timely manner.
HHSC 746.303(b) — Report Number of Employees
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2024-01-19. Correction verified 2024-01-19.
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Supervision & ratios
-
Jun 12, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jun 8, 2023 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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May 23, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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May 19, 2023 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
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Feb 28, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Other Serious
One slide had 4 feet 4 inches clearance at the bottom of the slide.
HHSC 746.4805(b) — Measurement of Use Zone for Slides - Six Feet High or Less
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-03-10. Correction verified 2023-03-10.
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Safety & premises Serious
Loose fill was less than 9" for the large playground in all the use zone areas.
HHSC 746.4907(a)(2) — Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Nine Inches if Equipment Greater Than 5 Ft.
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-03-10. Correction verified 2023-03-10.
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Other
Posts were not marked to show levels of loose fill
HHSC 746.4907(c) — Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Posts Marked to Proper Depth
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-03-10. Correction verified 2023-03-10.
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Other Serious
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May 4, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Feb 17, 2022 Inspection · 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.