Esperanza Heights

429 HEIGHTS BLVD, Houston, TX 77007 · Harris County

22cited violations

1serious

9inspections & investigations

0enforcement actions

Program

Type: Licensed center
Licensed capacity: 86
Ages: Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours: 07:30 AM-06:00 PM
Director / administrator: Zara De La Cerda
Phone: (713) 868-2200
Regulated since: Oct 29, 2002
HHSC IDs: Operation 204805 · number 816646
Official record: HHSC Child Care Search

Violations by category

Supervision & ratios 4
Safety & premises 6
Staff background & training 8
Records & paperwork 1
Other 3

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	1	0	Safety & premises (1)
2025	6	0	Staff background & training (4), Other (2)
2024	4	0	Supervision & ratios (1), Staff background & training (2), Records & paperwork (1)
2023	5	0	Supervision & ratios (2), Safety & premises (2), Other (1)
2022	3	0	Safety & premises (1), Staff background & training (2)
2021	3	1	Supervision & ratios (1), Safety & premises (2)

Inspections, investigations & assessments

Sep 14, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Safety & premises
  During the review of children's records 2 out of the 8 records evaluated did not have all of the required emergency contact information.
  
  HHSC 746.605(6) — Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-09-22.
HHSC inspection history
Nov 14, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Sep 17, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  The operation have not validated the people since 02/24/2025.
  
  HHSC 745.651(2)(A) — Background Check Validation - Every 3 months each operation, other than a licensed, registered, or listed home, must validate current list
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-01. Correction verified 2025-09-18.
- Staff background & training
  CCR reviewed the operation Summer Safety training PowerPoint and found it does not meet the specific training requirements for water safety in and around swimming pools.
  
  HHSC 746.1325(b) — Documented annual training - Specific to water safety
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-15. Correction verified 2025-11-14.
- Staff background & training
  CCR observed a training certificate that did not include all of the requirements, such as the trainer's qualifications.
  
  HHSC 746.1329(b)(5) — Documentation of Training Requirements - Trainer's Qualifications
  
  HHSC risk weight: Low. Corrected 2025-10-01. Correction verified 2025-09-29.
- Other
  CCR observed floor fans in the school-age classroom and on the outside playground that are accessible to the children.
  
  HHSC 746.3701(3) — Safety - Air Conditioners, Fans, Heaters Safeguarded
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-01. Correction verified 2025-11-14.
- Other
  Four children's admission forms were evaluated and were missing the question about whether the child can swim and if they have a swim life jacket.
  
  HHSC 746.605(16) — Required Admission Information - Water Activity Permission
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-01. Correction verified 2025-09-29.
- Staff background & training
  Three staff files were reviewed, and the water safety training certificate was missing from each of file.
  
  HHSC 746.901(6) — Required Personnel Records -Training Hours
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-10-01. Correction verified 2025-11-14.
HHSC inspection history
Sep 19, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  2 out of 4 caregivers were missing the following annual training topics: * Emergency preparedness * Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases, *Administering medication, *Handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials *Preventing and responding to emergencies due to food or an allergic reaction * Understanding building and physical premises safety, * Prevention, recognition, and reporting of child maltreatment.
  
  HHSC 746.1309(e) — Documented Annual Training- Required Content
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-10-04. Correction verified 2024-10-23.
- Staff background & training
  The director is missing the required annual training topics: * Emergency preparedness * Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases, *Administering medication, *Handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials *Preventing and responding to emergencies due to food or an allergic reaction * Understanding building and physical premises safety, * Prevention, recognition, and reporting of child maltreatment.
  
  HHSC 746.1311(e) — Director Annual Training - Additional required topics
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-10-04. Correction verified 2024-10-23.
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation has not conducted a fire drill since May/2024.
  
  HHSC 746.5205(1) — Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-09-30. Correction verified 2024-10-25.
HHSC inspection history
Jan 24, 2024 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
- Records & paperwork
  A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2023 data from January 17, 2024, revealed that the center had not reported the number of employees who left employment in 2023 by January 15, 2024, as required.
  
  HHSC 746.303(b) — Report Number of Employees
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2024-01-24. Correction verified 2024-01-30.
HHSC inspection history
Sep 25, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation did not have any documentation on not having to have a sanitation inspection.
  
  HHSC 746.3401(c)(2) — Annual Sanitation Inspection- Inspection unavailable must maintain documentation at operation and make available to us
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-12-13. Correction verified 2023-12-14.
- Other
  A television in the stem room was not anchored down.
  
  HHSC 746.3701(10) — Safety - Televisions Anchored to Prevent Tip Over
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-10-02. Correction verified 2023-09-28.
- Safety & premises
  Two children with an food allergy did not have a food allergy plan on file.
  
  HHSC 746.3819 — Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-10-02. Correction verified 2023-11-03.
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation did not have their emergency preparedness plan available for viewing.
  
  HHSC 746.5202(1) — Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down procedures
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-10-02. Correction verified 2023-09-28.
- Safety & premises
  One child is missing information for their emergency contact person.
  
  HHSC 746.605(6) — Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-10-02. Correction verified 2023-10-30.
HHSC inspection history
Oct 3, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  One caregiver is missing 15 hours of training for training year 5/21/2021 to 5/21/2022. The other caregiver is missing 14 hours of training for training year 7/20/2021 to 7/20/2022.
  
  HHSC 746.1309(a) — Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-10-21. Correction verified 2022-10-20.
- Staff background & training
  The director is missing 15 hours of annual training for training year 6/8/2021 to 6/8/2022.
  
  HHSC 746.1311(a) — Director Annual Training 30 Hours Required
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-10-21. Correction verified 2022-10-20.
- Safety & premises
  The eight children's files that were reviewed did not have an address for the emergency contact.
  
  HHSC 746.605(6) — Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-10-07. Correction verified 2022-10-06.
HHSC inspection history
Oct 21, 2021 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Oct 5, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  During the inspection a caregiver left two toddlers ages 22 months and 18 months unsupervised in the classroom to open the front door.
  
  HHSC 746.1203(4) — Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2021-11-02. Correction verified 2021-10-21.
- Safety & premises
  During the walkthrough I observed play equipment that had visible dirt and tree debris. I observed buckets containing water with bugs in the water.
  
  HHSC 746.3407 — Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2021-10-13. Correction verified 2021-10-21.
- Safety & premises
  During the walkthrough I observed a caregiver wipe a toy that was placed in a child's mouth with a plain water paper towel and place back in the play center.
  
  HHSC 746.3407(1) — Toys and Equipment to be Sanitized Set Aside
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2021-11-02. Correction verified 2021-10-21.
HHSC inspection history

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

Letter text

Dear Open Records Coordinator,

Under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552, I request copies of the following Child Care Regulation records for Esperanza Heights, 429 HEIGHTS BLVD, Houston, TX 77007-2519 (operation ID 204805, operation number 816646), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every inspection, assessment and investigation report, including the deficiencies cited and the operation's corrective actions.
2. Every complaint and self-report intake and its finding.
3. Every corrective or adverse action (evaluation, probation, suspension, revocation, denial, administrative penalty) with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of action or correction the operation submitted, and HHSC's response.

I understand that information made confidential by law (for example the identities of children, families and reporters) may be redacted; please release the remainder. Please provide the records electronically by email. If the cost will exceed $40, please send me an itemized estimate first.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

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, 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.