Merit Children's Academy LLC
2700 FAIRMOUNT ST, Dallas, TX 75201 · Dallas County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 141
- Ages
- Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 07:00 AM-06:00 PM
- Director / administrator
- Lisseth Alvarado
- Phone
- (469) 248-2115
- Regulated since
- Apr 25, 2022
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 1386237 · number 1726789
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 2 | Supervision & ratios (1), Other (1) |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | Discipline & child guidance (1), Other (3) |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | Supervision & ratios (1), Other (1) |
| 2023 | 4 | 3 | Illness & medication (1), Safety & premises (1), Staff background & training (1), Other (1) |
| 2022 | 7 | 6 | Cleanliness & sanitation (1), Supervision & ratios (1), Discipline & child guidance (1), Staff background & training (1), Other (3) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
-
Apr 9, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Mar 26, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Mar 25, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
-
Other Serious
Based on the video footage reviewed, children were observed being inappropriately physically pulled and lifted by staff.
HHSC 746.2805(3) — Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-04-08. Correction verified 2026-04-09.
-
Other Serious
-
Mar 4, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Mar 3, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
Based on video surveillance, a 4-year-old was observed being placed in an infant classroom with infants (4?6 months).
HHSC 746.1605(1) — Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in Age
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-04-01. Correction verified 2026-04-09.
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
-
Dec 22, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 24, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Nov 21, 2025 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 24, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Aug 18, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Aug 14, 2025 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
-
Discipline & child guidance Serious
During the investigation, it was determined that a staff member used harsh and cruel actions by yanking a blanket and striking a child?s back while patting.
HHSC 746.2805 — Prohibited Punishments - No Harsh, Cruel or Unusual
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2025-09-09. Correction verified 2025-09-24.
-
Other
This standard was evaluated during the investigation and found to be deficient. Evidence showed that during naptime, a staff member attempted to make a child sleep by pushing the child?s head down onto a mat and covering the child's head with a blanket.
HHSC 746.2905(1) — Children Not Required to Sleep - May Not Force Child to Sleep
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-09-09. Correction verified 2025-09-24.
-
Discipline & child guidance Serious
-
Jun 2, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
May 30, 2025 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Feb 10, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Other
Infant feeding instruction were not updated in three of the five infant classroom.
HHSC 746.2421(b) — Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-02-13. Correction verified 2025-02-12.
-
Other Serious
Your Health/sanitation inspection expired on 9/14/2023.
HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-02-24. Correction verified 2025-03-27.
-
Other
-
May 13, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
May 10, 2024 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Feb 29, 2024 Report · Deficiencies cited
-
Other Serious
This standard was evaluated as part of an investigation and was deficient. Upon reviewing the video footage, it was observed that the child was in a state of distress and crying without any intervention or support from the caregivers responsible for the child's care.
HHSC 746.2401(3) — Basic Requirements for Infants - Holding and Comforting
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-04-18. Correction verified 2024-04-25.
-
Other Serious
-
Feb 27, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
The operation does not have a current annual fire inspection as required. The last inspection was conducted December 2022.
HHSC 746.5101(a) — Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2024-03-19. Correction verified 2024-03-25.
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
-
Oct 19, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Sep 1, 2023 Report · Deficiencies cited
-
Other Serious
A caregiver did not intervene when a child cried which allowed prolonged exposure to hot turf which caused burns to the child?s hands and legs.
HHSC 746.1205(a)(5) — Responsibilities of Caregivers - Intervene to ensure each child's safety
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2023-10-12. Correction verified 2023-10-20.
-
Other Serious
-
Apr 13, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
1 of 10 staff files reviewed did not include 2 of the 24 required annual training hours.
HHSC 746.1309(e) — Documented Annual Training- Required Content
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-04-20. Correction verified 2023-05-01.
-
Safety & premises Serious
There was no record of monthly smoke detector checks available. This deficiency was corrected as smoke detector checks were conducted during the inspection.
HHSC 746.5319 — Smoke Detectors Testing
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2023-04-13.
-
Illness & medication Serious
3 of 10 student files reviewed did not include current immunization records.
HHSC 746.613(b) — Immunization Records, Exceptions, and Exemptions Current
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-04-20. Correction verified 2023-05-01.
-
Staff background & training
-
Mar 27, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Mar 15, 2023 Report · No deficiencies cited (self-report)
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Feb 22, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Oct 18, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training Serious
An individual with an inactive background check was allowed to supervise children in care. The deficiency was corrected during the inspection as the individual was removed from the classroom.
HHSC 745.641 — AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-10-18.
-
Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
Children in the two year old classroom were confirmed to not have conducted hand washing prior to being served lunch. The deficiency was corrected during the inspection as hand washing was conducted after caregivers were made aware of the need to do so.
HHSC 746.3417(1) — Children Handwashing Before Eating
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-10-18.
-
Staff background & training Serious
-
Jul 15, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Jun 10, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Other Serious
An outlet in the three year old classroom was observed to be uncovered and exposed while children were present. The deficiency was corrected during the inspection. A cover was applied to the outlet to ensure safety.
HHSC 746.3701(1) — Safety - Electrical Outlets Covered
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-06-10.
-
Other Serious
-
Jun 8, 2022 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
An infant was confirmed to have fallen from a high chair.
HHSC 746.1203(4) — Responsibilities of Caregivers - Supervision of Children
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2022-07-07. Correction verified 2022-07-15.
-
Discipline & child guidance Serious
A caregiver was observed shoving a toddler's head as a form of discipline.
HHSC 746.2805(1) — Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2022-07-07. Correction verified 2022-07-15.
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
-
Apr 7, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Mar 18, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Other
1 of 10 staff files did not include a health statement.
HHSC 746.611(b) — Health Statement on File within 1 Week of Admission
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2022-03-25. Correction verified 2022-03-18.
-
Other
-
Mar 16, 2022 Report · Deficiencies cited
-
Other Serious
A child was observed sleeping in a restrictive device.
HHSC 746.2426 — Infant May Not Sleep in a Restrictive Device
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2022-03-31. Correction verified 2022-04-07.
-
Other Serious
-
Feb 17, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Feb 1, 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.