Smart Start Center
100 F M 429 N, Terrell, TX 75160 · Kaufman County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 113
- Ages
- Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 06:00 AM-06:30 PM
- Director / administrator
- Linda Hernandez
- Phone
- (972) 524-0071
- Regulated since
- Oct 19, 2004
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 258218 · number 842720
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 1 | Supervision & ratios (2), Discipline & child guidance (1), Records & paperwork (1) |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | Illness & medication (1), Supervision & ratios (1), Staff background & training (1), Records & paperwork (1) |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | Illness & medication (1), Safety & premises (1) |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | Staff background & training (3) |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | Illness & medication (1), Staff background & training (1) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
-
Apr 2, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Mar 27, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios
A parent was not provided with the operational policies.
HHSC 746.503 — Provide Parents With Copy of Policies
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-04-06. Correction verified 2026-04-30.
-
Records & paperwork
A parent was not allowed access to their child's application.
HHSC 746.601(b) — Provide Access to Children's Records - Parents
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2026-04-06. Correction verified 2026-04-29.
-
Supervision & ratios
-
Mar 19, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Discipline & child guidance Serious
Based on interviews and observations, it was determined that a caregiver threatened a child.
HHSC 746.2805(1) — Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2026-03-19. Correction verified 2026-04-02.
-
Discipline & child guidance Serious
-
Mar 18, 2026 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
-
Supervision & ratios
The operation did not ensure that the electric outlet was covered. One outlet did not have a cover.
HHSC 746.3701(1) — Safety - Electrical Outlets Covered
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-04-13. Correction verified 2026-04-30.
-
Supervision & ratios
-
Feb 25, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Apr 16, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
The center director not have all required training hours on file for the previous full year. Only 7 hours could be accounted for. One caregiver also did not have all the required training hours for the previous full year. 13 hours could be accounted for.
HHSC 746.1311(a) — Director Annual Training 30 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-05-14. Correction verified 2025-05-14.
-
Records & paperwork
At the time of inspection two children did not have the required health statements on file for review.
HHSC 746.603(a)(3) — Children's Records - Health Statement
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-04-30. Correction verified 2025-04-29.
-
Illness & medication
At the time of inspection one child did not have their most current immunization record on file for review, a doctor's note indicating a deviation in the vaccination schedules, or a signed/notarized immunizations exemption affidavit.
HHSC 746.603(a)(4) — Children's Records - Immunizations
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-04-30. Correction verified 2025-04-29.
-
Supervision & ratios
Two caregivers employed at the operation did not have a signed and notarized affidavit on file for review.
HHSC 746.901(4) — Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2985)
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2025-04-30. Correction verified 2025-05-02.
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Staff background & training
-
May 7, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Safety & premises
At the time of inspection the last documented fire drill was on 3/22/24. There was no documentation for a fire drill conducted in April.
HHSC 746.5205(4) — Documentation of Drills
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-05-21. Correction verified 2024-05-28.
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Illness & medication
Three children did not have their most current immunization records on file for review at the time of inspection.
HHSC 746.603(a)(4) — Children's Records - Immunizations
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-05-21. Correction verified 2024-05-28.
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Safety & premises
-
Feb 20, 2024 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Sep 13, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Jun 21, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Staff background & training
8 caregivers did not have the required 24 hours of annual training.
HHSC 746.1309(a) — Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-08-21. Correction verified 2023-09-13.
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Staff background & training
Director had 12 of the 30 required hours.
HHSC 746.1311(a) — Director Annual Training 30 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-08-21. Correction verified 2023-09-13.
-
Staff background & training
Three caregivers did not have current CPR/First Aid.
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 2023-07-12. Correction verified 2023-07-12.
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Staff background & training
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Apr 11, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Mar 2, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jul 26, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training Serious
One caregiver was providing care without an active background check. This was corrected at inspection when the teacher was removed from the operation.
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 2022-07-26.
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Staff background & training Serious
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Jul 22, 2022 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
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Illness & medication
The operation did not report a communicable disease within 48 hours of being notified.
HHSC 746.305(a)(4) — Report Outbreak of Communicable Illness
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-07-25. Correction verified 2022-08-22.
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Illness & medication
-
Feb 17, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Sep 30, 2021 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, 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.