Early Steps Bilingual Academy
1524 CUMBERLAND RD, Tyler, TX 75703 · Smith County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 112
- Ages
- Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 07:00 AM-05:30 PM
- Director / administrator
- Mireya Hicks
- Phone
- (903) 630-7363
- Regulated since
- Jun 24, 2019
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 1323780 · number 1686102
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | Supervision & ratios (3), Staff background & training (1), Other (1) |
| 2024 | 3 | 1 | Supervision & ratios (2), Safety & premises (1) |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | Staff background & training (2) |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 | Supervision & ratios (2) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
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Sep 30, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
During the inspection, it was observed caregivers without current training hours.
HHSC 746.1301(a)(5)(A) — Training Requirements for Employees, Caregivers, and Directors - 24 Annual training
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-30. Correction verified 2025-10-31.
-
Supervision & ratios
During the inspection, it was observed the operation has only conducted 3 fire drills for the year 2025.
HHSC 746.5205(1) — Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-10-30. Correction verified 2025-10-31.
-
Staff background & training
-
Aug 12, 2025 Report · Deficiencies cited
-
Other Serious
Based on a DFPS investigation this standard was reviewed and found to be deficient. A young child was placed in timeout for 5-7 minutes.
HHSC 746.2805(10) — Prohibited Punishments - Using Inappropriate Long Period of Silence or Inactivity Including Requiring Child to Remain in a Restrictive Device
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2025-09-18. Correction verified 2025-09-30.
-
Other Serious
-
Jul 21, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Jun 9, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Jun 5, 2025 Report · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios
This standard was reviewed during an investigation and found deficient. The operation does not have a caregiver physically present in the room during naptime.
HHSC 746.1613(a)(6) — Naptime Child/Caregiver Ratio - Caregivers Physically Present
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-06-30. Correction verified 2025-07-21.
-
Supervision & ratios
-
Jan 17, 2025 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios
The operation did not report the number of employees that left in 2024.
HHSC 746.303(b) — Report Number of Employees
HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2025-01-19. Correction verified 2025-01-23.
-
Supervision & ratios
-
Nov 18, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Safety & premises Serious
During an inspection of the playground, it was observed the merry-go-cycle had two broken seats. This was discussed with the director and a plan was put in place to keep the children off until the equipment is fixed.
HHSC 746.4601(7) — Safety Requirements for Active Play Equipment - No Pinch, Crush, or Shear Points
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2024-12-09. Correction verified 2024-12-04.
-
Supervision & ratios
During an inspection of the files, it was observed the operation did not mentioned anything about their outdoor act ivies.
HHSC 746.501(a)(18) — Written Operational Policies - Promotion of Physical Activity
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-12-02. Correction verified 2024-12-04.
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Supervision & ratios
During a review of the files, it was observed the operation did not mentioned anything regarding inclusive services.
HHSC 746.501(a)(30) — Written Operational Policies - Support inclusive services
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-12-02. Correction verified 2024-12-04.
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Safety & premises Serious
-
Jul 3, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jun 26, 2024 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jan 12, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Feb 28, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Staff background & training
During a review of staff training records, it was observed 4 staff members without enough training hours.
HHSC 746.1309(a) — Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-03-28. Correction verified 2023-04-11.
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Staff background & training
During a review of training records, it was observed the director did not have the 30 hours that are required.
HHSC 746.1311(a) — Director Annual Training 30 Hours Required
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2023-03-28. Correction verified 2023-04-11.
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Staff background & training
-
Aug 18, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Aug 5, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Supervision & ratios Serious
During a walk through of the center, it was observed by licensing a classroom of 7 children napping without a teacher present in the room. The children were left alone for about 15 minutes.
HHSC 746.1203(4) — Responsibilities of Caregivers - Supervision of Children
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2022-08-05. Correction verified 2022-08-18.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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Jul 28, 2022 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Apr 12, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
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Supervision & ratios Serious
During a walk through of the center, it was observed by licensing a child who was napping alone for four minutes. This was soon corrected at inspection by the teacher returning to the classroom.
HHSC 746.1203(4) — Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children
HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2022-04-12.
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Supervision & ratios Serious
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.