Santee Head Start/State Preschool
Santee Head Start/State Preschool is a licensed child care center in San Jose, CA, licensed for up to 80 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2015. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 2 times and investigated 3 complaints, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 8 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for training & qualifications (2 of 8). 4 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #188 of 201 centers in San Jose and has more citations per inspection than 97% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. Two staffs (S3, S5) do not have updated Mandated Reporter Training Certificates.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. Updated Immunization records (Measles, Pertussis, and Influenza) are missing for four staff (S1, S2, S3, S5).
Based on [(observation) (interview) (record review)], the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in [count] out of [total count] [(objects) (persons)] [identifiers] which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on [(observation) (interview) (record review)], the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in [count] out of [total count] [(objects) (persons)] [identifiers] which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on interviews and records review, the child (C1) was left unsupervised in the play area and brought back to the room, Madrone 1 by Staff (S4), which poses a potential Health, Safety, or Personal Rights risk to persons in care.
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:(3) To be free from... other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living including eating... This requirement was not met as evidence by: 1 Training with staff will be conducted and submitted to LPA by the plan of correction date. Based on interviews and the self reported incident the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by a teacher taking food away from a child which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8
Site Supervisor Renee Garcia reported on 07/06/2023 at around 9:50am -10:00am child 1 left through the back door of Maple 3 classroom and was outside for less than a minute without supervision. This poses an immediate risk to the Health, Safety or Personal Rights to children in care.
Based on interviews and record reviews, Licensee did not comply with section cited above. A child’s personal rights was violated when child was forcefully pulled out from the facility garden and was grabbed by the wrist by a preschool staff which posed an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. Licensee must provide copies of this report to parents/guardians of children in care and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled during the next 12 months per the AB633 requirements.
Complaint investigations
Staff discarded daycare child's food while in care.
About this center
Common questions
Does Santee Head Start/State Preschool take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Santee Head Start/State Preschool had any serious violations?
California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jul 13, 2023, for care and supervision. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Santee Head Start/State Preschool?
California investigated 3 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Santee Head Start/State Preschool compare with other daycares in San Jose?
It is tied for #188 of 201 centers in San Jose by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 97% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Santee Head Start/State Preschool last inspected?
Oct 2, 2025. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Santee Head Start/State Preschool cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Santee Head Start/State Preschool for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, was $1,599 a month for preschoolers (about $2,020 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Santee Head Start/State Preschool?
The licensee is Santa Clara County Office Of Education, and the administrator listed with the state is Elisa Hernandez Vega.
Licensed centers nearby
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1945 Terilyn Ave, San Jose · 0.6 mi away · 176 spotsMore citations than mostKidango Foxdale
1250 Foxdale Loop, San Jose · ZIP 95122 away · 37 spotsToo few inspections to compareMcKinley State Preschool/Head Start
651 Macredes Avenue, San Jose · 0.9 mi away · 144 spotsMore citations than mostYWCA @ Summerwind
2055 Summerside Drive, San Jose · 1.0 mi away · 46 spotsToo few inspections to compare
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 434414441 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.