Smart Start Preschool
Smart Start Preschool is a licensed child care center in Chico, CA, licensed for up to 106 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2006. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times and investigated 2 complaints, 0 of them substantiated. The state issued 3 citations, 0 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for records & paperwork (2 of 3). None came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #26 of 47 centers in Chico and better than 40% of licensed centers statewide.
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 in S7 missing MMR from employee file which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
This requirement was not met as evidenced by: based on interviews it was determined that the facility failed to report an injury which occurred to a child to the child's authorized representative. This is a potential health and safety risk to children in care
101212(d)(1)(C) upon the occurrence, during the operation of the child care center of any of the events specified in (d)(1) below, a report shall be made to the Department...., a written report containing the information...shall be submitted to the Department within seven days following the occurrence of such event. (1)Events reported shall include the following: (B) Any injury to any child that requires medical treatment. Facility administrator has provided guidance for all staff regarding injuries that occur to children who are in care at the facility and reporting requirements. This citation will be cleared as of this date, 11/07/24 This requirement was not met as evidence by: Based on file review, the facility did not notify the department by phone or written report within specified timelines, which poses a potential health and safety risk to children in care. 8
Complaint investigations
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does Smart Start Preschool take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children. An infant center is licensed separately at the same address (listed below).
Has Smart Start Preschool had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 3 Type B citations, listed above.
Have there been complaints about Smart Start Preschool?
California investigated 2 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 0. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Smart Start Preschool compare with other daycares in Chico?
It is tied for #26 of 47 centers in Chico by weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 40% of licensed centers statewide (out of 10,948 California centers with enough inspection history).
When was Smart Start Preschool last inspected?
Feb 4, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Smart Start Preschool cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Smart Start Preschool for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Butte County, which includes Chico, was $695 a month for preschoolers (about $880 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Smart Start Preschool?
The licensee is Thomas, Julie & Gregory, and the administrator listed with the state is Julie Thomas.
Licensed centers nearby
1565 East Avenue, Chico · under 0.1 mi away · 19 spotsNo citationsLittle Lions Preschool
1560 Manzanita Ave, Chico · 0.1 mi away · 151 spotsMore citations than mostChico Oaks Preschool
1859 Hooker Oak Avenue, Chico · 0.6 mi away · 42 spotsAbout typicalE Center Hs Pgms - Mariposa
2603 Mariposa Ave, Chico · 0.7 mi away · 40 spotsToo few inspections to compareLittle Discoveries Preschool
4 Creative Lane, Chico · 1.0 mi away · 40 spotsAmong the most citedLittle Discoveries Preschool - Infants
4 Creative Lane, Chico · 1.0 mi away · 8 spotsMore citations than most
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 045404371 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.