Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Smart Start Center

100 F M 429 N, Terrell, TX 75160 · Kaufman County
1 high-risk citation in last 12 monthsAccepts child care subsidies

Smart Start Center is a licensed child care center in Terrell, TX, licensed for up to 113 children and serving infants through school-age children. It has held its Texas license since 2004. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 11 times and investigated 4 reports. Inspectors recorded 15 citations, 2 of them high-risk, most often for health & medication (4 of 15). 4 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 high-risk. 7% were corrected during the inspection itself. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is #5 of 5 centers in Terrell and better than 27% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 27%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. More citations than most
#5 of 5 centers in Terrell
2High risk
3Medium High risk
9Medium risk
1Medium Low risk
0Low risk
15 citations from 11 inspections and 2 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 4 in the last 12 months · last inspected Apr 2, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Apr 2, 2026 · Inspection · no citationMar 27, 2026 · Report/investigation · citation foundMar 19, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundMar 18, 2026 · Report/investigation · citation foundFeb 25, 2026 · Inspection · no citationApr 16, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundMay 7, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 20, 2024 · Report/investigation · no citationSep 13, 2023 · Inspection · no citationJun 21, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundApr 11, 2023 · Inspection · no citationMar 2, 2023 · Inspection · no citationJul 26, 2022 · Inspection · citation foundJul 22, 2022 · Report/investigation · citation foundFeb 17, 2022 · Inspection · no citation
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Health & medication4
Training & qualifications4
Records & paperwork3
Building & playground safety2
Caregiver conduct1
Staff ratios1

Citations, newest first

MediumMar 27, 2026Found during an investigationRecords & paperwork
Provide Parents With Copy of Policies §746.503
A parent was not provided with the operational policies.
Correction verified Apr 30, 2026
MediumMar 27, 2026Found during an investigationRecords & paperwork
Provide Access to Children's Records - Parents §746.601(b)
A parent was not allowed access to their child's application.
Correction verified Apr 29, 2026
HighMar 19, 2026InspectionCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment §746.2805(1)
Based on interviews and observations, it was determined that a caregiver threatened a child.
Correction verified Apr 2, 2026
Medium HighMar 18, 2026Found during an investigationBuilding & playground safety
Safety - Electrical Outlets Covered §746.3701(1)
The operation did not ensure that the electric outlet was covered. One outlet did not have a cover.
Correction verified Apr 30, 2026
MediumApr 16, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Children's Records - Immunizations §746.603(a)(4)
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.
Correction verified Apr 29, 2025
Medium LowApr 16, 2025InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2985) §746.901(4)
Two caregivers employed at the operation did not have a signed and notarized affidavit on file for review.
Correction verified May 2, 2025
MediumApr 16, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Children's Records - Health Statement §746.603(a)(3)
At the time of inspection two children did not have the required health statements on file for review.
Correction verified Apr 29, 2025
MediumApr 16, 2025InspectionTraining & qualifications
Director Annual Training 30 Hours Required §746.1311(a)
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.
Correction verified May 14, 2025
MediumMay 7, 2024InspectionHealth & medication
Children's Records - Immunizations §746.603(a)(4)
Three children did not have their most current immunization records on file for review at the time of inspection.
Correction verified May 28, 2024
MediumMay 7, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Documentation of Drills §746.5205(4)
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.
Correction verified May 28, 2024
Medium HighJun 21, 2023InspectionTraining & qualifications
Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric first aid with rescue breathing and choking. §746.1315(a)
Three caregivers did not have current CPR/First Aid.
Correction verified Jul 12, 2023
MediumJun 21, 2023InspectionTraining & qualifications
Director Annual Training 30 Hours Required §746.1311(a)
Director had 12 of the 30 required hours.
Correction verified Sep 13, 2023
MediumJun 21, 2023InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required §746.1309(a)
8 caregivers did not have the required 24 hours of annual training.
Correction verified Sep 13, 2023
HighJul 26, 2022InspectionStaff ratios
AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation §745.641
One caregiver was providing care without an active background check. This was corrected at inspection when the teacher was removed from the operation.
Corrected during the visit
Medium HighJul 22, 2022Found during an investigationHealth & medication
Report Outbreak of Communicable Illness §746.305(a)(4)
The operation did not report a communicable disease within 48 hours of being notified.
Correction verified Aug 22, 2022

About this center

Licensed capacity113 children
Ages servedInfant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours06:00 AM-06:30 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceOct 19, 2004
DirectorLinda Hernandez
Phone9725240071
State operation #842720

Common questions

Does Smart Start Center take infants?

Yes. Texas licenses it to care for infants through school-age children.

What are Smart Start Center’s hours?

6 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday, according to its state licensing record. Confirm holiday and summer hours with the center.

Does Smart Start Center accept child care subsidies?

Yes, according to its state licensing record.

How much does Smart Start Center cost?

Texas does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Smart Start Center for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-day price at licensed centers in the North Central Texas area, which includes Terrell, is $51.00 a day for infants, $48.80 a day for toddlers and $47.00 a day for 3-year-olds (2025 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).

Has Smart Start Center had any serious violations?

Inspectors recorded 2 high-risk citations since 2021. The most recent was on Mar 19, 2026: “Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment.” Each one is listed in full above.

How does Smart Start Center compare with other daycares in Terrell?

It is #5 of 5 centers in Terrell by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 27% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was Smart Start Center last inspected?

Apr 2, 2026. No violations were found during that visit.

Licensed centers nearby

Citations are quoted from Texas HHS inspection records. Many are corrected the same day, and a citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall.

To see the official record, search operation 842720 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.