Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Sproutstart Academy

4926 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77018 · Harris County
1 high-risk citation in last 12 months

Sproutstart Academy is a licensed child care center in Houston, TX, licensed for up to 99 children and serving infants, toddlers and preschoolers. It has held its Texas license since 2019. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 13 times and investigated 3 reports. Inspectors recorded 32 citations, 2 of them high-risk, most often for building & playground safety (8 of 32). 5 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 high-risk. 3% were corrected during the inspection itself. Its last 2 inspections found no violations. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #713 of 882 centers in Houston and better than 5% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 5%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. Among the most cited
Tied for #713 of 882 centers in Houston
2High risk
14Medium High risk
13Medium risk
2Medium Low risk
1Low risk
32 citations from 13 inspections and 2 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 5 in the last 12 months · last inspected Sep 30, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Sep 30, 2026 · Inspection · no citationJul 29, 2026 · Assessment · citation foundNov 18, 2025 · Assessment · citation foundOct 17, 2025 · Inspection · no citationOct 6, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundOct 22, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundMar 5, 2024 · Report/investigation · citation foundFeb 29, 2024 · Inspection · no citationDec 11, 2023 · Inspection · no citationNov 15, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundNov 1, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundMay 19, 2023 · Inspection · no citationMay 16, 2023 · Report/investigation · no citationJan 17, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundNov 1, 2022 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 25, 2022 · Assessment · citation foundNov 19, 2021 · Inspection · no citationNov 2, 2021 · Inspection · citation foundOct 22, 2021 · Report/investigation · no citation
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Building & playground safety8
Training & qualifications6
Other standards4
Health & medication3
Staff ratios3
Food & feeding3
Records & paperwork3
Supervision1
Child protection1

Citations, newest first

HighJul 29, 2026InspectionOther standards
Franchise Tax Delinquent §745.247
The franchise tax status of the LLC that owns the operation has been delinquent since 2.27.2026
Correction verified Sep 17, 2026
MediumNov 18, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Medication No Longer Used §746.3809
An epi pen expired on 8.26.25.
Correction verified Nov 25, 2025
Medium HighOct 6, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean §746.3407(9)
A part of the base of the wall in the infant room had the border removed and showed black spots on the wall.
Correction verified Oct 17, 2025
MediumOct 6, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Keep Records for 3 Months §746.4751(d)
The operation does not have documentation of the daily building and playground checks.
Correction verified Oct 17, 2025
MediumOct 6, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Medication No Longer Used §746.3809
An epi pen expired on 8.26.25 and two inhalers expired on 6.2025 and 7.2025.
Correction verified Nov 18, 2025
MediumOct 22, 2024InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documented Annual Training- Required Content §746.1309(e)
Five staff members have not completed the administering medication training.
Correction verified Nov 4, 2024
Medium HighOct 22, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Safety - Areas Free From Hazards §746.3701
An active ant bed was present on the playground.
Correction verified Nov 4, 2024
Medium HighMar 5, 2024Found during an investigationTraining & qualifications
Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric first aid with rescue breathing and choking. §746.1315(a)
The director first aid has expired on 2/5/2024.
Correction verified Mar 19, 2024
MediumMar 5, 2024Found during an investigationHealth & medication
Children's Records - Incident/Illness Form §746.603(a)(7)
The incident report did not have the required information (missing director information, operation number, child's date of birth, information that child care regulation was notified or what type of first aid was conducted).
Correction verified Mar 22, 2024
Medium HighNov 15, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children §746.1601
In the infant classroom it was 6 children with one caregiver specified age group 12-17 months old, the caregiver was one over ratio. In the second classroom the caregiver had 12 children specified age group 2 years old, it was one over ratio, this was doing morning time of care.
Correction verified Dec 11, 2023
Medium HighNov 1, 2023InspectionSupervision
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know children's names and ages §746.1205(a)(3)
Caregiver did not have information of the ages of children that were in care.
Correction verified Nov 15, 2023
Medium HighNov 1, 2023InspectionOther standards
Space Requirements - Under 18 Months of Age Separate from Older Children §746.4203
They was a mixed age group of children in the voyagers classroom in the morning, the ages of the children were 12 months to 4 years old.
Correction verified Nov 15, 2023
Medium HighNov 1, 2023InspectionFood & feeding
Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional §746.3819
Two children's food allergy plan was not signed by a heath care professional.
Correction verified Nov 9, 2023
Medium HighNov 1, 2023InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment §746.3407
On the children's playground in the area of the rocker it was missing unitary surfacing materials around the rocker structure.
Correction verified Jan 11, 2024
MediumNov 1, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
Written Operational Policies - Benefits §746.501(a)(18)(A)
The operation did not have in their operational policies on how they would promotion the indoor and outdoor physical activity.
Correction verified Nov 8, 2023
Medium HighNov 1, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children §746.1601
In the infant classroom it was 8 children with one caregiver SAG 12-17 months old, the caregiver was three over ratio. In the second classroom the caregiver had 14 children SAG 2 years old, it was three over ratio, this was doing morning time of care.
Correction verified Nov 15, 2023
MediumNov 1, 2023InspectionOther standards
Storage for Individual Belongings §746.4505
Children did not have an individual hook labeled with their name that would be assisted to them.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2023
LowNov 1, 2023InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documentation of Training Requirements - Trainer's Qualifications §746.1329(b)(5)
The three caregivers First Aid and CPR cards did not have the trainers qualifications
Correction verified Dec 1, 2023
HighNov 1, 2023InspectionOther standards
Responsibilities - Not delay or prevent inspection or investigation §745.8411(b)(4)
The caregiver in charge was unable to give access to the rest of the building to inspected other classroom. Corrected: When the director made it to the operation and the inceptor was able to inspected the other classrooms.
Corrected during the visit
MediumJan 17, 2023InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Required Documentation for Unitary Surfacing Materials §746.4913
The operation did not provide documentation for the unitary surfacing on the playground.
Correction verified Jan 24, 2023
Medium HighJan 17, 2023InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment §746.3407
The outdoor playground had a ants pile and grass area was not maintain.
Correction verified Jan 20, 2023
MediumNov 1, 2022InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Personnel Records- Meets Requirements §746.901(2)
Two caregivers are missing information on how they meet education qualifications.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2022
Medium HighNov 1, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Pre-service Training for Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months §746.1305(b)
Six caregivers did not have pre-service training preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma for safe sleep practices and preventing sudden infant death syndrome and for early childhood brain development, the caregivers had a certificate in the file this certificate did not have the caregivers name of date a training was taken. The only thing on the certificate was a signature of the training.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2022
Medium HighNov 1, 2022InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Documentation of Fire Inspection §746.5103
The operation did not have documentation of the last fire inspection.
Correction verified Dec 13, 2022
MediumNov 1, 2022InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Children's Products- Annual Certification §746.4135(b)
The operation did not have a updated children's product form the last form was signed 1/27/2021.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2022
MediumNov 1, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required §746.1309(a)
A caregiver is missing 7 hours of annual training for training year 4-12-2021 to 4-12-2022.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2022
Medium LowNov 1, 2022InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit §746.901(4)
Two caregivers are missing signed affidavit in their files.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2022
Medium HighNov 1, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric CPR §746.1315(b)
One caregivers did not have CPR training.
Correction verified Nov 9, 2022
MediumNov 1, 2022InspectionChild protection
Required Personnel Records- signed dated statement that employee attended abuse/neglect training §746.901(10)
One caregiver is missing documentation of taking orientation.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2022
Medium LowFeb 25, 2022InspectionRecords & paperwork
Report Number of Employees §746.303(b)
A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2021 data from February 23, 2022, revealed that the center had not reported the number of employees who left employment in 2021 by February 22, 2022, as required.
Correction verified Feb 25, 2022
MediumNov 2, 2021InspectionFood & feeding
Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days §746.2421(b)
During review of infants the operation did not have current feeding instructions for 4 infants present not yet eating table food.
Correction verified Nov 19, 2021
Medium HighNov 2, 2021InspectionFood & feeding
Requirements for Feeding Infants - Other Use of Handwashing Sink §746.2419(8)
During the inspection a caregiver stated that she uses the hand washing sink to clean the infants bibs.
Correction verified Nov 19, 2021

About this center

Licensed capacity99 children
Ages servedInfant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten
Hours07:00 AM-06:00 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceMay 2, 2019
DirectorLaura Whitley
Phone7132060031
State operation #1681558

Common questions

Does Sproutstart Academy take infants?

Yes. Texas licenses it to care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

What are Sproutstart Academy’s hours?

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

Does Sproutstart Academy accept child care subsidies?

Not according to its state licensing record. Ask the center directly, since participation can change.

How much does Sproutstart Academy cost?

Texas does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Sproutstart Academy for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-day price at licensed centers in the Gulf Coast area, which includes Houston, is $42.60 a day for infants, $40.80 a day for toddlers and $39.40 a day for 3-year-olds (2025 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).

Has Sproutstart Academy had any serious violations?

Inspectors recorded 2 high-risk citations since 2021. The most recent was on Jul 29, 2026: “Franchise Tax Delinquent.” Each one is listed in full above.

How does Sproutstart Academy compare with other daycares in Houston?

It is tied for #713 of 882 centers in Houston by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 5% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was Sproutstart Academy last inspected?

Sep 30, 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 1681558 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.