Know Your Daycare

Registered Child Care Home · Houston, TX 77053

Dolores Appling

Operation name as registered with Texas HHSC, permit no. 411136.

Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Dolores Appling for 16 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 5 routine inspections and 1 other visit (investigations or paperwork reviews); 0 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 747.603 (3 times, most recently Jun 6, 2024).

The state lists Dolores Appling as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri). Programs on file: Before School Care, Meals Provided, After School Care, Snacks Provided, Drop-In Care.

What rules a registered child care home follows

Registered child care homes in Texas care for up to 6 children in the caregiver’s own residence, plus up to 6 more school-age children after school (12 at most). They follow the Minimum Standards in Chapter 747 and get an unannounced state inspection at least once every two years. The state lists Dolores Appling with a capacity of 12.

Violations by state risk weight

Of the 16 violations at Dolores Appling, 0 fall under rules Texas weights High and 10 under Medium High; the state sets each rule’s weight by the risk a violation poses to children. How weights work

WeightViolationsShare
High00%
Medium High1063%
Medium638%
Medium Low00%
Low00%

Compared with other Houston registered child care homes

Dolores Appling had 16 violations in five years, more than the median of 6 across Houston’s 355 registered child care homes, and 2.6 per routine inspection against a median of 2.2 — a count of state records, not a rating.

Violations in five years: Dolores Appling 16, Houston five-year median 6This daycare16Houston median6

Repeat issues

5 rules were cited more than once at Dolores Appling in the last five years.

RuleTimesWhat the rule covers
747.603
Medium		3The child-care home must keep a record for each enrolled child, including the enrollment agreement, admission information, a health statement from a health-care professional, and immunization records, plus items such as medication records when they apply. These records must be kept at the home, available during operating hours, generally until three months after the child's last day. Official rule text
Most recent: Jun 6, 2024 · first: Sep 7, 2023
747.207
Medium High		2The primary caregiver of a child-care home must set and follow policies that meet the standards, make sure assistants, substitutes, and household members follow the rules that apply to them, start required background checks, and report suspected abuse directly to the state hotline. The caregiver must also let parents visit any time during operating hours without prior approval and never go over the home's licensed or registered capacity. Official rule text
Most recent: Nov 6, 2023 · first: Sep 7, 2023
747.3501
Medium High		2All areas children can reach in the home must be free of hazards. The rule lists examples such as childproof covers on outlets for children under five, heaters and fans mounted out of reach or guarded, poisonous plants kept out of reach, and pools, buckets, and other water kept away from children. Official rule text · rule revised September 2024
Most recent: Nov 6, 2023 · first: Sep 7, 2023
747.1303
Medium High		2Each caregiver must complete orientation within seven days and before being alone with children, and pediatric first aid and CPR on a set schedule (before the home is registered or licensed for the primary caregiver, before being counted in the ratio for substitutes, within 90 days for assistants), then stay current. Annual training is due within 12 months of starting and every 12 months after: 30 hours for the primary caregiver, and 15 hours (registered homes) or 24 hours (licensed homes) for assistants and substitutes counted in the ratio more than ten times a year, plus yearly transportation or pool training when it applies. Official rule text (single-rule page) · rule revised September 2024
Most recent: Sep 12, 2022 · first: Sep 12, 2022
747.501
Medium High		2The child-care home must have written policies on set topics, including how children are released, illness and exclusion, medication, medical emergencies, discipline, infant sleep, physical activity, parent rights, and its emergency plan. The policies must also tell parents how to find the state minimum standards, the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline, and the HHSC website. Official rule text · rule revised August 2024
Most recent: Sep 12, 2022 · first: Sep 12, 2022

Year by year

Routine inspections and violations per year at Dolores Appling, 2021 to 2026002021182022162023112024102025112026
YearRoutine inspectionsAll state visitsViolations
2021 (from Oct 20)000
2022118
2023126
2024111
2025110
2026111

Every state visit

6 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.

DateTypeRules checkedViolations
Apr 30, 2026Inspection10411
May 22, 2025Inspection1061None
Jun 6, 2024Inspection10351
Nov 6, 2023Assessment43
Sep 7, 2023Inspection10353
Sep 12, 2022Inspection9708

All 16 violations, newest first

4 rules cited at Dolores Appling changed after some of these citations (marked “rule revised”), so the wording that applied at the time may differ from our plain-English explanation.

Medium High · Apr 30, 2026 · Inspection

747.605(6) - Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact

One out of four children's files had a parent listed as an emergency contact.

In plain English: Before admitting a child, the home must collect set information, including the child's name and birth date, how to reach the parents, an emergency contact for when parents can't be reached, the people allowed to pick up the child, and permission to get emergency medical care. It must also record the child's special care needs, any allergies with a food allergy emergency plan if needed, and permission for transportation, field trips, or water activities if the home offers them. Official rule text

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Apr 30, 2026
Correction verified:
May 5, 2026
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium · Jun 6, 2024 · Inspection

747.603(a)(3) - Children's Records - Health Statement

One out of Four children's records reviewed is missing a health statement.

Plain-English explanation above

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Jun 27, 2024
Correction verified:
Jun 24, 2024
Technical assistance given:
Yes

Medium High · Nov 6, 2023 · Assessment

747.3501 - Safety - Areas Free From Hazards

RECITED - Pictures provided on 10/27 and 10/30 do not show compliance. The entire yard must be cleaned of all debris. Several safety hazards were observed in the outdoor space designated for children have a narrow walkway from the door to the yard due the large number of items present. The yard was observed to be cluttered with items like wooden boards, concrete mix, tires, insecticide and other hazardous materials.

Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Nov 17, 2023
Correction verified:
Dec 13, 2023
Technical assistance given:
Yes

Medium · Nov 6, 2023 · Assessment

747.603(a)(2) - Children's Records - Admission Information

RECITED - Verification of 100% compliance had not been provided by the original compliance date of 10/06/2023. Out of the 4 records for children evaluated during the inspection, none included the required information listed on their enrollment form.

Plain-English explanation above

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Nov 17, 2023
Correction verified:
Nov 17, 2023
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium High · Nov 6, 2023 · Assessment

747.207(1) - Policies Comply with Rules

RECITED - The updated operational policies provided still did not include all of the required information, specifically, 747.501(8)(b); 747.5010(8)(c) 747.501(9); 747.501(10); 747.501(11), and the emergency preparedness plan did not include procedures for 747.5003(1)(b); 747.5003(4) and 747.5003(5) The operational policies available for review during the inspection did not include policies and procedures for the following: (1) Safe Sleep; (2) Promotion of indoor and outdoor physical activity that is consistent with Developmental Activities and Activity Plan, the policy must include (a)The duration of physical activity at your home, both indoor and outdoor ; (b)The recommended clothing and footwear that will allow a child to participate freely and safely in physical activities; and (c) A plan to ensure physical activity occurs on days when extreme weather conditions prohibit or limit outdoor time; (3) Your emergency preparedness plan and (4) Procedures for parents to visit the child-care home any time during your hours of operation to observe their child, program activities, the home, the premises, and equipment without having to secure prior approval.

Plain-English explanation above

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Nov 17, 2023
Correction verified:
Nov 16, 2023
Technical assistance given:
Yes

Medium High · Sep 7, 2023 · Inspection

747.3501 - Safety - Areas Free From Hazards

Several safety hazards were observed in the outdoor space designated for children have a narrow walkway from the door to the yard due the large number of items present. The yard was observed to be cluttered with items like wooden boards, concrete mix, tires, insecticide and other hazardous materials.

Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Oct 7, 2023
Correction verified:
Nov 6, 2023
Technical assistance given:
Yes

Medium · Sep 7, 2023 · Inspection

747.603(a)(2) - Children's Records - Admission Information

Out of the 4 records for children evaluated during the inspection, none included the required information listed on their enrollment form.

Plain-English explanation above

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Oct 6, 2023
Correction verified:
Nov 6, 2023
Technical assistance given:
Yes

Medium High · Sep 7, 2023 · Inspection

747.207(1) - Policies Comply with Rules

The operational policies available for review during the inspection did not include policies and procedures for the following: (1) Safe Sleep; (2) Promotion of indoor and outdoor physical activity that is consistent with Developmental Activities and Activity Plan, the policy must include (a)The duration of physical activity at your home, both indoor and outdoor ; (b)The recommended clothing and footwear that will allow a child to participate freely and safely in physical activities; and (c) A plan to ensure physical activity occurs on days when extreme weather conditions prohibit or limit outdoor time; (3) Your emergency preparedness plan and (4) Procedures for parents to visit the child-care home any time during your hours of operation to observe their child, program activities, the home, the premises, and equipment without having to secure prior approval.

Plain-English explanation above

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Oct 6, 2023
Correction verified:
Nov 6, 2023
Technical assistance given:
Yes

Medium High · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.5005(1) - Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes

The last fire drill was conducted on June 15th, 2022.

In plain English: The child-care home must hold a fire drill every month, and the children must be able to get out of the home within three minutes. It must also hold a severe-weather sheltering drill and a lock-down drill at least four times a year each. Official rule text

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Sep 26, 2022
Correction verified:
Sep 14, 2022
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.2105(a) - Screen Time Activities - Not Used for Under Two

A 1 year old child was observed watching television during the inspection. Note: This was corrected during the inspection when the provider turned the television off.

In plain English: Child-care homes may not use screen time for children under two. For older children, screen time may only add to other activities, not replace them, and it must be tied to planned learning goals, age-appropriate, no more than one hour a day, free of ads and violence, and not used during meals, snacks, naps, or rest times. Official rule text

Corrected at inspection:
Yes
Correction date:
Sep 12, 2022
Technical assistance given:
Yes
Show 6 older violations

Medium High · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.1303(5)(A) - Training Requirements for Primary Caregiver -30 Hours Annual Training

The primary caregiver has only completed 2 hours of annual training. An additional 28 hours of training is required.

Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Sep 26, 2022
Correction verified:
Oct 11, 2022
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium High · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.501(6) - Written Operational Policies - Safe Sleep for Infants

Documentation of Safe Sleeping Policies for Infants under 12 months was not listed in the operational policies. Note: The Safe Sleep Policy Form was given to the provider during the inspection.

Plain-English explanation above · rule revised August 2024

Corrected at inspection:
Yes
Correction date:
Sep 12, 2022
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.801(2) - Records Maintained and Made Available - Infant Feeding Instructions

Feeding instructions for a 5 month old was not available for review upon request during the inspection.

In plain English: The child-care home must keep certain records ready for state review during operating hours, including children's records, staff and training records, menus, medication records, pet vaccination records, and records of emergency drills, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. It must also keep crib documentation, a signed form showing it reviewed federal product recall notices, and proof of liability insurance or written notice to parents that it has none. Official rule text · rule revised March 2023

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Sep 19, 2022
Correction verified:
Oct 7, 2022
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium High · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.4407(b) - Maintenance Procedures for Active Play Space - Hazards Removed or Repaired

A pool of water in a wading pool was accessible to children. There are bricks and other tripping hazards in the outdoor play area.

Official text of rule 747.4407

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Sep 26, 2022
Correction verified:
Oct 11, 2022
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.501(8) - Written Operational Policies - Promotion of Physical Activity

Promotion of Physical Activities was not included in the operational policies.

Plain-English explanation above · rule revised August 2024

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Sep 30, 2022
Correction verified:
Oct 1, 2022
Technical assistance given:
No

Medium High · Sep 12, 2022 · Inspection

747.1303(4)(A) - Training Requirements for Caregivers Licensed -24 hours Annual Training

A substitute caregiver has not completed 24 hours of annual training.

Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024

Corrected at inspection:
No
Correction date:
Sep 30, 2022
Correction verified:
Oct 13, 2022
Technical assistance given:
No

What to ask on a visit

Based on the kinds of rules cited at Dolores Appling:

Enrollment and attendance records

Licensing, postings, and management

Building, equipment, and products

Policies and communication with parents

More Houston daycares with state records

More in ZIP 77053 and all of Houston.

Source and corrections

This page reports the state’s records for Dolores Appling; it is not a rating, a recommendation, or a background check, and may not be used for employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions.

Explanations follow the current rules (HHSC minimum standards, revised December 2025).