Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77014
Between Sep 23, 2025 (the first state visit on record) and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Joyful Days Academy for 40 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 8 routine inspections and 1 other visit (investigations or paperwork reviews); 7 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.501 (8 times, most recently Oct 14, 2025).
The state lists Joyful Days Academy as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 06:00 AM to 07:00 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri). Programs on file: School Age Care, Before School Care, Accredited, Meals Provided, After School Care, Snacks Provided, Drop-In Care, Skill Classes, Part Time Care, Transportation to/from School, Field Trips. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 40 violations at Joyful Days Academy, 7 fall under rules Texas weights High and 16 under Medium High; the state sets each rule’s weight by the risk a violation poses to children. How weights work
| Weight | Violations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| High | 7 | 18% |
| Medium High | 16 | 40% |
| Medium | 15 | 38% |
| Medium Low | 0 | 0% |
| Low | 2 | 5% |
Joyful Days Academy had 40 violations since Sep 23, 2025, a shorter record than most, more than the five-year median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 4.9 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
10 rules were cited more than once at Joyful Days Academy since Sep 23, 2025.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.501 Medium | 8 | The center must have written policies on a long list of topics, including hours, how children are released, illness and exclusion, medication, medical emergencies, discipline, infant sleep, meals, immunizations, physical activity, parent rights, and its emergency plan. It must also tell parents that the area within 1,000 feet of the center is a gang-free zone. Official rule text Most recent: Oct 14, 2025 · first: Sep 23, 2025 |
| 746.3407 Medium High | 5 | The center must clean, repair, and maintain its building, grounds, and equipment to protect children's health. This includes sanitizing toys that children put in their mouths, keeping garbage out of children's reach, keeping floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair, and labeling cleaning supplies and storing them away from food and out of children's reach. Official rule text Most recent: Jun 25, 2026 · first: Sep 23, 2025 |
| 746.4313 Medium | 5 | Additional Requirements For Outdoor Activity Space Not Connected To Center - Other Conditions Specified Most recent: Jun 25, 2026 · first: Sep 23, 2025 |
| 746.4307 Medium | 3 | Fenced Outdoor Activity Space -Exits Required Most recent: May 8, 2026 · first: Sep 23, 2025 |
| 746.605 High | 3 | Before admitting a child, the center 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 center offers them. Official rule text Most recent: Sep 23, 2025 · first: Sep 23, 2025 |
| 746.5101 High | 2 | The center must have a fire inspection by a state or local fire marshal before its first permit is issued and at least once every 12 months. Centers in public school buildings run by the local school district are exempt, and if no inspection is available the center must get written proof of that from a fire marshal or county judge. Official rule text Most recent: Jul 23, 2026 · first: May 8, 2026 |
| 746.1203 Medium High | 2 | Caregivers must know and follow the state minimum standards and supervise children at all times. They must not be pulled away by tasks unrelated to caring for children, such as paperwork, janitorial work, or personal use of phones and other devices, and must pass along each child's information and parent instructions to the next shift. Official rule text Most recent: May 8, 2026 · first: Apr 14, 2026 |
| 746.3701 Medium High | 2 | All areas children can reach 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, pools, buckets, and other water kept away from children, and TVs anchored so they cannot tip over. Official rule text Most recent: May 8, 2026 · first: Mar 25, 2026 |
| 746.4601 High | 2 | Indoor and outdoor play equipment must be arranged so caregivers can watch children at all times, used as the manufacturer directs, and anchored so it cannot tip or move. It may not have openings that can trap a child or catch clothing, or exposed pinch, crush, or shear points; climbing equipment and swings may not sit over bare asphalt or concrete, and raised platforms and steps need barriers or handrails as the rule specifies. Official rule text Most recent: Apr 14, 2026 · first: Mar 23, 2026 |
| 746.4311 Medium High | 2 | Outdoor Activity Space Accessible By Safe Route or get required approval of plan Most recent: Oct 14, 2025 · first: Sep 23, 2025 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (from Sep 23) | 2 | 2 | 18 |
| 2026 | 6 | 7 | 22 |
9 visits on record since Sep 23, 2025, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2026 | Inspection | 664 | 1 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | Inspection | 7 | 2 |
| May 8, 2026 | Inspection | 13 | 9 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Inspection | 483 | 5 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | Inspection | 4 | 4 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 11 | 1 |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Inspection | 144 | None |
| Oct 14, 2025 | Inspection | 15 | 3 |
| Sep 23, 2025 | Inspection | 1270 | 15 |
High · Jul 23, 2026 · Inspection
The center does not have a current fire inspection. The last fire inspection was conducted on 4/16/25.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Jun 25, 2026 · Inspection
The current safety plan does not apply to the operation's ability to maintain the plan. A new playground safety plan has not been created to account for number of staff to help with transitioning and maintenance of the play area.
Official text of rule 746.4313
Medium High · Jun 25, 2026 · Inspection
No active ant beds were observed, but the grass was not maintained and tall enough to be hazardous towards children playing outside.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
A storage area in the school age classroom contains hazards such as tables leaning against the wall, stacked chairs and a multitude of other miscellaneous items is accessible to children.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
An active ant bed was observed on the playground.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
There was not enough lighting in the nap room to provide adequate supervision of the children.
In plain English: Caregivers may dim the lights during naptime, but there must be enough light to see every child in the group at all times. The rule counts lighting as enough if a person entering the room can see without waiting for their eyes to adjust. Official rule text
High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
A caregiver was allowed access to children prior to the operation receiving an eligibility notification from the Centralized Background Check Unit.
In plain English: An operation must get notice from the state's background check unit that a person is eligible, eligible with conditions, or provisionally eligible with conditions before letting that person be at the operation. While waiting, the person may attend orientation or pre-service training only if they have no contact with children in care. Official rule text
High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
The center does not have a current fire inspection. The lat fire inspection was conducted on 4/16/25.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
A follow-up inspection was conducted and compliance was not met. This deficiency is being recited. Additional conditions were implemented for the operation to follow a playground safety and transition plan which has not been maintained. Securing both exit gates, maintenance of the back alley, and number of caregivers to maintain proper supervision have not been practiced and conducted regularly.
Official text of rule 746.4313
High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
The caregiver did not know the number of children they were responsible for,
In plain English: Each caregiver must know which children they are responsible for, how many there are, and each child's name and age. The caregiver must stay close enough to see or hear what each child is doing, as the situation calls for, and be able to step in when needed. Official rule text
Medium High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
A caregiver was observed using her cell phone for personal use while responsible for supervising children during nap time.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
A follow-up inspection was conducted and compliance was not met. This deficiency is being recited. While there is a second gate opening at the end of the outdoor play area, children can not safely exit through the gate. On the other side, the exit is blocked by broken palm tree leaves, bushes, trash, and other hazards that make it impossible for a safe exit in case the first exit is unavailable for emergencies.
Official text of rule 746.4307
Medium High · Apr 14, 2026 · Inspection
Two of the restroom stalls have not been properly repaired. One toilet has a broken ceramic top where the water holds for flushing. One stall, has a huge hole underneath the toilet that has not been repaired.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Apr 14, 2026 · Inspection
The outdoor play equipment and structure was not securely anchored down into the ground and not set up properly while having exposed long metal points protruding from the bottom of the equipment.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Apr 14, 2026 · Inspection
Director responsiblities are not maintained when the director is overseeing caregiver roles and responsibilities which prohibits and limits the ability to conduct an inspection, provide records and documents, assist with administrative and clerical duties. Currently the director is the main caregiver providing care and supervision of the children in care.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Apr 14, 2026 · Inspection
While there is a second gate opening at the end of the outdoor play area, children can not safely exit through the gate. On the other side, the exit is blocked by broken palm tree leaves, bushes, trash, and other hazards that make it impossible for a safe exit in case the first exit is unavailable for emergencies.
Official text of rule 746.4307
Medium · Apr 14, 2026 · Inspection
Additional conditions were implemented for the operation to follow a playground safety and transition plan which has not been maintained. Ensuring broken equimpent is removed daily, securing both exit gates, maintenance of the back alley, and number of caregivers to maintain proper supervision have not been practiced and conducted regulary.
Official text of rule 746.4313
Medium · Mar 25, 2026 · Inspection
Personnel records were not immediately accessble for review when the director was supervising during naptime and the only staff member in the building, This was corrected when the owner had arrived at thhe operation and relieved the director from supervising to allow the director to obtain files for review by licensing.
Medium High · Mar 25, 2026 · Inspection
During naptime, a floor fan was observed to be on and working with no safegaurd or barrier around it. This was corrected when the director removed the fan unit from the area of care.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Mar 25, 2026 · Inspection
The infant crib did not have a tight fitted sheet. The sheet was loose with ripples and could easily be pinched up. It was oberved that the sheet did not fit the mattress properly. This was corrected when a tighter sheet was placed on the mattress.
In plain English: Each crib must have a firm, flat mattress made for that crib model that fits snugly with no added padding, snug-fitting sheets, secure hardware, slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, documentation that it meets federal crib standards, and a label with the infant's name (or a number with an assignment map). Cribs must be sanitized before another infant uses them, and an infant may never be left in a crib with the drop gate down. Official rule text
Medium High · Mar 25, 2026 · Inspection
Two of the restroom stalls have not been properly repaired. One toilet has a broken ceramic top where the water holds for flushing. One stall, has a huge hole underneath the toilet that has not been repaired. Outside, the second exit and pathway back into the buidling has not been maintained properly as potential hazards and tree debris is scattered behind the exit.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Mar 23, 2026 · Investigation (report)
Based on observations made, the outdoor play equipment and structure was not securely anchored down into the ground and was turned over on its side with a long metal point protruding from the bottom of the equipment.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 14, 2025 · Inspection
A safety plan for the playground was implemented but was missing vital criteria for approval.
Official text of rule 746.4311
Low · Oct 14, 2025 · Inspection
The operational policies did not discuss breastfeeding accommodations for mothers.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Oct 14, 2025 · Inspection
The operational policies did not include parent rights.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
The operational policies did not include inclusion service information for children with special needs.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
3 school aged children did not have the required school information on file.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
There was no plan to handle transportation emergencies.
Official text of rule 746.5619
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
There is no written notification to parents regarding the location of the outdoor play area.
Official text of rule 746.4313
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
The operational policies did not include all the abuse and neglect required information needed.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
The outdoor play area is located at the end of the shopping strip. There was no written plan for maintaining proper supervision upon transporting children to and from the outdoor play area.
Official text of rule 746.4313
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
The operational policies did not include parent rights.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
The operational policies did not include all the required information for the promotion of indoor and outdoor physical activity.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
The outdoor play area has a metal play train and tube that is missing parts and not kept in good repair. The transportation van also was not properly cleaned out and had garabge and debris on the floors of the van.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
There was no transportation policy stated in the operational policies. The operation does offer transportation.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
While there is a second gate opening at the end of the outdoor play area, children can not safely exit through the gate. On the other side, the exit is blocked by trees, bushes, trash, an empty gas container, and other hazards that make it impossible for a safe exit in case the first exit is unavailable for emergencies.
Official text of rule 746.4307
Low · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
The operational policies did not discuss breastfeeding accommodations for mothers.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
One child did not have an emergency contact listed in their file.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
Two children did not have emergency medical authorization from a parent.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 23, 2025 · Inspection
It was found that the route to the outdoor play area had additional hazards such as it being located right next to a bar/lounge. It was observed to have men coming in and out of the lounge with paraphernalia and smoking outside the lounge area. The outdoor play area is also located next to the shopping strip dumpster where it was observed that garabage and other hazards can easily make their way onto the play area.
Official text of rule 746.4311
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Joyful Days Academy:
More in ZIP 77014 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Joyful Days Academy; 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).