Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77096
Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Lil Learners Academy for 21 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 23 routine inspections and 15 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 4 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.2805 (2 times, most recently Aug 5, 2026).
The state lists Lil Learners 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, Meals Provided, After School Care, Snacks Provided, Drop-In Care, Part Time Care, Transportation to/from School, Field Trips. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 21 violations at Lil Learners Academy, 4 fall under rules Texas weights High and 12 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 | 4 | 19% |
| Medium High | 12 | 57% |
| Medium | 3 | 14% |
| Medium Low | 0 | 0% |
| Low | 2 | 10% |
Lil Learners Academy had 21 violations in five years, more than the median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 0.8 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
5 rules were cited more than once at Lil Learners Academy in the last five years.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.2805 High | 2 | No child may be treated in a harsh, cruel, or unusual way. Banned methods include physical punishment or threats of it, punishment tied to food, naps, or toilet training, grabbing or pulling a child, yelling at or humiliating a child, and putting a child in a locked or dark room. Official rule text Most recent: Aug 5, 2026 · first: Oct 9, 2025 |
| 746.3407 Medium High | 2 | 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: Jul 31, 2026 · first: Feb 10, 2022 |
| 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 · rule revised September 2024 Most recent: Mar 23, 2026 · first: Feb 10, 2022 |
| 746.1329 Low | 2 | The center must keep the original certificate or letter for each employee's annual training in the employee's file, showing the person's name, the date, topic, trainer and trainer's qualifications, and length. Pediatric first aid and CPR certificates must also show an expiration or renewal date, and orientation and pre-service training need a signed, dated statement from the employee and the trainer or a certificate. Official rule text Most recent: Feb 6, 2025 · first: Feb 6, 2025 |
| 746.1203 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 · rule revised March 2023 Most recent: Feb 10, 2022 · first: Feb 10, 2022 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Oct 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 2023 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 2025 | 7 | 14 | 5 |
| 2026 | 10 | 17 | 4 |
38 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Sep 3, 2026 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Aug 14, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Aug 5, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 6 | 1 |
| Jul 31, 2026 | Inspection | 2 | 2 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 4 | None |
| May 14, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| May 14, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Apr 9, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 2026 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Mar 23, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 6 | 1 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Jan 20, 2026 | Inspection | 727 | None |
| Dec 4, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Dec 3, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 2 | None |
| Nov 17, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Nov 13, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 5 | None |
| Oct 29, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Oct 14, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Oct 9, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 2 | 1 |
| Oct 7, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 2, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 4 | None |
| Jun 18, 2025 | Inspection | 1 | 1 |
| Jun 12, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Feb 6, 2025 | Inspection | 545 | 3 |
| Jun 20, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Feb 9, 2024 | Inspection | 725 | 4 |
| Mar 6, 2023 | Inspection | — | None |
| Feb 21, 2023 | Investigation (report) | 2 | None |
| Feb 10, 2023 | Inspection | 340 | None |
| Feb 25, 2022 | Inspection | 9 | None |
| Feb 10, 2022 | Inspection | 848 | 8 |
4 rules cited at Lil Learners Academy changed after some of these citations (marked “rule revised”), so the wording that applied at the time may differ from our plain-English explanation.
High · Aug 5, 2026 · Investigation (report)
Based on interview with staff and children, sufficient evidence was obtained to validate that a caregiver engaged in corporal punishment by hitting children as a form of discipline when the children were misbehaving.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jul 31, 2026 · Inspection
Observed a door leading to the outside area in the toddler classroom with a visible hole. This opening directly exposes the children to weather elements and creates a high risk for pest entry.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jul 31, 2026 · Inspection
Observed a changing mat with a tear making the mat absorbent.
In plain English: The center must have a smooth, non-absorbent, easy-to-clean diaper-changing surface and a hand-washing sink in the diapering area, and may not change diapers where children play or eat. When a child is on a raised changing surface, the caregiver must use a guard such as raised sides, keep a hand on the child, or stay facing the child within arm's reach. Official rule text
Medium High · Mar 23, 2026 · Investigation (report)
I observed the playground with a broken sharp fence board and nails protruding through the fence.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Oct 9, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on interview with staff and children there is enough evidence to validate that a staff scream at children when not following the rules.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 18, 2025 · Inspection
Four infants observed on a table highchair did not have any safety straps. This was corrected during inspection.
In plain English: High chairs, swings, strollers, infant carriers, bouncer seats, and similar equipment used for infants must have straps, and the straps must be fastened whenever an infant is in the equipment. Official rule text
Low · Feb 6, 2025 · Inspection
Training certificates evaluated did not contain the trainers qualifications.
Plain-English explanation above
Low · Feb 6, 2025 · Inspection
Training certificates evaluated did not contain the length of training hours for the transportation training.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Feb 6, 2025 · Inspection
1 out of 8 staff files evaluated did not contain documentation showing 24 clock hours of annual training was completed. An additional 6.5 hours is needed.
In plain English: New employees must complete orientation within seven days and before being alone with children, and caregivers must complete 24 hours of pre-service training (8 hours before being counted in the ratio and 16 more within 90 days) unless exempt. Caregivers and the director must complete pediatric first aid within 90 days and before being alone with children, and pediatric CPR within 90 days, keep both current, complete annual training every 12 months (24 hours for caregivers, 30 for the director), and take extra yearly training if they transport children under nine or take children to a pool. Official rule text (single-rule page)
Medium High · Feb 9, 2024 · Inspection
During the inspection a slide and balancing beam were observed over concrete with no loose fill or unitary surfacing materials.
In plain English: The area under and around climbing, rocking, spinning, bouncing, or moving equipment, slides, and swings must have loose-fill or unitary (one-piece) cushioning surface. How deep or thick that surface must be depends on the height of the highest play surface on the equipment. Official rule text
Medium · Feb 9, 2024 · Inspection
Documentation of a current Driver's License for one of the daycare drivers was not available for review upon request.
In plain English: The center must keep a file at the center for each employee, caregiver, substitute, and volunteer, available during operating hours. It must include items such as start and end dates, proof of age and education qualifications, the required state affidavit forms (Forms 2985 and 2912), training records, proof that background checks were requested, and a copy of a photo ID. Official rule text · rule revised August 2024
Medium · Feb 9, 2024 · Inspection
1 staff file evaluated contained education documentation written in a foreign language which has not been translated to English.
Official text of rule 746.1111
Medium High · Feb 9, 2024 · Inspection
During the inspection an infant was observed in their crib which contained loosely fitted sheets. Note: The provider removed the loose fitting sheets during the inspection.
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 · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
Several cots were observed to be too close together and did not provide adequate walking space for staff or children.
In plain English: Cots and mats must not block entrances or exits, must not be left out where they get in the way of other activities, and must leave enough room for caregivers to walk and work between them. Each child and caregiver must be able to reach a walkway without stepping on or over other children's cots or mats, and the setup must let the caregiver supervise every child in the group. Official rule text · rule revised March 2023
Medium High · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
A sink in the infant room was observed to be full of toys. The caregiver indicated the sink is used to clean toys, wash hands, and clean bottles.
In plain English: Caregivers must hold infants up to six months old, and older infants who cannot sit up on their own, while feeding them, and must never prop a bottle. Bottles and cups must be labeled with the infant's first name and last initial, infants may not walk around or sleep with a bottle or cup, the hand-washing sink and diaper-changing surface may not be used for food or bottle preparation, and high chair trays must be sanitized before each use. Official rule text
Medium · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
The Children's products safety certificate was last completed 2/19/2020 NOTE: Corrected at inspection, the CPSC was completed during the inspection.
In plain English: The center must check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall list and keep recalled children's products out of the center, except antiques or items being repaired that children cannot use or reach. Each year it must certify in writing on a state form that it has done this, and it must post a notice telling parents and staff how to find the recall list. Official rule text
Medium High · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
Records were reviewed for 10 children in care. I child did not have a valid immunization exemption on file. The exemption was observed to be a photocopy and the original was not available for review.
In plain English: Each child from birth through age 14 must meet and keep meeting the state health department's immunization requirements, and the center must keep current immunization records, including any exemptions or exceptions. Required immunizations must be complete by the admission date, unless an exemption is verified by then or a homeless or foster child is admitted provisionally for up to 30 days. Official rule text
Medium High · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
Several broken toys were observed on the playground. The surfacing used on the climbing structure not observed to be maintained. Several pieces of the surfacing were observed to be separating and creating tripping hazards. In some areas, grass could be seen growing through the surfacing.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
Upon arrival, the caregiver in the infant room was observed sitting in a chair outside of the room while supervising infants. Three infants were observed to be awake and walking around. There were no other caregivers present in the room.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised March 2023
High · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
A broken toy on the playground was observed to be collecting water.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024
Medium High · Feb 10, 2022 · Inspection
One caregiver in charge of a group of children 4-21 months was not aware of the ages of the children in care. When asked the ages of the children. The caregiver stated the oldest child in the room was 12 months. The oldest in the room was 21 months.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised March 2023
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Lil Learners Academy:
More in ZIP 77096 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Lil Learners 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).