Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77048
Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center for 19 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 17 routine inspections and 5 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 12 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.5617 (5 times, most recently May 16, 2024).
The state lists Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 05:30 AM to 05:30 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, Night Care. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 19 violations at Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center, 12 fall under rules Texas weights High and 7 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 | 12 | 63% |
| Medium High | 7 | 37% |
| Medium | 0 | 0% |
| Medium Low | 0 | 0% |
| Low | 0 | 0% |
Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center had 19 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.
3 rules were cited more than once at Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center in the last five years.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.5617 High | 5 | Each vehicle used to transport children must carry a list of the children on board, their emergency medical authorization forms, parent and emergency phone numbers, the center's name and phone number, a fire extinguisher approved by a fire marshal, and a first-aid kit. The driver must have a current driver's license. Official rule text Most recent: May 16, 2024 · first: May 16, 2024 |
| 746.5607 High | 3 | Each child being transported must be secured in a car seat, booster seat, vest, harness, or seat belt that fits the child's age, height, and weight, meets federal crash-test standards, is installed per the maker's instructions, and has not expired, been damaged, or been in an accident. Children 12 and younger may not ride in the front seat. Official rule text Most recent: May 16, 2024 · first: May 7, 2024 |
| 746.605 Medium High | 2 | 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 · rule revised September 2024 Most recent: May 12, 2026 · first: Oct 3, 2023 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Oct 20) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 | 9 | 14 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
22 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2026 | Inspection | 13 | None |
| May 12, 2026 | Inspection | 446 | 1 |
| Sep 4, 2025 | Inspection | 634 | None |
| Apr 30, 2025 | Inspection | 116 | None |
| Mar 18, 2025 | Inspection | 79 | None |
| Nov 22, 2024 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| Nov 14, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Nov 4, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 5 | None |
| Oct 16, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 11, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 4 | None |
| Sep 10, 2024 | Inspection | 631 | 1 |
| May 29, 2024 | Inspection | 7 | None |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2024 | Inspection | 11 | 7 |
| May 7, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 6 | 6 |
| Oct 3, 2023 | Inspection | 622 | 2 |
| Jun 27, 2023 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Apr 25, 2023 | Inspection | — | None |
| Apr 20, 2023 | Investigation (report) | 1 | None |
| Oct 5, 2022 | Inspection | 601 | None |
| Sep 21, 2022 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Nov 12, 2021 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Nov 3, 2021 | Inspection | 585 | 2 |
One rule cited at Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center 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 · May 12, 2026 · Inspection
There was no Food Allergy Emergency Plan for diagnosed food allergy available for review during the inspection for one out of four children files reviewed.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 10, 2024 · Inspection
There was no current fire inspection report available for review during the inspection. Fire inspection was observed last dated 5/22/23.
In plain English: 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
High · May 16, 2024 · Inspection
There was no emergency medical transport and treatment authorization forms for children being transported in vehicle during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 16, 2024 · Inspection
There was no fire extinguisher observed in vehicle used for transporting children during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 16, 2024 · Inspection
There was no parent names or emergency contact numbers for children being transported in vehicle during the inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 16, 2024 · Inspection
There was no first aid kit observed in the vehicle used to transport children during the inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 16, 2024 · Inspection
There was no list of children being transported in the vehicle used to transport children during the inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 16, 2024 · Inspection
A 4 year old child was observed not properly secured in a child safety seat while being transported in vehicle.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 16, 2024 · Inspection
Fire extinguishers were observed expired, last serviced 03/2023 during inspection.
In plain English: The director or a designee must inspect the fire extinguishers every month and record the date and the employee's name. Extinguishers must be serviced as the manufacturer or the fire marshal requires. Official rule text
Medium High · May 7, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the car seat that a child was riding in was not properly secured into the vehicle.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 7, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation there is sufficient evidence to suggest that at least one seat belt in the vehicle was not working.
In plain English: The state does not regulate which type of vehicle a center uses to transport children, but it sorts vehicles into general purpose vehicles, small school buses, and large school buses for its other transportation rules. Every vehicle must be kept in "safe operating condition" at all times, in the rule's words. Official rule text
Medium High · May 7, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation there is enough evidence to suggest that there was not an additional caregiver besides the driver in the vehicle while transporting a child under two years old.
Official text of rule 746.1805
High · May 7, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a caregiver did not intervene when necessary to ensure a child’s safety when a child fell from a car safety seat while being transported.
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
High · May 7, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation there is sufficient evidence to suggest that an 11-month-old infant was transported in a booster seat instead of a rear facing car seat as required.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 7, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation there is sufficient evidence to suggest that neglectful supervision occurred.
In plain English: Every center employee, including staff not counted in the child-to-caregiver ratio, must show competency, good judgment, and self-control around children and treat them with courtesy, respect, and patience. Employees must make sure no child is abused, neglected, or exploited in care, and must report suspected abuse or neglect to the state. Official rule text
Medium High · Oct 3, 2023 · Inspection
Four children files observed were not updated. The childcare facility did not update the children files to portray the updated required information by 09/01/2023. The files observed did not include an updated special care needs section, modifications, and/or the child's swimming ability.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024
Medium High · Oct 3, 2023 · Inspection
One caregiver was observed caring for 7 infants ages 9 months, 10 months, 10 months, 12 months, 13 months, 16 months, and 17 months old. This was corrected during inspection when another caregiver returned to the room to assist with caring for the infants.
In plain English: In centers licensed for 13 or more children, one caregiver may supervise at most 4 infants under 12 months, 5 children 12 to 17 months, 9 children 18 to 23 months, 11 two-year-olds, 15 three-year-olds, 18 four-year-olds, 22 five-year-olds, or 26 children ages 6 to 13. The limit is based on the group's specified age as the rules define it. Official rule text (single-rule page)
High · Nov 3, 2021 · Inspection
One caregiver was at the operation without an eligible background check. Another citation related to background checks within the next 6 months may result in an additional penalty and other enforcement actions. Corrected: The caregiver left the operation during the inspection.
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 · Nov 3, 2021 · Inspection
One infants had a pacifier attached to clothing while asleep in the crib. Corrected: Caregiver removed the pacifier from the infants clothes.
In plain English: Infant care must include regular care by the same caregiver when possible, individual attention such as talking, playing, and holding, comforting infants who are upset, and prompt attention to feeding and diapering. The area must be kept free of objects infants or toddlers could choke on, and an infant may never be left unsupervised. Official rule text
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center:
More in ZIP 77048 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Mary's Little Lamb Learning Center; 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).