Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77062
Between Feb 2, 2024 (the first state visit on record) and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Northstar Preschools at Clear Lake for 33 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 14 routine inspections and 9 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 11 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.3407 (4 times, most recently May 8, 2026).
The state lists Northstar Preschools at Clear Lake as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 06:30 AM to 06:00 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri). Programs on file: School Age Care, Before School Care, Meals Provided, After School Care, Snacks Provided, Part Time Care, Transportation to/from School, Field Trips. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 33 violations at Northstar Preschools at Clear Lake, 11 fall under rules Texas weights High and 14 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 | 11 | 33% |
| Medium High | 14 | 42% |
| Medium | 7 | 21% |
| Medium Low | 1 | 3% |
| Low | 0 | 0% |
Northstar Preschools at Clear Lake had 33 violations since Feb 2, 2024, a shorter record than most, more than the five-year median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 1.5 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
6 rules were cited more than once at Northstar Preschools at Clear Lake since Feb 2, 2024.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.3407 Medium High | 4 | 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: May 8, 2026 · first: Mar 18, 2025 |
| 746.5103 Medium High | 3 | When a fire inspection is required, the center must keep a copy of the most recent fire inspection report, letter, or checklist at the center during operating hours. The report must show the inspection date and findings and include the inspector's name and phone number. Official rule text Most recent: Aug 4, 2026 · first: Jun 5, 2026 |
| 745.641 High | 3 | 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 Most recent: Mar 25, 2025 · first: Jun 4, 2024 |
| 746.1316 Medium High | 2 | If the center transports children younger than nine (by age or development), each employee must complete two hours of transportation training each year before transporting a child, and the director must complete it too. These two hours are separate from orientation, pre-service, and annual training hours. Official rule text Most recent: Apr 20, 2026 · first: Sep 5, 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: May 16, 2025 · first: Mar 18, 2025 |
| 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: Mar 18, 2025 · first: Mar 14, 2025 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (from Feb 2) | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| 2026 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
23 visits on record since Feb 2, 2024, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2026 | Inspection | 2 | 1 |
| Jul 13, 2026 | Assessment | 2 | 2 |
| Jun 5, 2026 | Inspection | 4 | 1 |
| May 8, 2026 | Inspection | 4 | 2 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | Inspection | 456 | 2 |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Inspection | 487 | 4 |
| Aug 1, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Jul 17, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 5 | 3 |
| May 20, 2025 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| May 16, 2025 | Assessment | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 9, 2025 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 4 | None |
| Mar 25, 2025 | Inspection | 2 | 1 |
| Mar 21, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 3 | None |
| Mar 18, 2025 | Inspection | 871 | 8 |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Investigation (self-report) | 5 | 4 |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Assessment | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | Inspection | 406 | None |
| Jul 31, 2024 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Jun 4, 2024 | Inspection | 1 | 1 |
| May 28, 2024 | Investigation (self-report) | 2 | 1 |
| Feb 2, 2024 | Inspection | 1251 | 1 |
Medium High · Aug 4, 2026 · Inspection
The operation's fire inspection expired on 5/20/2026, the operation was initially cited for not having a current fire inspection. A new fire inspection has not been conducted to date to put the operation into compliance due to ongoing building construction.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Jul 13, 2026 · Assessment
The director is responsible for meeting compliance in maintaining current records, certificates, and permits. The director failed to ensure that the operation requested a fire inspection timely and as a result the operation is no longer in compliance.
In plain English: The director must make sure the center's daily operation and all employees follow the minimum standards, that staff assignments match their skills and training, and that employees are supervised. Caregivers may not be regularly scheduled for more than ten hours of direct child care in a 24-hour period, and qualified substitutes must be called in when needed to meet the standards. Official rule text
Medium High · Jul 13, 2026 · Assessment
The operation's fire inspection expired on 5/20/2026, the operation was cited for not having a current fire inspection. A new fire inspection has not been conducted to date to put the operation into compliance.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 5, 2026 · Inspection
A current fire inspection was not available upon request at inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
Multiple booster seats were observed to be expired and a majority of booster seats did not contain any covering or barrier
In plain English: 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
High · May 8, 2026 · Inspection
Multiple classrooms had chemicals such as Clorox toilet bowl cleaner, disinfectant spray, and gallons of paint easily accessible to children.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Apr 20, 2026 · Inspection
The director did not have transportation training available for review at the time of inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Apr 20, 2026 · Inspection
Multiple rooms were observed to have ceiling panels with water damage, gaps, exposed insulations, and a missing light panel.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 5, 2025 · Inspection
I observe child slepping in the crib that was not labeled with child's name. Note: corrected when staff labled the crib.
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 · Sep 5, 2025 · Inspection
An employee personnel record evaluated was missing two hours of transportation safety training.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 5, 2025 · Inspection
I observe toilet in after school class that was clogged with debris and not flushing. Note: corrected during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 5, 2025 · Inspection
I observe two infant feeding bottles that were not labeled. Note: corrected when bottles labeled.
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 · Jul 17, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained during the DFPS Investigation, it was determined a caregiver that is no longer employed was still listed with an active background check within the system.
In plain English: When a person with a background check stops being associated with the operation, the operation must mark them inactive within seven days. It must also confirm its current list of people with background checks every three months, or once a year for licensed and registered child-care homes and listed family homes. Official rule text
High · Jul 17, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained during the DFPS Investigation, it was determined that a caregiver used inappropriate discipline with children in care.
In plain English: 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
Medium High · Jul 17, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtain through DFPS investigation, the daycare was notified about the incident on 07/15/2025, and did not report the allegations of abuse/neglect to DFPS.
In plain English: The permit holder must set and follow policies that meet the state minimum standards, name a qualified director who is responsible on site every day, make sure staff report suspected abuse directly to the state hotline, and keep the number of children in care within the licensed capacity. It must also let parents visit any time during operating hours without prior approval and follow the state child-care licensing law and rules. Official rule text
High · May 16, 2025 · Assessment
The operation has not had an updated fire inspection completed by the local fire marshal. The fire inspection needed to be updated 10/04/2024.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Mar 25, 2025 · Inspection
I observe two employees present in the classroom without a completed background check.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
I observe two electrical outlets uncovered in 2yos and 18-23months classrooms. Note: corrected during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
I did not observe documentation of emergency drills recorded.
In plain English: The center must hold a fire drill every month, and the children must be able to get out of the building within three minutes. It must also hold a severe-weather sheltering drill and a lock-down drill at least four times a year each, and record the date, time, and length of every drill. Official rule text
Medium · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
Two caregivers are missing one hour of child maltreatment training.
In plain English: A caregiver's 24 hours of yearly training must fit the ages of the children in their care and cover set topics, including at least six hours on areas such as child development or guidance and discipline, and at least one hour on preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect. At least five of the hours must be instructor-led, and caregivers of children under 24 months must also have one hour on shaken baby syndrome, infant sleep practices and SIDS, and early brain development. Official rule text
Medium High · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
I did not observe current sanitation inspection completed for the daycare.
In plain English: The center must have a sanitation inspection by a local sanitation official before its first permit and at least once every 12 months, unless it is in a public school building run by the local school district. If no inspection is available, the center must get written proof of that from a sanitation official or county judge and keep it at the center. Official rule text
Medium · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
Two employees personnel records evaluate were missing information for operational/ employee policies, orientation and trainings completed.
In plain English: The center must keep certain records ready for state review during operating hours, including children's records, staff and training records, the director's certificate, staff time sheets, proof of liability insurance (or written notice to parents that it has none), playground checklists, and records of emergency drills, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. It must also keep its most recent fire, sanitation, and (if needed) gas inspection reports and its daily sign-in and sign-out system. Official rule text
Medium High · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
I observe in the Cruiser Room (2yos) one of the toilet was clogged, iron rode hanging from the window and trimming along the wall loose.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
The activity plan was not posted in the Endeavor's classroom (3-4yos). Note: corrected during inspection.
In plain English: The center must post each group's activity plan in a prominent place where parents and others can see it. Official rule text
High · Mar 18, 2025 · Inspection
I did not observe current fire marshal inspection for the daycare.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Mar 14, 2025 · Investigation (report)
I observe two caregivers present without a complete background check. Note: corrected during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Mar 14, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained during the investigation, it was determined caregiver did not provide supervision when a group of children left the child-care center unsupervised.
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 · Mar 14, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained during the investigation, it was determined the playground area was not inspected by caregiver before children went outside to ensure there is no safety hazards.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Mar 14, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained during the investigation, it was determined that parents were not provided with an incident report after group of children left the child-care center unsupervised.
In plain English: The center must fill out the state's Incident/Illness Report form (or one with the same information) when a child has an injury needing medical treatment or hospitalization, an illness needing hospitalization, or an emergency allergic reaction that required a stock epinephrine auto-injector not prescribed to the child. It must also fill one out when a child or employee gets a reportable disease, or when any unusual situation put a child at risk, such as a child left in a vehicle or wandering off. Official rule text
Medium Low · Jan 17, 2025 · Assessment
The operation had not submitted the total number of employees who ceased working at the operation the previous calendar year by January 15, 2024.
In plain English: The center must tell the state in writing within five days when its designee, the head of its governing body, their address, or its director changes. Each year by January 15, it must report online how many employees stopped working there during the previous year. Official rule text
High · Jun 4, 2024 · Inspection
During investigation inspection on 6/4/2024, it was determined the background check for one caregiver present and working with children was inactive. Note: caregiver left the operation during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 28, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained during the investigation, caregiver did not use good judgment by physically laying down a child for naptime in a forceful manner. The caregiver is no longer employed at the operation.
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
High · Feb 2, 2024 · Inspection
One of the vehicles used for transportation was missing an electronic child safety alarm.
In plain English: A vehicle that seats eight or more, is used to transport children, and was bought or leased on or after December 31, 2013, must have an electronic child alarm that is installed and maintained per the maker's instructions and used on every trip with children. Before turning off the alarm at the rear of the vehicle, the driver or a designated employee must account for every child and walk through the vehicle to check that no child is left inside. Official rule text
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Northstar Preschools at Clear Lake:
More in ZIP 77062 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Northstar Preschools at Clear Lake; 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).