Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77064
Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Stair Steps 2 Learning for 59 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 14 routine inspections and 2 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 13 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.605 (6 times, most recently Sep 14, 2026).
The state lists Stair Steps 2 Learning as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 06:00 AM to 06:30 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat). 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, Weekend Care, Field Trips. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 59 violations at Stair Steps 2 Learning, 13 fall under rules Texas weights High and 27 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 | 13 | 22% |
| Medium High | 27 | 46% |
| Medium | 17 | 29% |
| Medium Low | 2 | 3% |
| Low | 0 | 0% |
Stair Steps 2 Learning had 59 violations in five years, more than the median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 4.1 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
13 rules were cited more than once at Stair Steps 2 Learning in the last five years.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.605 High | 6 | 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 14, 2026 · first: Sep 18, 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: May 15, 2026 · first: Sep 25, 2023 |
| 746.603 Medium | 4 | The center 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 sign-in and sign-out records and medication records when they apply. These records must be kept at the center, available during operating hours, generally until three months after the child's last day. Official rule text Most recent: Sep 14, 2026 · first: Sep 18, 2025 |
| 746.1316 Medium High | 4 | 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: May 20, 2026 · first: Oct 11, 2022 |
| 746.5101 High | 4 | 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: Oct 3, 2025 · first: Sep 25, 2023 |
| 746.801 Medium | 3 | 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 Most recent: May 15, 2026 · first: Oct 11, 2022 |
| 746.4907 Medium High | 3 | Loose-fill surfacing under play equipment must be kept at least six inches deep when the highest play surface is five feet or lower, and at least nine inches deep when it is higher. It may not be laid over concrete or asphalt or used indoors, and equipment posts must be marked to show the required depth. Official rule text Most recent: Oct 3, 2025 · first: Nov 17, 2023 |
| 746.1315 Medium High | 2 | Each caregiver and the center director must hold a current certificate in pediatric first aid (including rescue breathing and choking) and in pediatric CPR. A new caregiver may work with children before getting the CPR certificate, but at least one employee or caregiver with a current pediatric CPR certificate must be on the premises whenever children are in care. Official rule text Most recent: May 20, 2026 · first: Oct 11, 2022 |
| 746.2207 Medium | 2 | Centers 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 Most recent: May 15, 2026 · first: Sep 18, 2024 |
| 746.4803 Medium | 2 | The use zone around stationary play equipment (other than slides and soft contained play equipment) must extend at least six feet in every direction from the equipment's edge, and it may not overlap other use zones. Official rule text Most recent: Oct 3, 2025 · first: Sep 18, 2025 |
| 746.1309 Medium | 2 | 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 Most recent: Sep 18, 2025 · first: Sep 18, 2024 |
| 746.4901 Medium High | 2 | 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 Most recent: Oct 10, 2023 · first: Sep 25, 2023 |
| 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: Sep 25, 2023 · first: Oct 11, 2022 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Oct 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
| 2024 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 18 |
| 2026 | 4 | 4 | 15 |
16 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2026 | Inspection | 414 | 6 |
| Jul 31, 2026 | Inspection | 3 | None |
| May 20, 2026 | Inspection | 7 | 3 |
| May 15, 2026 | Inspection | 699 | 6 |
| Oct 3, 2025 | Inspection | 15 | 4 |
| Sep 18, 2025 | Inspection | 582 | 14 |
| Sep 18, 2024 | Inspection | 579 | 5 |
| Jul 31, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Jan 19, 2024 | Assessment | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 12, 2023 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Nov 17, 2023 | Inspection | 3 | 1 |
| Oct 19, 2023 | Inspection | 3 | None |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2023 | Inspection | 10 | 2 |
| Sep 25, 2023 | Inspection | 620 | 11 |
| Oct 25, 2022 | Assessment | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 11, 2022 | Inspection | 627 | 5 |
One rule cited at Stair Steps 2 Learning 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 · Sep 14, 2026 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 5 out of 10 records evaluated did not have immunizations.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 14, 2026 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 3 out of 10 record evaluated did not include emergency medical authorization.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium Low · Sep 14, 2026 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 4 out of 10 record evaluated did not include an admissions date.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 14, 2026 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 5 out of 10 record evaluated did not include emergency contact information.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 14, 2026 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 2 out of 10 records evaluated did not have physician information.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 14, 2026 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 7 out of 10 records evaluated did not include a health statement.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 20, 2026 · Inspection
During the inspection a caregiver supervising infants was found to not have current CPR training as required.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 20, 2026 · Inspection
Director and caregiver responsible for transportation was found to not have current transportation training.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 20, 2026 · Inspection
Background check validation has not been completed since January 2026.
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 · May 15, 2026 · Inspection
The director has failed to ensure the operation is operating in compliance with minimum standards.
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
High · May 15, 2026 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed an 11 year old alone in a classroom without a caregiver.
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 · May 15, 2026 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed two children ages 13 months and 15 months in the main room watching television. This was corrected when the caregivers took the children to their classsrooms and turned off the television.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 15, 2026 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed two infants ages 13 and 15 months in the main room with children as old as 6 years old.
Official text of rule 746.4203
Medium High · May 15, 2026 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed peeled paint and exposed sheet rock from missing boarder along the walls of the building.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 15, 2026 · Inspection
The operation was unable to provide 2 personnel files requested during the inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 3, 2025 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed a iron fence that was missing a picket
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Oct 3, 2025 · Inspection
The operation does not have 6 inches of use zone space for stationary equipment on the playground.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 3, 2025 · Inspection
The operation has failed to maintain adquate loose-fill surfacing on equipmnet 5ft or less.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Oct 3, 2025 · Inspection
The operation was found to not have a current fire inspection as required.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed a 6 month old asleep in a crib with a blanket.
In plain English: Centers may not use baby walkers, doorway jumpers, accordion gates, toys small enough to swallow or choke on, or bean bags, waterbeds, or foam pads as sleeping equipment for infants. For an infant younger than 12 months, the crib or play yard must be bare except for a tight-fitting sheet and, if used, a thin, tight-fitting mattress cover made for that mattress. Official rule text
High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During the walkthrough I observed an infant asleep in a restrictive device.
In plain English: An infant may not sleep in a restrictive device unless the center has a completed Sleep Exception Form with a health-care professional's signed statement that it is medically necessary. Without that form, if an infant falls asleep in such a device, the caregiver must move the infant to a crib as soon as possible. Official rule text
Medium · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During review of personnel the director was found to not obtained 30 hours of annual training as required.
In plain English: A center director must complete 30 hours of training each year that fits the ages of the children served, including at least six hours on topics such as child development or guidance and discipline, at least one hour on preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect, and three to six hours on management or staff supervision depending on experience. At least six of the hours must be instructor-led. Official rule text
Medium High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
The operation has failed to maintain adquate loose-fill surfacing on equipmnet 5ft or less.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed a person without an eligible background check providing direct care to 6 infants between the ages of 6 months and 17 months.
In plain English: An operation must request a background check when it applies for a permit, hires someone, contracts with someone who needs a check, has a resident age 14 or older move in or a resident who is about to turn or has just turned 14, or learns of anyone else who needs a check. Checks must be renewed within five years for fingerprint-based checks or two years for name-based checks, and also when the person moves to another state or takes a role that requires fingerprints. Official rule text
High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During the inspection 1 out of 10 records did not have emergency medical authorizartion.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed 1 caregiver caring for 6 infants ages 6,6,11,16,16 and 17 months ratio of 1:4. The caregiver was over ratio by 2.
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)
Medium · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 3 out of 10 files evaluated did not have current immunizations.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During the walkthrough of the infant room I observed an infant in a swing with a bottle propped with a blanket.
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 · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
The operation does not have 6 inches of use zone space for stationary equipment on the playground.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During review of personnel 2 caregivers were found to have not retrieved 24 hours of annual training as required.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During review of children's records 4 out of 10 records evaluated did not include a health statement.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
The operation was found to not have a current fire inspection as required.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 18, 2025 · Inspection
During review of record keeping 2 out of 10 files evalluated did not have all required information. Missing the address for the emergency contact provided.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 18, 2024 · Inspection
During review of records for the infant teacher it was determined that the caregiver did not have current training in Recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, Understanding and using safe sleep practices and preventing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and Understanding early childhood brain developmen
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 18, 2024 · Inspection
During review of files the director and caregiver who provides transportation did not have current transporation training.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 18, 2024 · Inspection
During inspection of the outdoor play area the exit door to the playground was found to not close easily. Door latch was found to be grinding when attempting to pull closed.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 18, 2024 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed two infants in the main room with the television on. This was corrected when the caregiver turned off the tv.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 18, 2024 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed 2 infants ages 12 months and 13 months in highchairs without the safety straps fastened as required. This was corrected when the caregiver fastened the straps.
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
Medium Low · Jan 19, 2024 · Assessment
A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2023 data from January 17, 2024, revealed that the center had not reported the number of employees who left employment in 2023 by January 15, 2024, as required.
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
Medium High · Nov 17, 2023 · Inspection
Playground loose fill is less than an inch ruler.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 10, 2023 · Inspection
Fire inspection is not up to date.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 10, 2023 · Inspection
There is no surfacing under the play equipment with a containing slide.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
The use zone for the rocking equipment was less than 6 ft apart from the other play equipment.
Official text of rule 746.4813
Medium High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
There were tree branches on the playground and accessible to the children.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
Playground maintenance checklists was not provided during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
Fire inspection is not up to date.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
There is no surfacing under the play equipment with a containing slide.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
Fan were in use and accessible to children in the school-age room Correction: Caregiver removed the fan away from the children.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024
Medium · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
An infant feeding instruction was not provided during inspection. Correction: Parent of the infant filled out the feeding instruction during pick up time.
In plain English: For an infant who is not yet eating table food, the center must get written feeding instructions signed and dated by a parent or health-care professional, and must follow them. The center must review and update the instructions with the parent every 30 days until the infant can eat table food. Official rule text
High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
During the walk-through, there was a lysol spray and disinfection wipes accessible to the children in the restroom and in the toddler s room.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
The two vans use to transport the children does not have a 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
High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
The two vans use to transport the children is missing a first aid kit.
In plain English: 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
Medium High · Sep 25, 2023 · Inspection
The use zone for the play structure were not six feet from the other equipment and the slide exit
In plain English: The use zone in front of the entry and along the sides of a slide must extend at least six feet. In front of the slide exit it must extend at least six feet for slides six feet high or less, and for taller slides it must equal the platform's height above the surfacing, up to eight feet, without overlapping other equipment's use zones. Official rule text
Medium High · Oct 25, 2022 · Assessment
The annual transportation safety training has not been received for the director.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 11, 2022 · Inspection
On the playground it was observed there were two fences that have areas that need fixed. Also one piece of play euipment on the playground has a yellow steering wheel that has cracked holes in it.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised September 2024
Medium · Oct 11, 2022 · Inspection
The operation did not provide proof of liability insurance coverage to Licensing in their provider portal by the anniversary date of the issuance of their permit.
In plain English: Unless it has an acceptable reason not to, the center must carry liability insurance of $300,000 per occurrence of negligence, covering injury to a child on its premises or in its care. It must send proof of coverage to the state each year by the anniversary of its permit. Official rule text
Medium High · Oct 11, 2022 · Inspection
Staff, which included the director, did not have current transportation safety training.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 11, 2022 · Inspection
All staff members including the director have first aid/cpr that is expired and requires renewal.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Oct 11, 2022 · Inspection
Documentation was not available for emergency practices and playground maintenance. The director certificate was also not on site.
Plain-English explanation above
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Stair Steps 2 Learning:
More in ZIP 77064 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Stair Steps 2 Learning; 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).