Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77024
Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Zebra Zone Child Care for 15 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 15 routine inspections and 6 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 6 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.2805 (4 times, most recently Feb 23, 2024).
The state lists Zebra Zone Child Care as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 06:45 AM to 05:45 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, Night Care. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 15 violations at Zebra Zone Child Care, 6 fall under rules Texas weights High and 5 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 | 6 | 40% |
| Medium High | 5 | 33% |
| Medium | 4 | 27% |
| Medium Low | 0 | 0% |
| Low | 0 | 0% |
Zebra Zone Child Care had 15 violations in five years, more than the median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 0.7 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
2 rules were cited more than once at Zebra Zone Child Care in the last five years.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.2805 High | 4 | 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 · rule revised March 2023 Most recent: Feb 23, 2024 · first: Oct 20, 2021 |
| 746.4501 Medium | 2 | The rule requires tables and chairs used by children to be "safe," easy to clean, and the right height and size for each age group. If the manufacturer requires straps on a chair, they must be fastened whenever a child uses it. Official rule text Most recent: Apr 10, 2023 · first: Feb 1, 2023 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Oct 20) | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 2024 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
21 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Investigation (self-report) | 1 | None |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Inspection | 455 | None |
| Apr 17, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 2 | None |
| Apr 17, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Jan 24, 2025 | Inspection | 814 | None |
| Apr 12, 2024 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| Mar 5, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Feb 23, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 2 | 1 |
| Jan 31, 2024 | Inspection | 456 | 1 |
| Apr 10, 2023 | Inspection | 2 | 1 |
| Feb 7, 2023 | Investigation (report) | 2 | 1 |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2023 | Inspection | 781 | 6 |
| May 26, 2022 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| Feb 17, 2022 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Feb 2, 2022 | Inspection | 409 | 2 |
| Dec 14, 2021 | Inspection | 3 | 1 |
| Nov 12, 2021 | Inspection | — | None |
| Nov 9, 2021 | Investigation (report) | 4 | 1 |
| Oct 29, 2021 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 20, 2021 | Investigation (self-report) | 4 | 1 |
5 rules cited at Zebra Zone Child Care 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 · Feb 23, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained, there is sufficient evidence to show that a caregiver grabbed a child's arm for swinging a toy around to avoid a child from being injured.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jan 31, 2024 · Inspection
The annual sanitation inspection has not been conducted since 11/9/2022.
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 · Apr 10, 2023 · Inspection
During the inspection a child was observed in a chair equipped with safety straps and the straps were not secured. Note: The provider corrected this at inspection by using a different chair and securing the safety straps.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Feb 7, 2023 · Investigation (report)
Based upon the findings of the DFPS Investigation, A caregiver did not account for all children when transitioning from outdoor time resulting in a child being left outside on the playground 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 · rule revised March 2023
Medium High · Feb 1, 2023 · Inspection
2 out of 10 children's files evaluated contained a blank special needs statement.
In plain English: 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
Medium · Feb 1, 2023 · Inspection
A child was observed sitting in a chair and the safety straps were not secured. Note: The caregiver secured the straps during the inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Feb 1, 2023 · Inspection
The trash can in the Giraffe classroom contained a soiled diaper and there was no cover over the trash can. Note: The provider placed a cover over the trash can during the inspection.
In plain English: Caregivers must wash their own hands, wash the child's hands after each diaper change, throw away disposable gloves after each change, and sanitize the changing surface after each use (or use a disposable paper liner between back-to-back changes). Soiled diapers must go in covered or sealed containers, soiled clothing must go home in a sealed plastic bag, and caregivers with open wounds or casts or bandages that get in the way of handwashing may not change diapers. Official rule text
Medium · Feb 1, 2023 · Inspection
The operational policies did not contain the following information: (C) The type of physical activity (structured and unstructured) that children may engage in at your operation (F) A plan to ensure physical activity occurs on days when extreme weather conditions prohibit or limit outdoor play.
In plain English: 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 · rule revised August 2024
Medium · Feb 1, 2023 · Inspection
4 out of 6 infants did not have written feeding instructions available for review during the inspection.
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
Medium High · Feb 1, 2023 · Inspection
1 out of 10 staff files evaluated did not contain current certification in pediatric cpr and first aid trainig.
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) · rule revised September 2024
Medium High · Feb 2, 2022 · Inspection
One employee does not have a current CPR and first aid training.
In plain English: 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
High · Feb 2, 2022 · Inspection
Four people present in the operation have no initial background check submitted.
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 · Dec 14, 2021 · Inspection
Based on the information obtained, a deficiency for inappropriate discipline will be cited.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised March 2023
High · Nov 9, 2021 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained, a deficiency for inappropriate discipline will be cited.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised March 2023
High · Oct 20, 2021 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information gathered, a caregiver has used inappropriate discipline including grabbing a child’s arm with force.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised March 2023
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Zebra Zone Child Care:
More in ZIP 77024 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Zebra Zone Child Care; 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).