Smaller Scholars

Licensed Center

Provider details

City / County / ZIP: Houston / Harris / 77077
Street address: 1685 &1675 S Dairy Ashford
Phone: (281) 558-3515
Capacity: 238
Ages served: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours / Days: 07:00 AM-06:00 PM / Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri
Permit type: Full Permit
Permit issued: November 14, 2005
Operation status:: Active
Corrective action: HHSC lists: No
Adverse action: HHSC lists: No
Temporarily closed: HHSC lists: No

Corrective action means HHSC requires steps to address compliance concerns; see the official HHSC record for details.

Adverse action means HHSC has taken enforcement action affecting an operation’s permit or ability to operate; see the official HHSC record for details.

Plain-English summary of cited deficiencies

State records list 14 cited deficiencies dated November 2, 2023 to May 5, 2026 (1 High, 9 Medium High, 4 Medium risk). Correction status: 3 corrected at inspection, 11 with a correction date recorded, 0 with no correction date recorded.

High risk · AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation (745.641)
Cited November 2, 2023 (correction date recorded: November 2, 2023; correction verified November 7, 2023; technical assistance given).
What the record describes: A caregiver was present and counted in the child-to-caregiver ratio without an eligible background check.
Medium High risk · Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean (746.3407(9))
Cited May 5, 2026 (correction date recorded: May 19, 2026; correction verified June 10, 2026); March 6, 2026 (correction date recorded: March 20, 2026; correction verified March 17, 2026); December 5, 2025 (correction date recorded: February 5, 2026; correction verified March 6, 2026); May 13, 2025 (correction date recorded: October 16, 2025; correction verified October 2, 2025).
What the record describes: Narratives describe a ceiling tile hanging down in a classroom with children present. They also describe large cracks in the interior walls of rooms PR 4 and PR 5, with paint starting to chip around the cracks.
Medium High risk · Annual Fire Inspection - Conducted by Fire Marshal (746.5101(b))
Cited May 13, 2025 (correction date recorded: June 20, 2025; correction verified July 15, 2025).
What the record describes: The last fire inspection was conducted on 4/25/24.
Medium High risk · Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment (746.3407)
Cited May 13, 2025 (correction date recorded: June 20, 2025; correction verified July 18, 2025; technical assistance given).
What the record describes: Wood borders around the playground were broken, exposing sharp pieces of wood and nails.
Medium High risk · CPR Training and Recertification Adhere to Guidelines-skill based (746.1315(b)(1))
Cited May 31, 2024 (correction date recorded: June 7, 2024; correction verified June 20, 2024; technical assistance given).
What the record describes: An employee did not have a valid hands-on CPR training certificate.
Medium High risk · Garbage Inaccessible to Children; Maintained in Sanitary Manner (746.3407(8))
Cited May 31, 2024 (correction date recorded: June 14, 2024; correction verified June 20, 2024).
What the record describes: Several rooms had trash cans without covers.
Medium High risk · Safety - Play Materials and Equipment Safe (746.3701(5))
Cited November 2, 2023 (corrected at inspection; technical assistance given).
What the record describes: A piece of plywood on the playground had a sharp nail sticking out. A nail also stuck up from a board along the toddler playground fence.
Medium risk · Medication No Longer Used (746.3809)
Cited May 5, 2026 (corrected at inspection); May 31, 2024 (corrected at inspection).
What the record describes: Expired emergency medication was observed in the medication cabinet.
Medium risk · Safety Requirements for Cribs - Label for Each Infant (746.2409(a)(10))
Cited May 5, 2026 (correction date recorded: May 19, 2026; correction verified June 10, 2026).
What the record describes: An infant was sleeping in a crib that was not labeled with the child's name.
Medium risk · Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days (746.2421(b))
Cited May 5, 2026 (correction date recorded: May 19, 2026; correction verified June 10, 2026).
What the record describes: Feeding instructions for two infants had not been signed or updated by a parent or guardian within the last 30 days.

Counts, dates, risk levels and correction status come directly from the state data. The plain-English descriptions were written automatically from the inspectors' narratives and checked against them by a second automated reviewer; they cover citations dated October 11, 2023 to October 11, 2026. They may contain errors; the official record is authoritative.

View the official state record · Report an issue with this page

Summary of the record

This summary is generated automatically from public HHSC records. It restates the official record and may lag behind it. The official state record is the authoritative source: official HHSC record.

Texas Health and Human Services records list 14 cited deficiencies for Smaller Scholars in the 3 years before October 10, 2026 (1 High, 9 Medium High, 4 Medium).

Records list 11 inspections in this window. Most recent inspection: 2026-10-06.

HHSC risk weights of citations
Risk weight	Citations
High	1
Medium High	9
Medium	4
Medium Low	0
Low	0
Unknown	0

HHSC assigns each standard a risk weight from Low to High. A deficiency is a finding that a minimum standard was not met.

Recent citations in the summary window

2026-05-05 · 746.2409(a)(10) · Medium

Safety Requirements for Cribs - Label for Each Infant

One infant was observed sleeping in a crib that was not labeled with the child's name

Correction date recorded: 2026-05-19

2026-05-05 · 746.3809 · Medium

Medication No Longer Used

I observed expired emergency medication in the mediation cabinet. NOTE: This was corrected during the inspection by removing the medication to go back home with parents

Corrected at inspection

2026-05-05 · 746.3407(9) · Medium High

Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean

Observed ceiling tile hanging down in classroom with children present.

Correction date recorded: 2026-05-19

Full citation history from HHSC (20)

2026-05-05 · 746.2421(b) · Medium
Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2026-05-19. Correction verified: 2026-06-10.
It was observed that feeding instructions for two infants were not signed or updated by the parent/guardian within the last 30 days.
2026-05-05 · 746.3407(9) · Medium High
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2026-05-19. Correction verified: 2026-06-10.
Observed ceiling tile hanging down in classroom with children present.
2026-05-05 · 746.3809 · Medium
Medication No Longer Used
Corrected at inspection: Yes. Correction date: 2026-05-05. Correction verified: Not recorded.
I observed expired emergency medication in the mediation cabinet. NOTE: This was corrected during the inspection by removing the medication to go back home with parents
2026-05-05 · 746.2409(a)(10) · Medium
Safety Requirements for Cribs - Label for Each Infant
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2026-05-19. Correction verified: 2026-06-10.
One infant was observed sleeping in a crib that was not labeled with the child's name
2026-03-06 · 746.3407(9) · Medium High
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2026-03-20. Correction verified: 2026-03-17.
In rooms PR 4 and PR 5, I observed major cracks within the walls' interior. In the same rooms around the crack, the paint is starting to chip.
2025-12-05 · 746.3407(9) · Medium High
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2026-02-05. Correction verified: 2026-03-06.
In rooms PR 4 and PR 5, I observed major cracks within the walls' interior. In the same rooms around the crack, the paint is starting to chip.
2025-05-13 · 746.5101(b) · Medium High
Annual Fire Inspection - Conducted by Fire Marshal
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2025-06-20. Correction verified: 2025-07-15.
The last fire inspection was conducted on 4/25/24.
2025-05-13 · 746.3407 · Medium High
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2025-06-20. Correction verified: 2025-07-18.
The wood borders around the playground were broken, exposing sharp parts of the wood and nails.
2025-05-13 · 746.3407(9) · Medium High
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2025-10-16. Correction verified: 2025-10-02.
In rooms PR 4 and PR 5, I observed major cracks within the walls' interior. In the same rooms around the crack, the paint is starting to chip.
2024-05-31 · 746.3809 · Medium
Medication No Longer Used
Corrected at inspection: Yes. Correction date: 2024-05-31. Correction verified: Not recorded.
I observed expired emergency medication in the mediation cabinet. NOTE: This was corrected during the inspection by removing the medication to go back home with parents.
2024-05-31 · 746.1315(b)(1) · Medium High
CPR Training and Recertification Adhere to Guidelines-skill based
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2024-06-07. Correction verified: 2024-06-20.
One employee did not have a valid hands on CPR training certificate.
2024-05-31 · 746.3407(8) · Medium High
Garbage Inaccessible to Children; Maintained in Sanitary Manner
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2024-06-14. Correction verified: 2024-06-20.
I observed several rooms without trash cans covers.
2023-11-02 · 745.641 · High
AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2023-11-02. Correction verified: 2023-11-07.
The operation had one caregiver present who was counted in the child caregiver ratio and did not have an eligible background check.
2023-11-02 · 746.3701(5) · Medium High
Safety - Play Materials and Equipment Safe
Corrected at inspection: Yes. Correction date: 2023-11-02. Correction verified: Not recorded.
During the walkthrough on the playground, there was a plywood with a sharp nail sticking out. Along the toddlers playground fence there was a nail sticking up out of the board. NOTE: This was corrected during the inspection with the plywood being removed and nail being hammerd down into the wood.
2023-08-18 · 746.2805(7) · High
Prohibited Punishments - Placing Child in Locked or Dark Room
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2023-10-16. Correction verified: 2023-11-02.
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a caregiver locked a child in the restroom.
2023-08-18 · 746.2805(1) · High
Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2023-10-16. Correction verified: 2023-11-02.
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a caregiver used prohibited punishment on a child in care.
2022-10-13 · 746.1203(2) · High
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know Group Responsible For
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2022-10-13. Correction verified: 2022-10-26.
The caregiver in room PR6 stated there were 17 children present, however 16 were counted.
2022-06-14 · 746.1203(2) · High
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know Group Responsible For
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2022-06-14. Correction verified: 2022-06-29.
The caregiver in room TR1 stated there were 8 children present, but there were 9 children present. The caregiver in room PR8 stated there were 8 children, then stated there were 9 children, but there were 10 children present.
2022-06-14 · 746.1309(d) · Medium High
Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months Required
Corrected at inspection: No. Correction date: 2022-06-28. Correction verified: 2022-06-28.
2 caregiver in charge of children under 24 months old did not have the following trainings: 1. Understanding early childhood brain development. 2. Recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma.
2022-06-14 · 746.631(b) · Medium High
Caregivers Have Access to Tracking System
Corrected at inspection: Yes. Correction date: 2022-06-14. Correction verified: Not recorded.
The caregiver in room PR8 had 4 children napping in another classroom during her shift, but the children were not signed out on the name to face log. Note: This was corrected during the inspection.

Source: Texas HHSC Child Care Regulation, via data.texas.gov (CC0). See the official record: https://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Public/InspectionAndComplianceHistory?operationId=284453

Records reflect only deficiencies published by the state after due process. This page does not rate or rank providers. Check the official record for the latest information.

Provider data fetched: October 10, 2026.