Waco Child Development Center
A licensed child care center in Waco, Texas 76706
1301 Ross Ave, Waco, Texas 76706. (254) 753-5981.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Texas’s own record is on its child care search.
The short answer
Record last released by Texas HHSC on Oct 30, 2026.
- 14 deficiencies cited in the last three years Middle in McLennan County: 6
- 11 rated High by Texas, its most serious level (needs attention)
- 25 inspections on record
- 3-Star Texas Rising Star rating
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean5
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Texas’s risk levels
- Texas gives each child care deficiency a risk level, by how likely it is to harm a child: Low, Medium Low, Medium, Medium High or High. High is its most serious. Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
14 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 132 child care providers in McLennan County had 6.
25 inspections on record. The latest, on Oct 15, 2026: no violation found.
Rated High by Texas: AP Initial background checks submitted - At the time you become aware of anyone requiring a background check under 745.605, at the report to the state on Mar 12, 2026
Rated High by Texas: Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, Yelling, at the report to the state on Mar 12, 2026
Rated High by Texas: Required Equipment in Vehicles - First-aid Kit, at the inspection on Apr 7, 2025
8 more rated High; all are listed below.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
When those deficiencies happened
14 deficiencies in 7 months of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2026. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Oct 30, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each deficiency, in Texas’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the risk level Texas gave it, from Low to High.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Mar 12, 2026: report to the state3 deficiencies
-
AP Initial background checks submitted - At the time you become aware of anyone requiring a background check under 745.605
“There was sufficient evidence found during the investigation to show that a person without an eligible background check had access to children in care.”
-
Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, Yelling
“There was sufficient evidence found during the investigation to show that prohibited punishment was used when yelling was used towards children.”
-
Nutrition and Food Service - Food not a reward
“There was sufficient evidence found during the investigation to show that candy was used as a reward for good behavior.”
Apr 7, 2025: inspection1 deficiency
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Required Equipment in Vehicles - First-aid Kit
“One of four of the transportation vehicles did not have a first aid kit available for review. The other 3 vehicles were missing or had expired supplies from the first aid kits that were added during the inspection.”
Mar 21, 2025: report to the state1 deficiency
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Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-control
“There was sufficient evidence found during the DFPS investigation to show that an employee did not use good judgment when one child was allowed to sleep on the van during transport, deviating from typical transportation plans without notifying other staff or parents.”
Oct 3, 2024: inspection4 deficiencies
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AP Background check determination - If ineligible then you must immediately remove subject from operation and confirm to CBCU receipt of notice letter
“HHSC will recommend an administrative penalty as a result of this citation, per HRC section 42.078. Ms. Dempsey was present at operation upon inspection. Ms. Dempsey has received the ineligible letter and is not to be providing care.”
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AP Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Ensure No Child Abused, Neglected, or Exploited
“Based on the evidence of the DFPS investigation, a caregiver neglected a child in care when the child was left on the bus.”
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Report Situation Placing Children at Risk
“A child was left unattended in the transportation vehicle. The operation reported to Child Care Regulation the day of the incident on 08/16/2024 by email.”
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AP Safety Precautions for Loading and Unloading Children - No Child Unattended
“During the follow-up inspection the operation was found in compliance as the caregiver responsible for leaving a child on the bus was terminated.”
Aug 19, 2024: report to the state3 deficiencies
-
AP Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Ensure No Child Abused, Neglected, or Exploited
“Based on the evidence of the DFPS investigation, a caregiver neglected a child in care when the child was left on the bus.”
-
Report Situation Placing Children at Risk
“A child was left unattended in the transportation vehicle. The operation reported to Child Care Regulation the day of the incident on 08/16/2024 by email.”
-
AP Safety Precautions for Loading and Unloading Children - No Child Unattended
“During the follow-up inspection the operation was found in compliance as the caregiver responsible for leaving a child on the bus was terminated.”
Jul 10, 2024: inspection1 deficiency
-
Requirement of Gas Leak Inspection
“Gas leak inspection was 5/22. A current inspection needs to be updated.”
Jan 23, 2024: assessment1 deficiency
-
Report Number of Employees
“A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2023 data from January 18, 2024, revealed the center had not reported the number of employees who left employment in 2023 by January 15, 2023, as required.”
3 deficiencies older than three years
Jan 10, 2022: assessment1 deficiency
-
Report Situation Placing Children at Risk
“During an investigation, it was determined that two occurrences that placed children at risk were not reported to Child Care Regulation in a timely manner.”
Dec 31, 2021: report to the state2 deficiencies
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Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children
“During an investigation, it was determined a caregiver left a child unsupervised on the playground for approximately 10 minutes.”
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AP Safety Precautions for Loading and Unloading Children - No Child Unattended
“During an investigation, it was determined that a caregiver left a child unattended on a vehicle for approximately 15 minutes.”
All 35 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Aug 21, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jun 22, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Report to the state | 3 deficiencies cited |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Oct 10, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 9, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jun 26, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| May 7, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 7, 2025 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Mar 21, 2025 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Dec 23, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Dec 19, 2024 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Dec 19, 2024 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Nov 18, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Nov 14, 2024 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Nov 6, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Oct 3, 2024 | Inspection | 4 deficiencies cited |
| Aug 19, 2024 | Report to the state | 3 deficiencies cited |
| Jul 10, 2024 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Jan 23, 2024 | Assessment | 1 deficiency cited |
| Dec 7, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 11, 2023 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Apr 20, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Sep 8, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Aug 3, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| May 25, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 12, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jan 31, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jan 10, 2022 | Assessment | 1 deficiency cited |
| Dec 31, 2021 | Report to the state | 2 deficiencies cited |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Center, permit issued Feb 11, 1987.
- Accepts state child care subsidies.
- Licensed for ages: Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
- Capacity: 110 children.
Texas HHSC, child care operations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Texas acted against it?
- No corrective or adverse action by Texas on record.
- 8 reports to the state on record; Texas doesn’t publish whether they were A complaint allegation the state investigated and found true: the evidence showed it more likely than not happened. Inconclusive means the evidence couldn’t show it either way. Neither inconclusive nor unsubstantiated proves it didn’t happen. Source: California Department of Social Services, complaint findings; each state’s licensing agency..
Texas HHSC, child care operations and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Who does the caring?
- Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Texas’s open data doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- Texas Rising Star: 3-Star (the middle of three levels).
Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 132 child care providers in McLennan County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 6; this one had 14.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| Little Rockets | 2 |
| Waco Child Development Center This child care provider | 14 |
| Waco Child Development Infant | 5 |
| Rr Learning Center | 23 |
| This Little Piggy Academy | 9 |
| Melanie Bowman | 3 |
| Mary Turnage | 1 |
| Caring for Kids | 1 |
| Amber Pfeiffer | 12 |
| Grow With Us Home Daycare | 3 |
| Bells Hill YMCA of Central Texas | 1 |
| Eoac Johnette Hicks Early Head Start Center | 0 |
What the record doesn’t say
- Texas doesn’t publish whether a complaint was substantiated.
- Texas rates some paperwork slips as High risk, so read what was actually cited.
- Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
Sources
-
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child care operations (bc5r-88dy).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Inspections and investigations (m5q4-3y3d).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
-
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Deficiencies (non-compliance data) (tqgd-mf4x).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
-
Texas Workforce Commission, Subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star.
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. No licence stated.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Texas HHSC or Texas Workforce Commission. Texas’s own record is on its child care search. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Oct 30, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
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