Hearth Record

First Step Learning Center

A licensed child care center in Dallas, Texas 75235

5641 Southwestern Medical Ave, Dallas, Texas 75235. (214) 352-8608.

Texas’s own record, on its child care search

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The short answer

Record last released by Texas HHSC on Nov 5, 2026.

The last 24 months 6 deficiencies in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Dec 2024. Most serious: High. Every month

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?

6 deficiencies cited in the last three years

The middle of the 986 child care providers in Dallas County had 2.

15 inspections on record. The latest, on Dec 22, 2025: no violation found.

Rated High by Texas: Safety - Bodies of Water Inaccessible to Children, at the inspection on Dec 30, 2024

Rated High by Texas: Report Situation Placing Children at Risk, at the report to the state on Dec 1, 2023

Source:

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

When those deficiencies happened

6 deficiencies in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Dec 2024. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.

6 deficiencies by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

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.

Source:

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

Dec 30, 2024: inspection4 deficiencies

  • Safety - Bodies of Water Inaccessible to Children

    “A bucket of mop water was observed in a children’s bathroom, providing direct access to its contents. This was corrected at inspection. The bucket was empited.”

    Rule 746.3701(9). High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 30, 2024.

  • Janitorial duties

    “During the inspection, it was observed that caregivers were engaged in washing dishes and mopping the floor while children were seated at a kidney-shaped table and appearing to fall asleep. This situation was addressed and corrected during the inspection process.”

    Rule 746.1203(3)(C). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 30, 2024.

  • Employee Handwashing After Assisting a Child with Toileting

    “Caregiver did not wash her hands after assiting a child in the restroom.”

    Rule 746.3415(5). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 30, 2024.

  • Safety - Areas Free From Hazards

    “During the inspection, it was observed that several classrooms contained bleach, cleaning supplies, and air freshener within reach of children. This was corrected at inspection. The items were moved to a higher shelf or locked cabinet.”

    Rule 746.3701. Medium High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 30, 2024.

Mar 12, 2024: inspection1 deficiency

  • Safety Requirements for Cribs - Snug Fitting Sheets

    “6 of infant cribs inspected had loose fitting sheets on the mattress.”

    Rule 746.2409(a)(2). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Mar 12, 2024.

Dec 1, 2023: report to the state1 deficiency

  • Report Situation Placing Children at Risk

    “A parent of a child in care notified the staff about concerns over a possible injury the child may have sustained while in care. However, the staff did not notify licensing of the possible injury that may have placed a child at risk of harm.”

    Rule 746.305(a)(6). High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Feb 20, 2024. Correction verified: Feb 29, 2024.

8 deficiencies older than three years
Nov 2, 2023: report to the state1 deficiency

  • Policies for Release of Children - Record Identity of Person

    “The staff did not request the identification of an individual when arrived to pick up a child and the individual had never been to the center before.”

    Rule 746.4103(b). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 21, 2023. Correction verified: Dec 1, 2023.

May 8, 2023: inspection2 deficiencies

  • AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation

    “During a inspection staff member was present prior to receiving their background check determination. This was corrected at inspection when the staff member was asked to leave.”

    Rule 745.641. High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 8, 2023. Correction verified: May 25, 2023.

  • Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days

    “Fourteen infant feeding instruction reviewed had not been updated within the required time frame.”

    Rule 746.2421(b). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 12, 2023. Correction verified: May 25, 2023.

Apr 18, 2023: report to the state2 deficiencies

  • Responsibilities of Caregivers - Share Information with Incoming Caregivers

    “This standard was evaluated as part of an investigation and was deficient. It was determined that the morning caregiver failed to notify the evening caregiver of the child incident before parent pick up.”

    Rule 746.1203(10). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jun 21, 2023. Correction verified: Jun 29, 2023.

  • Parental Notification of Less Serious Injuries

    “The operation did not notify the parent upon pick when their child had an injury.”

    Rule 746.307(c). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jun 21, 2023. Correction verified: Jun 28, 2023.

May 12, 2022: inspection1 deficiency

  • Training Requirements for Employees and Caregivers - 24 Annual Training

    “When reviewing personnel files 11 of the11 files reviewed were missing the 24 hours of annual training as required.”

    Rule 746.1301(5)(A). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 26, 2022. Correction verified: Jun 9, 2022.

Jan 12, 2022: report to the state1 deficiency

  • Chairs - Safety Straps Used if Required by Manufacturer

    “During an inspection, children were seated at a table in bucket chairs equipped with safety straps, however, neither of the children had the safety straps fastened.”

    Rule 746.4501(b). Medium, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 14, 2022.

Dec 7, 2021: inspection1 deficiency

  • Infant Care Area Furnishings and Equipment -Use of Safety Straps

    “A chair used to feed infants/toddlers at a table did not have the required safety strap. The chair was in use at the time of the inspection. This was corrected during the inspection.”

    Rule 746.2407. Medium High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 7, 2021.

All 23 visits on record
Inspections, investigations and reports to the state
DateVisitWhat the record says
Dec 22, 2025InspectionNo violation found
Jun 12, 2025InspectionNo violation found
Jun 9, 2025Report to the stateNo violation found
May 19, 2025InspectionNo violation found
May 12, 2025Report to the stateNo violation found
Dec 30, 2024Inspection4 deficiencies cited
Nov 18, 2024InspectionNo violation found
Nov 6, 2024InspectionNo violation found
Mar 12, 2024Inspection1 deficiency cited
Feb 20, 2024AssessmentNo violation found
Dec 1, 2023InspectionNo violation found
Dec 1, 2023Report to the state1 deficiency cited
Nov 21, 2023InspectionNo violation found
Nov 6, 2023InspectionNo violation found
Nov 2, 2023Report to the state1 deficiency cited
May 8, 2023Inspection2 deficiencies cited
Apr 18, 2023Report to the state2 deficiencies cited
Mar 31, 2023Report to the stateNo violation found
Dec 19, 2022InspectionNo violation found
May 12, 2022Inspection1 deficiency cited
Jan 14, 2022InspectionNo violation found
Jan 12, 2022Report to the state1 deficiency cited
Dec 7, 2021Inspection1 deficiency cited

Is it licensed?

  • Licensed Center, permit issued Dec 1, 1998.
  • Accepts state child care subsidies.
  • Licensed for ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
  • Capacity: 365 children.
Source:

Texas HHSC, child care operations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

Has Texas acted against it?

  • No corrective or adverse action by Texas on record.
  • 7 reports to the state on record; Texas doesn’t publish whether they were .
Source:

Texas HHSC, child care operations and inspections and investigations. Released Nov 5, 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).
Source:

Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Among 986 child care providers in Dallas County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 2; this one had 6.
Source:

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

11 of the 986 in Dallas County, as the source lists them, same ZIP code first
PlaceDeficiencies, 3 years
Callier Child Development Program4
Hope Day School1
Willow Montessori Academy5
YMCA @ Uplift Williams8
Youth Conversion @ Biomedical Preparatory2
Jannah Abdul-HakimNot given
Kce Champions LLC @ Onesimo Hernandez0
My Small Wonders #3184
First Step Learning Center This child care provider6
Center of Hope Crystal Cdc5
Saint Christopher Montessori11
Legacy Kids Academy0

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

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.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Nov 5, 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

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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