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TheVardellReport
Portland Headstart Center
Licensed child care center
518 Elm St
Portland, TX 78374
Report
← Portland Headstart Center, free profile
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The Vardell Report.Portland Headstart Center
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
- Provider Category
- Childcare
- Location
- Portland, TX
- Record Period
- 2021–2026
- Source Documents
- 13
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Summary
Across 12 licensing visits from November 2021 to October 2026, HHSC cited 13 deficiencies at Portland Headstart Center; 13 have a recorded correction.
- Visits
- 12
- 2021–2026, inspections, investigations and assessments
- Deficiencies
- 13
- Standards cited by HHSC inspectors
- Corrected
- 13
- Of 13 deficiencies, with a recorded correction date
- Investigations
- 1
- Licensing investigations, whatever prompted them
Deficiencies by Year
- Deficiencies
- Of which, high risk
* Partial year, through October 31, 2026.
| Year | Visits | Deficiencies | Of which, high risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What the Record Shows
- 13 of 13 deficiencies have a recorded correction date.
- HHSC’s files name no enforcement action in this window. They say whether a program is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.
- 1 visit in this window included an investigation. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.
- The latest inspection, October 16, 2026, recorded no deficiencies.
Report at a Glance
- Facility
- Portland Headstart Center
- Address
- 518 Elm St, Portland, TX 78374
- Operation Number
- TX-855973- 9871
- License Type
- Licensed child care center
- Licensed Capacity
- 17 children
- Permit
- Full Permit
- Ages Served
- toddlers, pre-kindergarten, school age
- Hours
- Mon–Fri, 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Record Window
- November 1, 2021 to October 31, 2026
Chronology
Inspection History
Every visit in the record window, newest first. A deficiency is a licensing standard Texas inspectors found was not met. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.
- 2026
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070278
- 2025
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070277
- 2025
Inspection
3 deficiencies
- 746.503Provide Parents With Copy of PoliciesMedium riskCorrected Nov 21, 2025
- 746.1205(a)(4)Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activityHigh riskCorrected Nov 21, 2025
- 746.801(3)Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Personnel and Training RecordsMedium riskCorrected Nov 21, 2025
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070276
- 2025
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070275
- 2024
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070274
- 2023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070273
- 2023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070272
- 2023
Investigation
No deficiencies
Opened on a report the operation made itself.
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905208041
- 2022
Inspection
2 deficiencies
- 746.1011Director Presence Routine During Operating HoursMedium-high riskCorrected Nov 17, 2022
- 746.401(9)Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last nameMedium-low riskCorrected Nov 17, 2022
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070271
- 2022
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070270
- 2021
Inspection
3 deficiencies
- 746.401(9)Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last nameMedium-low riskCorrected Jan 3, 2022
- 746.1011Director Presence Routine During Operating HoursMedium-high riskCorrected Jan 3, 2022
- 746.1309(a)Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours RequiredMedium riskCorrected Jan 3, 2022
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070269
- 2021
Inspection
5 deficiencies
- 746.1203(4)Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of ChildrenHigh riskCorrected Nov 29, 2021
- 746.401(9)Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last nameMedium-low riskCorrected Dec 6, 2021
- 746.1011Director Presence Routine During Operating HoursMedium-high riskCorrected Dec 6, 2021
- 746.1203(6)Responsibilities of Caregivers - Free of other activitiesMedium-high riskCorrected Nov 29, 2021
- 746.1309(a)Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours RequiredMedium riskCorrected Dec 6, 2021
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905070268
Texas gives every licensing standard one of five risk levels, from low to high, by how likely a deficiency is to harm a child.
Context
Patterns Worth Examining
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
- 1
Director Presence Routine During Operating Hours, Cited in Three Visits
HHSC inspectors cited 746.1011 in November 2021, December 2021 and November 2022. The agency describes it this way: Director Presence Routine During Operating Hours. None rose above medium-high risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
212122222323232425252526746.1011 across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 2
Citation 746.401(9), Cited in Three Visits
HHSC inspectors cited 746.401(9) in November 2021, December 2021 and November 2022. The agency describes it this way: Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last name. None rose above medium-low risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
212122222323232425252526746.401(9) across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 3
Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required, Cited in Two Visits
HHSC inspectors cited 746.1309(a) in November 2021 and December 2021. The agency describes it this way: Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required. None rose above medium risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
212122222323232425252526746.1309(a) across all 12 visits, oldest to newest
For Your Next Visit
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
- 01
What changed after 746.1011 was cited, and how do you check it now?
Director Presence Routine During Operating Hours: cited in three visits, most seriously at medium-high risk.
- 02
What changed after 746.401(9) was cited, and how do you check it now?
Citation 746.401(9): cited in three visits, none above medium-low risk.
- 03
What changed after 746.1309(a) was cited, and how do you check it now?
Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required: cited in two visits, most seriously at medium risk.
- 04
What is the ratio in the room my child would join, and how is every child accounted for at nap time, pickup and on the playground?
Ratios change through the day, so they are worth counting yourself on a visit.
- 05
Has the center ever been under corrective or adverse action, and what changed afterward?
HHSC’s files name no enforcement action in this window. They say whether a program is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.
The Evidence
Sources and Coverage
Program details, licensing visits and the deficiencies cited at each are published by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Child Care Regulation in its daily files on data.texas.gov.
- Child Care Licensing operations (data.texas.gov)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 855973- 9871
Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070268
Visit Nov 29, 2021 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070269
Visit Dec 14, 2021 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070270
Visit Jan 5, 2022 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070271
Visit Nov 17, 2022 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905208041
Visit Feb 22, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070272
Visit Feb 28, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070273
Visit Nov 8, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070274
Visit Oct 23, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070275
Visit Jan 22, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070276
Visit Oct 21, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070277
Visit Nov 19, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)View Dataset ↗
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905070278
Visit Oct 16, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Coverage
Record windowNovember 1, 2021 – October 31, 2026
- This record is HHSC's list of operations as of October 2026, with the inspections, investigations and assessments in HHSC's files, which run from November 2021.
- Listed family homes (one caregiver with up to three unrelated children, listed with HHSC but not inspected on a schedule) are not in this record.
- HHSC's narrative for each deficiency is left out because it can name children, parents and staff; the rule cited, its risk level and the correction dates are kept.
What This Report Cannot Tell You
- Inspector narratives
- Published by HHSC but left out of this record because they can name people.
- Enforcement actions
- HHSC's files say whether an operation is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.
- Complaints not investigated
- Reports HHSC screened out without an investigation are not published.
- Staff qualifications and turnover
- Not part of the published licensing record.
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.