The Vardell Report.Stepping Stones Academy

Across 22 licensing visits from September 2022 to April 2026, HHSC cited 28 deficiencies at Stepping Stones Academy; 28 have a recorded correction.

Visits

22

2022–2026, inspections, investigations and assessments

Deficiencies

28

Standards cited by HHSC inspectors

Corrected

28

Of 28 deficiencies, with a recorded correction date

Investigations

5

Licensing investigations, whatever prompted them

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.

1. Apr 272026

   Inspection

   No deficiencies

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106353

2. Apr 212026

   Inspection

   5 deficiencies

   • 746.3407Maintenance of Building, Grounds and EquipmentMedium-high riskCorrected Apr 27, 2026
   • 746.603(a)(4)Children's Records - ImmunizationsMedium riskCorrected Apr 27, 2026
   • 746.401(2)Posting Requirements - Letter or form from the most recent Licensing Inspection or InvestigationMedium riskCorrected Apr 21, 2026
   • 746.3415(7)Employee Handwashing After Handling or Cleaning Bodily FluidsMedium-high riskCorrected Apr 21, 2026
   • 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 Apr 21, 2026

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106352

3. Feb 52026

   Inspection

   No deficiencies

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106351

4. Nov 12025

   Investigation

   1 deficiency

   • 746.4971(2)Inflatables - Open Used According to Manufacturer's InstructionsMedium-high riskCorrected Jan 30, 2026

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905221745

5. Jun 102025

   Inspection

   No deficiencies

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106350

6. Jun 52025

   Inspection

   1 deficiency

   • 746.2407Infant Care Area Furnishings and Equipment -Use of Safety StrapsMedium-high riskCorrected Jun 5, 2025

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106349

7. Jan 212025

   Assessment

   1 deficiency

   • 746.303(b)Report Number of EmployeesMedium-low riskCorrected Jan 24, 2025

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905252562

8. Sep 202024

   Inspection

   No deficiencies

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106348

9. Jul 112024

   Inspection

   1 deficiency

   • 746.5205(4)Documentation of DrillsMedium riskCorrected Jul 15, 2024

   Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106347

10. Apr 192024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106346

11. Feb 292024

    Inspection

    3 deficiencies

    • 745.651(1)Background Check Validation - You must inactivate a subject who is no longer associated with your operation within 7 days of leavingMedium riskCorrected Mar 1, 2024
    • 746.401(2)Posting Requirements - Letter or form from the most recent Licensing Inspection or InvestigationMedium riskCorrected Mar 1, 2024
    • 745.651(2)(A)Background Check Validation ? Every 3 months each operation, other than a licensed, registered, or listed home, must validate current listMedium riskCorrected Mar 1, 2024

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106345

12. Jan 32024

    Investigation

    2 deficiencies

    • 746.2401(3)Basic Requirements for Infants - Holding and ComfortingMedium-high riskCorrected Feb 22, 2024
    • 746.2401(7)Basic Requirements for Infants - Never UnsupervisedHigh riskCorrected Feb 22, 2024

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905221744

13. Nov 142023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106344

14. Oct 202023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106343

15. Oct 162023

    Inspection

    6 deficiencies

    • 746.2805(8)Prohibited Punishments - Restrictive device for time outHigh riskCorrected Oct 16, 2023
    • 746.2426(a)(1)Infant May Not Sleep in a Restrictive DeviceHigh riskCorrected Oct 16, 2023
    • 746.1203(3)(A)Administrative and clerical duties that take caregiver's attention away from childrenMedium-high riskCorrected Oct 16, 2023
    • 745.641AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operationHigh riskCorrected Oct 16, 2023
    • 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 Oct 16, 2023
    • 746.1605(1)Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in AgeMedium-high riskCorrected Oct 16, 2023

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106342

16. Oct 132023

    Inspection

    1 deficiency

    • 746.1605(1)Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in AgeMedium-high riskCorrected Oct 13, 2023

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106341

17. Oct 122023

    Investigation

    1 deficiency

    • 745.641AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operationHigh riskCorrected Nov 15, 2023

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905221743

18. Oct 112023

    Investigation

    3 deficiencies

    • 746.1201(2)Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Relate to ChildrenHigh riskCorrected Nov 7, 2023
    • 746.1301(a)(7)(A)Training Requirements for Employees, Caregivers, and Directors - Transportation trainingMedium-high riskCorrected Nov 10, 2023
    • 746.2805(5)Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, YellingHigh riskCorrected Nov 7, 2023

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905221742

19. Aug 162023

    Inspection

    1 deficiency

    • 746.1315(b)(1)CPR Training and Recertification Adhere to Guidelines-skill basedMedium-high riskCorrected Aug 30, 2023

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106340

20. Sep 212022

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106339

21. Sep 82022

    Inspection

    2 deficiencies

    • 746.1601Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More ChildrenMedium-high riskCorrected Sep 8, 2022
    • 746.3701(8)Safety - Bodies of Water Inaccessible to ChildrenHigh riskCorrected Sep 8, 2022

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905106338

22. Sep 12022

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905221741

Texas gives every licensing standard one of five risk levels, from low to high, by how likely a deficiency is to harm a child.

A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.

1. 1

   Citation 745.641, Cited in Two Visits

   HHSC inspectors cited 745.641 in October 2023 and October 2023. The agency describes it this way: AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation. The most serious of these was recorded at high risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

   22222223232323232323242424242425252525262626745.641 across all 22 visits, oldest to newest
2. 2

   Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in Age, Cited in Two Visits

   HHSC inspectors cited 746.1605(1) in October 2023 and October 2023. The agency describes it this way: Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in Age. None rose above medium-high risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

   22222223232323232323242424242425252525262626746.1605(1) across all 22 visits, oldest to newest
3. 3

   Citation 746.401(2), Cited in Two Visits

   HHSC inspectors cited 746.401(2) in February 2024 and April 2026. The agency describes it this way: Posting Requirements - Letter or form from the most recent Licensing Inspection or Investigation. None rose above medium risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

   22222223232323232323242424242425252525262626746.401(2) across all 22 visits, oldest to newest

Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.

1. 01

   What changed after 745.641 was cited, and how do you check it now?

   Citation 745.641: cited in two visits, including high-risk standards.

2. 02

   What changed after 746.1605(1) was cited, and how do you check it now?

   Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in Age: cited in two visits, most seriously at medium-high risk.

3. 03

   What changed after 746.401(2) was cited, and how do you check it now?

   Citation 746.401(2): cited in two visits, most seriously at medium risk.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 1627730

  Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905221741

  Visit Sep 1, 2022 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106338

  Visit Sep 8, 2022 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106339

  Visit Sep 21, 2022 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106340

  Visit Aug 16, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905221742

  Visit Oct 11, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905221743

  Visit Oct 12, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106341

  Visit Oct 13, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106342

  Visit Oct 16, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106343

  Visit Oct 20, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106344

  Visit Nov 14, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905221744

  Visit Jan 3, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106345

  Visit Feb 29, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106346

  Visit Apr 19, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106347

  Visit Jul 11, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106348

  Visit Sep 20, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905252562

  Visit Jan 21, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106349

  Visit Jun 5, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106350

  Visit Jun 10, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905221745

  Visit Nov 1, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106351

  Visit Feb 5, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106352

  Visit Apr 21, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗
• Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

  Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905106353

  Visit Apr 27, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

  View Dataset ↗

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.