Wanda Meshack Smith Head Start, Dallas, TX

The Essentials

Summary

Across 21 licensing visits from August 2022 to March 2026, HHSC cited 12 deficiencies at Wanda Meshack Smith Head Start; 12 have a recorded correction.

Visits: 21; 2022–2026, inspections, investigations and assessments
Deficiencies: 12; Standards cited by HHSC inspectors
Corrected: 12; Of 12 deficiencies, with a recorded correction date
Investigations: 5; Licensing investigations, whatever prompted them

Deficiencies by Year

Deficiencies
Of which, high risk

* Partial year, through October 31, 2026.

Deficiencies by year
Year	Visits	Deficiencies	Of which, high risk
2021	0	0	0
2022	3	1	1
2023	9	4	4
2024	1	1	0
2025	7	5	3
2026	1	1	0

What the Record Shows

12 of 12 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.
5 visits in this window included an investigation. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.
The latest inspection, March 26, 2026, recorded 1 deficiency (most serious: Medium-high risk).

What to Ask About

Citation 746.1309(d), Cited in Two Visits
Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling, Cited in Two Visits
Report Situation Placing Children at Risk, Cited in Two Visits

Report at a Glance

Facility: Wanda Meshack Smith Head Start
Address: 3950 Gannon Ln, Dallas, TX 75237
Operation Number: TX-833560
License Type: Licensed child care center
Licensed Capacity: 221 children
Permit: Full Permit
Ages Served: infants, toddlers, pre-kindergarten, school age
Hours: Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–5:30 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.

Mar 262026
Inspection
1 deficiency
- 746.1309(d)Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months RequiredMedium-high riskCorrected Apr 9, 2026
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063845
Aug 282025
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063844
May 72025
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063843
Apr 292025
Inspection
3 deficiencies
- 746.3407(12)Mark Cleaning Supplies, Toxic Materials; Keep Separate from Food and Inaccessible to ChildrenHigh riskCorrected Apr 29, 2025
- 746.1309(d)Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months RequiredMedium-high riskCorrected May 9, 2025
- 746.5202(1)Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down proceduresMedium-high riskCorrected May 9, 2025
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063842
Feb 112025
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063841
Feb 42025
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063840
Jan 232025
Inspection
1 deficiency
- 745.641AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operationHigh riskCorrected Jan 24, 2025
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063839
Jan 222025
Investigation
1 deficiency
Opened on a report the operation made itself.
- 746.2805(3)Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and PullingHigh riskCorrected Feb 7, 2025
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905204412
Jun 202024
Inspection
1 deficiency
- 746.5101(b)Annual Fire Inspection - Conducted by Fire MarshalMedium-high riskCorrected Aug 22, 2024
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063838
Oct 92023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063837
Oct 52023
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), 905204411
Sep 192023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063836
Sep 132023
Investigation
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905204410
Aug 232023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063835
Jul 212023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063834
May 22023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063833
Apr 172023
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063832
Apr 122023
Investigation
4 deficiencies
Opened on a report the operation made itself.
- 746.2805(3)Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and PullingHigh riskCorrected Apr 28, 2023
- 746.2805(5)Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, YellingHigh riskCorrected Apr 28, 2023
- 746.1201(1)Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-controlHigh riskCorrected Apr 28, 2023
- 746.305(a)(6)Report Situation Placing Children at RiskHigh riskCorrected Apr 28, 2023
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905204409
Sep 142022
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063831
Aug 302022
Inspection
No deficiencies
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905063830
Aug 262022
Investigation
1 deficiency
- 746.305(a)(6)Report Situation Placing Children at RiskHigh riskCorrected Sep 8, 2022
Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905204408

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
Citation 746.1309(d), Cited in Two Visits
HHSC inspectors cited 746.1309(d) in April 2025 and March 2026. The agency describes it this way: Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months Required. None rose above medium-high risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
222222232323232323232323242525252525252526746.1309(d) across all 21 visits, oldest to newest
2
Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling, Cited in Two Visits
HHSC inspectors cited 746.2805(3) in April 2023 and January 2025. The agency describes it this way: Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling. 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.
222222232323232323232323242525252525252526746.2805(3) across all 21 visits, oldest to newest
3
Report Situation Placing Children at Risk, Cited in Two Visits
HHSC inspectors cited 746.305(a)(6) in August 2022 and April 2023. The agency describes it this way: Report Situation Placing Children at Risk. 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.
222222232323232323232323242525252525252526746.305(a)(6) across all 21 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 746.1309(d) was cited, and how do you check it now?
Citation 746.1309(d): cited in two visits, most seriously at medium-high risk.
02
What changed after 746.2805(3) was cited, and how do you check it now?
Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling: cited in two visits, including high-risk standards.
03
What changed after 746.305(a)(6) was cited, and how do you check it now?
Report Situation Placing Children at Risk: cited in two visits, including high-risk standards.
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)
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 833560
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 · 905204408
Visit Aug 26, 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 · 905063830
Visit Aug 30, 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 · 905063831
Visit Sep 14, 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 · 905204409
Visit Apr 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 · 905063832
Visit Apr 17, 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 · 905063833
Visit May 2, 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 · 905063834
Visit Jul 21, 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 · 905063835
Visit Aug 23, 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 · 905204410
Visit Sep 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 · 905063836
Visit Sep 19, 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 · 905204411
Visit Oct 5, 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 · 905063837
Visit Oct 9, 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 · 905063838
Visit Jun 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 · 905204412
Visit Jan 22, 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 · 905063839
Visit Jan 23, 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 · 905063840
Visit Feb 4, 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 · 905063841
Visit Feb 11, 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 · 905063842
Visit Apr 29, 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 · 905063843
Visit May 7, 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 · 905063844
Visit Aug 28, 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 · 905063845
Visit Mar 26, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
View Dataset ↗

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.