A short, parent-friendly safety checklist for choosing care in Aledo — bring it on every tour.
Why it matters: Licensed centers meet state standards and are inspected unannounced. Exempt programs are legal but operate under a lighter accountability path. Verify at childcare.hhs.texas.gov.
Why it matters: In Texas, every adult with unsupervised access must clear FBI fingerprint, DFPS/CPS history, and sex-offender registry checks — before they start, and kept current.
Why it matters: Licensed Texas caregivers complete 24 hours pre-service training, 24 hours per year ongoing, and keep current pediatric CPR & First Aid certification. Ask to see the training file.
Why it matters: Texas requires minimums like 1:4 for infants. Lower is safer. Ask both the required ratio and the ratio the room actually maintains.
Why it matters: Who can walk in? How? Look for controlled entry, signed-in visitors, monitored doors, and a written pickup-authorization policy.
Why it matters: Back-sleeping, firm mattress, no soft bedding, approved crib. This is a leading safety standard for the youngest children — if you have an infant, look in the room and confirm.
Why it matters: Diaper-change setup, food-prep area, hand-washing stations, fire exits, ventilation, playground condition. Notice these on tour.
Why it matters: For every licensed Texas program, the state publishes inspection dates, findings, deficiencies, and corrections at childcare.hhs.texas.gov. Read it before you enroll.
Why it matters: Daily updates, named teachers you can reach, written incident reporting, photo/video sharing tools. The information channel is part of the safety system.
Why it matters: A real curriculum (Frog Street, Creative Curriculum, HighScope, Montessori, etc.) signals that the program plans for your child's day, not just watches over it. Ask the name and how it's taught.
Grace Learning Tree answers all ten — a licensed Texas child-care center for every age from 6 weeks through Kinder Bridge, with the Frog Street curriculum, named teachers, and district-grade security. Bring the checklist on your tour and use it.
Schedule a TourRelated: Licensed vs. license-exempt child care in Texas · What "safest preschool" actually means · The full Aledo preschool checklist
Dawn personally walks every tour. Bring the checklist — she'll show you the answers in the rooms.
Schedule a TourThe questions Aledo parents ask before they enroll.
Start with three things: confirm the program is licensed (or learn it's exempt) at childcare.hhs.texas.gov, ask to see the inspection history, and ask who verifies child-to-staff ratios and staff training. A safe program answers all three without hesitation.
Texas-licensed centers must follow state minimums, including 1:4 for infants. Lower is safer. A safe program tells you both the required ratio and the ratio they actually maintain in each room.
FBI fingerprint, DFPS/CPS history, and sex-offender registry on everyone with unsupervised access — before they start and kept current.
Not legally — some programs operate under a Texas exemption — but licensed centers are subject to unannounced inspections at least once a year with a public inspection record, which gives parents an independent way to verify safety.
"Are you licensed or exempt?" / "May I see your inspection history?" / "Who verifies your ratios and staff training?" / "What's your safe-sleep practice in the infant room?" / "What's your access-control and pickup policy?"
