Chroma Early Learning Academy Of Lilburn

591-1-1-.32(7) · Rule 591-1-1-.32(7) requires that children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. “Supervision” means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children’s actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

During an investigation, it was determined that on June 10, 2024, children were not adequately supervised when an one-year-old child exited the playground unnoticed by a staff person and was found by a nearby stranger. At approximately 3:45 p.m., there was a staff: child ratio of one staff person and five one-year-old children on the toddler playground. At the time of the incident, the fence gate was left open by a hired contractor and the toddler class went to the playground. According to video footage, the fence gate door remained open as the toddler class went to the playground, the staff person was observed attending to the children and did not notice the playground gate door open as the one-year-old child exited the playground. The one-year-old child went to the front parking lot of the center. The staff person did not notice that the one-year-old child was missing until the class returned to the classroom, and the staff person failed to notify center management of the missing one-year-old child. According to video footage, the one-year-old child was observed wandering around in the center’s parking lot unsupervised. The one-year-old child was later observed walking towards the road of passing vehicles. A nearby stranger observed the unsupervised one- year-old child heading towards the road and retrieved the child and returned the child to the center. Center management was located at the front of the center when they were notified by the nearby stranger of the missing child. The one-year-old child did not sustain injury or obtain medical attention. The child was unharmed and returned to the center at approximately 3:49 p.m., the child was not supervised for approximately four minutes.

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591-1-1.26(3) · Rule 591-1-1.26(3) requires that playgrounds shall be adjacent to the Center or in an area which can be reached by a safe route or method approved by the Department. Except in School-age Centers, the playground shall have shaded areas.

During an investigation, it was determined that on June 10, 2024, at approximately 3:45 p.m., a toddler class left the playground area. The toddler class traveled past unsafe construction materials, lumber, disassembled and assembled playground equipment, and an unattached section of wooden fencing were observed to be stored in transit to the toddler’s classroom backdoor through which they entered. According to video footage, the gate to the fence that enclosed the transit area was left open when the one-year-old child exited the enclosed area and went to the center’s front parking lot. The center failed to provide a safe route for the toddler children when the children utilized a route to the toddler classroom that was unsecured.

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591-1-1-.07(2) · Rule 591-1-1-.07(2) requires that Parents be immediately notified and specific instructions obtained until the child can be picked up or returned to the group, immediately when professional medical attention is required, or when the child experiences symptoms of moderate discomfort, or when the child is involved in an incident that puts their health and/or safety at risk and to notify Parents by the end of the day when professional medical attention is not required, when the child experiences symptoms of less than moderate discomfort or when the child experiences an adverse reaction to prescribed medication which does not constitute moderate discomfort.

During an investigation, on June 10, 2024, at approximately 3:45 p.m. a one-year-old child left the playground area and entered the center’s parking lot when the fence gate door that enclosed the playground was left open. According to staff statements and interviews, the child’s parent arrived for pick-up at 5:30 p.m., and the child was signed out at 5:42 p.m. The child’s parent was notified about the incident at the time of pickup. The center failed to immediately notify the child’s parent of the incident involving the child’s health and safety risk of the child being unsupervised in the center’s parking lot.

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