10A NCAC 09 . 1102 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/13/2026 Number Present: 10 Completed Date: 1/13/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 275 Time In: 10:10 AM Time Out: 02:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#3) visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, assisted me with today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and assigned the temporary time period visits for this facility file to me in September 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last annual fire inspection was dated March 17, 2025 and was received during the pre-licensing period. The last monthly fire drill dated December 18, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated December 18, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last sanitation inspection was September 8, 2025 earning a superior rating and six demerits. This facility’s lead water testing results required to be completed every three years was dated November 26, 2025. Today, I verified those test results indicate that the facility’s water is within acceptable limits. I verified that this facility completed the required lead-based paint testing on December 2, 2025 and those results indicated no lead-based paint hazards. I verified this facility completed the required asbestos testing on January 2, 2026 and those results indicated no asbestos hazards. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. Cold meals brought from home were stored in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-three degrees Fahrenheit. Milk was stored in a commercial cooler in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Food was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-one degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a monitored the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, cleaning activity areas, transitioning to whole group area on the rug, engaging in a whole group teacher-lead phonological awareness lesson, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing at the handwashing sink in the cafeteria before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, returning to the classroom after lunch and washing hands upon entering the classroom, transitioning to a whole group active play activity with snowballs (large white glowing pompoms), napping/resting, waking from nap, playing in activity areas and eating snack. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. During the visit, the teacher assistant had to leave due to a family emergency. To maintain staff to child ratio, Mr. Tharpe served as the emergency substitute until the substitute staff member could arrive. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored the three staff files for training requirements due within ninety days of employment. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Documentation and Discussion – We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). Received, Reviewed, and Verified: 1) Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers: I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing “Classroom and Instruction Quality Assessment (Pathway 2)”. 2) Enhanced Staff/Child Ratio and Space On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. Today, I verified that enhanced reduced staff/child ratio is being maintained in the NC PreK classroom. 3) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I determined the lead teacher in the NC PreK classroom was a 5-star lead teacher based on the education and experience verified in their WORKS account. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I attempted to verify in WORKS the education and experience of the “other educators” including the administrator, the preschool coordinator for Newton-Conover City Schools, and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom. I determined the preschool coordinator was a 5-star educator based on education and experience verified in their WORKS account. I was unable to determine the star level for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom, Lindsay Suggs, because they had not submitted documentation of their post high school education and had not requested that their education be evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit (WORKS). During today’s visit, Mr. Tharpe logged on to DCDEE WORKS, submitted a request to be evaluated as an Early Childhood Administrator and a DPI Administrator and uploaded his principal’s license. 4) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. I verified the five foundational practices were in place as follows: 1 A weekly newsletter is sent to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 2 Annual family conferences are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 3 An annual English Language Learning (ELL) family night is scheduled for March 9, 2026 and will include all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 4 Annual and ongoing volunteer opportunities are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 5 Communication with families regarding available community resources and services is provided through the electronic application (Class DoJo), school newsletters, Newton-Conover City Schools resource guide that includes services available across Catawba County. In addition to the five foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, one engagement and leadership option and one educational opportunity option. I verified that plans were underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the following additional practices as follows: a) Communication Options: a. Two-way communication with families through the electronic application (Class DoJo). b. Offer families connection to local community services and resources on a quarterly basis through newsletters, email text, electronic applications, community resource websites, and in-person opportunities with local community services through newsletters from the Catawba County Partnership for Children related to Triple P parent training and quarterly classroom newsletters. b) Engagement and Leadership Options: a. Offer an enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment by scheduling Open House to include tours of the classroom and school and ongoing throughout the school year as new students are enrolled in the NC PreK classroom. Open House was held on w August 22, 2025. Today, I observed a newly enrolling family visit the school, meet with the NC PreK teacher and tour the classroom and playground. c) Educational Opportunity Options: a. Administrator offers at least one family event annually that includes educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. Mr. Tharpe stated that family nights are planned throughout the school and include NC PreK families. Mr. Tharpe stated these family nights include classroom teachers teaching parents to reinforce skills at home. In addition to ELL family night, a Reading Family Night addressing basic grade level reading skills for all school families including NC PreK families was held on September 25, 2025. A Math Family Night focusing on basic grade level math skills for all school families including NC PreK families is planned for February 12, 2026. 5) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The Facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. Today, I verified that the Facility CQI Plan was in place and progress was underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented Programmatic goal to enhance social-emotional development and self-regulation skills within the NC PreK classroom. 6) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 7) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 8) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Mr. Tharpe stated that he had chosen to complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner and Ms. Powell will complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner. 9) Documentation the administrator and lead teacher received training related to the curriculum and formative assessment: Today, I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell had received training related to the formative assessment (Teaching Strategies Gold). I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell both need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for the curriculum (Creative Curriculum) and submit their training certificates to me no later than January 23, 2026. Outstanding Required Documentation Needed for Rated License Verification: The following need to be submitted to me no later than noon on Friday, January 23, 2026: 1 Copies of the WORKS status letters for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe, and the teacher assistant, Ms. Suggs, should be sent to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. I will use the information in WORKS to determine the educator’s star-level based on their education and experience. This may affect the star rating for the facility. 2 The teacher, teacher assistant and administrator need to create and document an Individual Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plans. Please submit these individual CQI/PD Plans to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. Once received, I will verify that the CQI/PD Individual Plans are in place and progress is underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented individual goals. 4 Documentation that the administrator and lead teacher has received training related to the curriculum. Send me an email no later than January 23, 2026 with the training certificates attached. Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for both the curriculum (Creative Curriculum). Star-Rated License Assessment Results: The star rating of this facility will be determined as soon as I complete the education evaluation of the administrator’s and teacher assistant’s education and experience using the education verification found in WORKS, I receive the documentation the completed Individual CQI/PD Plan for the lead teacher and administrator, and the documentation for completing the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. Prior to today’s visit, the compliance history score for this facility was 87%. NC PreK Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment requirement: In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed prior to the temporary license expiration date of February 18, 2026. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. Once the ERS assessment report with the scores is received, it will be shared with the administrator and reviewed with the staff. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that First Aid training had been completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose CPR training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that CPR training had been completed. .1102(d) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility ABCMS staff roster. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training to date. .1102(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09 .1102(c)(d), each employee should complete First Aid and CPR training within ninety days of employment and maintain documentation in their staff record file as verification that the employee has completed First Aid training. During today’s visit, I observed one staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid and CPR training were due by 01/14/2026 but no documentation was in the staff member’s file for me to verify that this staff member had completed the required First Aid and CPR training. The staff member stated they had completed the First Aid and CPR training prior to employment but was unable to locate the training certificates on her phone. To correct these violations, the staff member should produce a training certificate that verifies they have completed the First Aid and CPR training before or within ninety days of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you enroll staff members in a first aid and CPR training course during the first six weeks of new staff orientation that can be completed within the first ninety days of employment. 2. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 . 1102(g), each child care administrator and all staff including substitute staff members should complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training through the NC Prevent Child Abuse website and/or present the administrator with the completion certificate within the first ninety days of employment. A copy of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training completion certificate should be kept in the staff record file for verification each year. If the staff member loses their completion certificate, the training should be taken again. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produced the completion certificate to verify having completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on file. To correct this violation, I suggested, that within the next two weeks, you secure a copy of the staff member’s and administrator’s completion certificate or request that they complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training and provide you with a copy of the completion certificate. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you require all staff to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within the first six weeks of employment in addition to the new staff orientation training. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. The Summary of NC Child Care Law brochure and poster were updated in November 2025. Please be sure to add the November 2025 brochure to your enrollment packet and post the November 2025 poster in a prominent location in your classroom. 4. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 5. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 6. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than January 27, 2026. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#3 visit or the rated license process, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have any questions regarding the temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Consultant, by phone at 704-594-0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .1102 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/13/2026 Number Present: 10 Completed Date: 1/13/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 275 Time In: 10:10 AM Time Out: 02:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#3) visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, assisted me with today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and assigned the temporary time period visits for this facility file to me in September 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last annual fire inspection was dated March 17, 2025 and was received during the pre-licensing period. The last monthly fire drill dated December 18, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated December 18, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last sanitation inspection was September 8, 2025 earning a superior rating and six demerits. This facility’s lead water testing results required to be completed every three years was dated November 26, 2025. Today, I verified those test results indicate that the facility’s water is within acceptable limits. I verified that this facility completed the required lead-based paint testing on December 2, 2025 and those results indicated no lead-based paint hazards. I verified this facility completed the required asbestos testing on January 2, 2026 and those results indicated no asbestos hazards. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. Cold meals brought from home were stored in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-three degrees Fahrenheit. Milk was stored in a commercial cooler in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Food was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-one degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a monitored the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, cleaning activity areas, transitioning to whole group area on the rug, engaging in a whole group teacher-lead phonological awareness lesson, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing at the handwashing sink in the cafeteria before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, returning to the classroom after lunch and washing hands upon entering the classroom, transitioning to a whole group active play activity with snowballs (large white glowing pompoms), napping/resting, waking from nap, playing in activity areas and eating snack. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. During the visit, the teacher assistant had to leave due to a family emergency. To maintain staff to child ratio, Mr. Tharpe served as the emergency substitute until the substitute staff member could arrive. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored the three staff files for training requirements due within ninety days of employment. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Documentation and Discussion – We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). Received, Reviewed, and Verified: 1) Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers: I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing “Classroom and Instruction Quality Assessment (Pathway 2)”. 2) Enhanced Staff/Child Ratio and Space On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. Today, I verified that enhanced reduced staff/child ratio is being maintained in the NC PreK classroom. 3) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I determined the lead teacher in the NC PreK classroom was a 5-star lead teacher based on the education and experience verified in their WORKS account. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I attempted to verify in WORKS the education and experience of the “other educators” including the administrator, the preschool coordinator for Newton-Conover City Schools, and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom. I determined the preschool coordinator was a 5-star educator based on education and experience verified in their WORKS account. I was unable to determine the star level for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom, Lindsay Suggs, because they had not submitted documentation of their post high school education and had not requested that their education be evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit (WORKS). During today’s visit, Mr. Tharpe logged on to DCDEE WORKS, submitted a request to be evaluated as an Early Childhood Administrator and a DPI Administrator and uploaded his principal’s license. 4) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. I verified the five foundational practices were in place as follows: 1 A weekly newsletter is sent to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 2 Annual family conferences are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 3 An annual English Language Learning (ELL) family night is scheduled for March 9, 2026 and will include all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 4 Annual and ongoing volunteer opportunities are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 5 Communication with families regarding available community resources and services is provided through the electronic application (Class DoJo), school newsletters, Newton-Conover City Schools resource guide that includes services available across Catawba County. In addition to the five foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, one engagement and leadership option and one educational opportunity option. I verified that plans were underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the following additional practices as follows: a) Communication Options: a. Two-way communication with families through the electronic application (Class DoJo). b. Offer families connection to local community services and resources on a quarterly basis through newsletters, email text, electronic applications, community resource websites, and in-person opportunities with local community services through newsletters from the Catawba County Partnership for Children related to Triple P parent training and quarterly classroom newsletters. b) Engagement and Leadership Options: a. Offer an enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment by scheduling Open House to include tours of the classroom and school and ongoing throughout the school year as new students are enrolled in the NC PreK classroom. Open House was held on w August 22, 2025. Today, I observed a newly enrolling family visit the school, meet with the NC PreK teacher and tour the classroom and playground. c) Educational Opportunity Options: a. Administrator offers at least one family event annually that includes educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. Mr. Tharpe stated that family nights are planned throughout the school and include NC PreK families. Mr. Tharpe stated these family nights include classroom teachers teaching parents to reinforce skills at home. In addition to ELL family night, a Reading Family Night addressing basic grade level reading skills for all school families including NC PreK families was held on September 25, 2025. A Math Family Night focusing on basic grade level math skills for all school families including NC PreK families is planned for February 12, 2026. 5) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The Facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. Today, I verified that the Facility CQI Plan was in place and progress was underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented Programmatic goal to enhance social-emotional development and self-regulation skills within the NC PreK classroom. 6) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 7) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 8) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Mr. Tharpe stated that he had chosen to complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner and Ms. Powell will complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner. 9) Documentation the administrator and lead teacher received training related to the curriculum and formative assessment: Today, I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell had received training related to the formative assessment (Teaching Strategies Gold). I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell both need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for the curriculum (Creative Curriculum) and submit their training certificates to me no later than January 23, 2026. Outstanding Required Documentation Needed for Rated License Verification: The following need to be submitted to me no later than noon on Friday, January 23, 2026: 1 Copies of the WORKS status letters for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe, and the teacher assistant, Ms. Suggs, should be sent to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. I will use the information in WORKS to determine the educator’s star-level based on their education and experience. This may affect the star rating for the facility. 2 The teacher, teacher assistant and administrator need to create and document an Individual Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plans. Please submit these individual CQI/PD Plans to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. Once received, I will verify that the CQI/PD Individual Plans are in place and progress is underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented individual goals. 4 Documentation that the administrator and lead teacher has received training related to the curriculum. Send me an email no later than January 23, 2026 with the training certificates attached. Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for both the curriculum (Creative Curriculum). Star-Rated License Assessment Results: The star rating of this facility will be determined as soon as I complete the education evaluation of the administrator’s and teacher assistant’s education and experience using the education verification found in WORKS, I receive the documentation the completed Individual CQI/PD Plan for the lead teacher and administrator, and the documentation for completing the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. Prior to today’s visit, the compliance history score for this facility was 87%. NC PreK Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment requirement: In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed prior to the temporary license expiration date of February 18, 2026. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. Once the ERS assessment report with the scores is received, it will be shared with the administrator and reviewed with the staff. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that First Aid training had been completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose CPR training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that CPR training had been completed. .1102(d) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility ABCMS staff roster. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training to date. .1102(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09 .1102(c)(d), each employee should complete First Aid and CPR training within ninety days of employment and maintain documentation in their staff record file as verification that the employee has completed First Aid training. During today’s visit, I observed one staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid and CPR training were due by 01/14/2026 but no documentation was in the staff member’s file for me to verify that this staff member had completed the required First Aid and CPR training. The staff member stated they had completed the First Aid and CPR training prior to employment but was unable to locate the training certificates on her phone. To correct these violations, the staff member should produce a training certificate that verifies they have completed the First Aid and CPR training before or within ninety days of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you enroll staff members in a first aid and CPR training course during the first six weeks of new staff orientation that can be completed within the first ninety days of employment. 2. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 . 1102(g), each child care administrator and all staff including substitute staff members should complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training through the NC Prevent Child Abuse website and/or present the administrator with the completion certificate within the first ninety days of employment. A copy of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training completion certificate should be kept in the staff record file for verification each year. If the staff member loses their completion certificate, the training should be taken again. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produced the completion certificate to verify having completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on file. To correct this violation, I suggested, that within the next two weeks, you secure a copy of the staff member’s and administrator’s completion certificate or request that they complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training and provide you with a copy of the completion certificate. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you require all staff to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within the first six weeks of employment in addition to the new staff orientation training. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. The Summary of NC Child Care Law brochure and poster were updated in November 2025. Please be sure to add the November 2025 brochure to your enrollment packet and post the November 2025 poster in a prominent location in your classroom. 4. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 5. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 6. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than January 27, 2026. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#3 visit or the rated license process, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have any questions regarding the temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Consultant, by phone at 704-594-0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/13/2026 Number Present: 10 Completed Date: 1/13/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 275 Time In: 10:10 AM Time Out: 02:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#3) visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, assisted me with today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and assigned the temporary time period visits for this facility file to me in September 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last annual fire inspection was dated March 17, 2025 and was received during the pre-licensing period. The last monthly fire drill dated December 18, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated December 18, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last sanitation inspection was September 8, 2025 earning a superior rating and six demerits. This facility’s lead water testing results required to be completed every three years was dated November 26, 2025. Today, I verified those test results indicate that the facility’s water is within acceptable limits. I verified that this facility completed the required lead-based paint testing on December 2, 2025 and those results indicated no lead-based paint hazards. I verified this facility completed the required asbestos testing on January 2, 2026 and those results indicated no asbestos hazards. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. Cold meals brought from home were stored in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-three degrees Fahrenheit. Milk was stored in a commercial cooler in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Food was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-one degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a monitored the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, cleaning activity areas, transitioning to whole group area on the rug, engaging in a whole group teacher-lead phonological awareness lesson, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing at the handwashing sink in the cafeteria before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, returning to the classroom after lunch and washing hands upon entering the classroom, transitioning to a whole group active play activity with snowballs (large white glowing pompoms), napping/resting, waking from nap, playing in activity areas and eating snack. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. During the visit, the teacher assistant had to leave due to a family emergency. To maintain staff to child ratio, Mr. Tharpe served as the emergency substitute until the substitute staff member could arrive. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored the three staff files for training requirements due within ninety days of employment. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Documentation and Discussion – We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). Received, Reviewed, and Verified: 1) Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers: I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing “Classroom and Instruction Quality Assessment (Pathway 2)”. 2) Enhanced Staff/Child Ratio and Space On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. Today, I verified that enhanced reduced staff/child ratio is being maintained in the NC PreK classroom. 3) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I determined the lead teacher in the NC PreK classroom was a 5-star lead teacher based on the education and experience verified in their WORKS account. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I attempted to verify in WORKS the education and experience of the “other educators” including the administrator, the preschool coordinator for Newton-Conover City Schools, and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom. I determined the preschool coordinator was a 5-star educator based on education and experience verified in their WORKS account. I was unable to determine the star level for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom, Lindsay Suggs, because they had not submitted documentation of their post high school education and had not requested that their education be evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit (WORKS). During today’s visit, Mr. Tharpe logged on to DCDEE WORKS, submitted a request to be evaluated as an Early Childhood Administrator and a DPI Administrator and uploaded his principal’s license. 4) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. I verified the five foundational practices were in place as follows: 1 A weekly newsletter is sent to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 2 Annual family conferences are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 3 An annual English Language Learning (ELL) family night is scheduled for March 9, 2026 and will include all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 4 Annual and ongoing volunteer opportunities are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 5 Communication with families regarding available community resources and services is provided through the electronic application (Class DoJo), school newsletters, Newton-Conover City Schools resource guide that includes services available across Catawba County. In addition to the five foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, one engagement and leadership option and one educational opportunity option. I verified that plans were underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the following additional practices as follows: a) Communication Options: a. Two-way communication with families through the electronic application (Class DoJo). b. Offer families connection to local community services and resources on a quarterly basis through newsletters, email text, electronic applications, community resource websites, and in-person opportunities with local community services through newsletters from the Catawba County Partnership for Children related to Triple P parent training and quarterly classroom newsletters. b) Engagement and Leadership Options: a. Offer an enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment by scheduling Open House to include tours of the classroom and school and ongoing throughout the school year as new students are enrolled in the NC PreK classroom. Open House was held on w August 22, 2025. Today, I observed a newly enrolling family visit the school, meet with the NC PreK teacher and tour the classroom and playground. c) Educational Opportunity Options: a. Administrator offers at least one family event annually that includes educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. Mr. Tharpe stated that family nights are planned throughout the school and include NC PreK families. Mr. Tharpe stated these family nights include classroom teachers teaching parents to reinforce skills at home. In addition to ELL family night, a Reading Family Night addressing basic grade level reading skills for all school families including NC PreK families was held on September 25, 2025. A Math Family Night focusing on basic grade level math skills for all school families including NC PreK families is planned for February 12, 2026. 5) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The Facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. Today, I verified that the Facility CQI Plan was in place and progress was underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented Programmatic goal to enhance social-emotional development and self-regulation skills within the NC PreK classroom. 6) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 7) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 8) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Mr. Tharpe stated that he had chosen to complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner and Ms. Powell will complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner. 9) Documentation the administrator and lead teacher received training related to the curriculum and formative assessment: Today, I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell had received training related to the formative assessment (Teaching Strategies Gold). I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell both need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for the curriculum (Creative Curriculum) and submit their training certificates to me no later than January 23, 2026. Outstanding Required Documentation Needed for Rated License Verification: The following need to be submitted to me no later than noon on Friday, January 23, 2026: 1 Copies of the WORKS status letters for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe, and the teacher assistant, Ms. Suggs, should be sent to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. I will use the information in WORKS to determine the educator’s star-level based on their education and experience. This may affect the star rating for the facility. 2 The teacher, teacher assistant and administrator need to create and document an Individual Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plans. Please submit these individual CQI/PD Plans to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. Once received, I will verify that the CQI/PD Individual Plans are in place and progress is underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented individual goals. 4 Documentation that the administrator and lead teacher has received training related to the curriculum. Send me an email no later than January 23, 2026 with the training certificates attached. Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for both the curriculum (Creative Curriculum). Star-Rated License Assessment Results: The star rating of this facility will be determined as soon as I complete the education evaluation of the administrator’s and teacher assistant’s education and experience using the education verification found in WORKS, I receive the documentation the completed Individual CQI/PD Plan for the lead teacher and administrator, and the documentation for completing the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. Prior to today’s visit, the compliance history score for this facility was 87%. NC PreK Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment requirement: In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed prior to the temporary license expiration date of February 18, 2026. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. Once the ERS assessment report with the scores is received, it will be shared with the administrator and reviewed with the staff. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that First Aid training had been completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose CPR training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that CPR training had been completed. .1102(d) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility ABCMS staff roster. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training to date. .1102(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09 .1102(c)(d), each employee should complete First Aid and CPR training within ninety days of employment and maintain documentation in their staff record file as verification that the employee has completed First Aid training. During today’s visit, I observed one staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid and CPR training were due by 01/14/2026 but no documentation was in the staff member’s file for me to verify that this staff member had completed the required First Aid and CPR training. The staff member stated they had completed the First Aid and CPR training prior to employment but was unable to locate the training certificates on her phone. To correct these violations, the staff member should produce a training certificate that verifies they have completed the First Aid and CPR training before or within ninety days of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you enroll staff members in a first aid and CPR training course during the first six weeks of new staff orientation that can be completed within the first ninety days of employment. 2. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 . 1102(g), each child care administrator and all staff including substitute staff members should complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training through the NC Prevent Child Abuse website and/or present the administrator with the completion certificate within the first ninety days of employment. A copy of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training completion certificate should be kept in the staff record file for verification each year. If the staff member loses their completion certificate, the training should be taken again. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produced the completion certificate to verify having completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on file. To correct this violation, I suggested, that within the next two weeks, you secure a copy of the staff member’s and administrator’s completion certificate or request that they complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training and provide you with a copy of the completion certificate. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you require all staff to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within the first six weeks of employment in addition to the new staff orientation training. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. The Summary of NC Child Care Law brochure and poster were updated in November 2025. Please be sure to add the November 2025 brochure to your enrollment packet and post the November 2025 poster in a prominent location in your classroom. 4. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 5. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 6. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than January 27, 2026. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#3 visit or the rated license process, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have any questions regarding the temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Consultant, by phone at 704-594-0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/13/2026 Number Present: 10 Completed Date: 1/13/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 275 Time In: 10:10 AM Time Out: 02:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#3) visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, assisted me with today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and assigned the temporary time period visits for this facility file to me in September 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last annual fire inspection was dated March 17, 2025 and was received during the pre-licensing period. The last monthly fire drill dated December 18, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated December 18, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last sanitation inspection was September 8, 2025 earning a superior rating and six demerits. This facility’s lead water testing results required to be completed every three years was dated November 26, 2025. Today, I verified those test results indicate that the facility’s water is within acceptable limits. I verified that this facility completed the required lead-based paint testing on December 2, 2025 and those results indicated no lead-based paint hazards. I verified this facility completed the required asbestos testing on January 2, 2026 and those results indicated no asbestos hazards. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. Cold meals brought from home were stored in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-three degrees Fahrenheit. Milk was stored in a commercial cooler in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Food was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-one degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a monitored the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, cleaning activity areas, transitioning to whole group area on the rug, engaging in a whole group teacher-lead phonological awareness lesson, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing at the handwashing sink in the cafeteria before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, returning to the classroom after lunch and washing hands upon entering the classroom, transitioning to a whole group active play activity with snowballs (large white glowing pompoms), napping/resting, waking from nap, playing in activity areas and eating snack. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. During the visit, the teacher assistant had to leave due to a family emergency. To maintain staff to child ratio, Mr. Tharpe served as the emergency substitute until the substitute staff member could arrive. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored the three staff files for training requirements due within ninety days of employment. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Documentation and Discussion – We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). Received, Reviewed, and Verified: 1) Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers: I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing “Classroom and Instruction Quality Assessment (Pathway 2)”. 2) Enhanced Staff/Child Ratio and Space On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. Today, I verified that enhanced reduced staff/child ratio is being maintained in the NC PreK classroom. 3) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I determined the lead teacher in the NC PreK classroom was a 5-star lead teacher based on the education and experience verified in their WORKS account. On January 12, 2026 prior to today’s visit, I attempted to verify in WORKS the education and experience of the “other educators” including the administrator, the preschool coordinator for Newton-Conover City Schools, and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom. I determined the preschool coordinator was a 5-star educator based on education and experience verified in their WORKS account. I was unable to determine the star level for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe and the teacher assistant in the NC PreK classroom, Lindsay Suggs, because they had not submitted documentation of their post high school education and had not requested that their education be evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit (WORKS). During today’s visit, Mr. Tharpe logged on to DCDEE WORKS, submitted a request to be evaluated as an Early Childhood Administrator and a DPI Administrator and uploaded his principal’s license. 4) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. I verified the five foundational practices were in place as follows: 1 A weekly newsletter is sent to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 2 Annual family conferences are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 3 An annual English Language Learning (ELL) family night is scheduled for March 9, 2026 and will include all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 4 Annual and ongoing volunteer opportunities are offered to all school enrolled families including NC PreK. 5 Communication with families regarding available community resources and services is provided through the electronic application (Class DoJo), school newsletters, Newton-Conover City Schools resource guide that includes services available across Catawba County. In addition to the five foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, one engagement and leadership option and one educational opportunity option. I verified that plans were underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the following additional practices as follows: a) Communication Options: a. Two-way communication with families through the electronic application (Class DoJo). b. Offer families connection to local community services and resources on a quarterly basis through newsletters, email text, electronic applications, community resource websites, and in-person opportunities with local community services through newsletters from the Catawba County Partnership for Children related to Triple P parent training and quarterly classroom newsletters. b) Engagement and Leadership Options: a. Offer an enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment by scheduling Open House to include tours of the classroom and school and ongoing throughout the school year as new students are enrolled in the NC PreK classroom. Open House was held on w August 22, 2025. Today, I observed a newly enrolling family visit the school, meet with the NC PreK teacher and tour the classroom and playground. c) Educational Opportunity Options: a. Administrator offers at least one family event annually that includes educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. Mr. Tharpe stated that family nights are planned throughout the school and include NC PreK families. Mr. Tharpe stated these family nights include classroom teachers teaching parents to reinforce skills at home. In addition to ELL family night, a Reading Family Night addressing basic grade level reading skills for all school families including NC PreK families was held on September 25, 2025. A Math Family Night focusing on basic grade level math skills for all school families including NC PreK families is planned for February 12, 2026. 5) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The Facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. Today, I verified that the Facility CQI Plan was in place and progress was underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented Programmatic goal to enhance social-emotional development and self-regulation skills within the NC PreK classroom. 6) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 7) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use during all three TTP visits including today. 8) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Mr. Tharpe stated that he had chosen to complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner and Ms. Powell will complete five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner. 9) Documentation the administrator and lead teacher received training related to the curriculum and formative assessment: Today, I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell had received training related to the formative assessment (Teaching Strategies Gold). I verified that Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell both need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for the curriculum (Creative Curriculum) and submit their training certificates to me no later than January 23, 2026. Outstanding Required Documentation Needed for Rated License Verification: The following need to be submitted to me no later than noon on Friday, January 23, 2026: 1 Copies of the WORKS status letters for the administrator, Mr. Tharpe, and the teacher assistant, Ms. Suggs, should be sent to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. I will use the information in WORKS to determine the educator’s star-level based on their education and experience. This may affect the star rating for the facility. 2 The teacher, teacher assistant and administrator need to create and document an Individual Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plans. Please submit these individual CQI/PD Plans to me by email no later than Friday, January 23, 2026. Once received, I will verify that the CQI/PD Individual Plans are in place and progress is underway to carry out, complete, and maintain the documented individual goals. 4 Documentation that the administrator and lead teacher has received training related to the curriculum. Send me an email no later than January 23, 2026 with the training certificates attached. Mr. Tharpe and Ms. Powell need to complete or produce the training certificate for the training for both the curriculum (Creative Curriculum). Star-Rated License Assessment Results: The star rating of this facility will be determined as soon as I complete the education evaluation of the administrator’s and teacher assistant’s education and experience using the education verification found in WORKS, I receive the documentation the completed Individual CQI/PD Plan for the lead teacher and administrator, and the documentation for completing the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. Prior to today’s visit, the compliance history score for this facility was 87%. NC PreK Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment requirement: In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed prior to the temporary license expiration date of February 18, 2026. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. Once the ERS assessment report with the scores is received, it will be shared with the administrator and reviewed with the staff. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that First Aid training had been completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose CPR training was due by 01/14/2026 had no documentation in their file to verify that CPR training had been completed. .1102(d) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility ABCMS staff roster. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training to date. .1102(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09 .1102(c)(d), each employee should complete First Aid and CPR training within ninety days of employment and maintain documentation in their staff record file as verification that the employee has completed First Aid training. During today’s visit, I observed one staff member with a date of employment of 10/14/2025 whose First Aid and CPR training were due by 01/14/2026 but no documentation was in the staff member’s file for me to verify that this staff member had completed the required First Aid and CPR training. The staff member stated they had completed the First Aid and CPR training prior to employment but was unable to locate the training certificates on her phone. To correct these violations, the staff member should produce a training certificate that verifies they have completed the First Aid and CPR training before or within ninety days of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you enroll staff members in a first aid and CPR training course during the first six weeks of new staff orientation that can be completed within the first ninety days of employment. 2. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 . 1102(g), each child care administrator and all staff including substitute staff members should complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training through the NC Prevent Child Abuse website and/or present the administrator with the completion certificate within the first ninety days of employment. A copy of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training completion certificate should be kept in the staff record file for verification each year. If the staff member loses their completion certificate, the training should be taken again. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/25/2025 was due to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/25/2025. The staff member completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on 12/18/2025. In addition, the administrator with a date of employment of 08/18/2025 was due to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produce the completion certificate by 11/18/2025. The administrator had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training or produced the completion certificate to verify having completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on file. To correct this violation, I suggested, that within the next two weeks, you secure a copy of the staff member’s and administrator’s completion certificate or request that they complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training and provide you with a copy of the completion certificate. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you require all staff to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within the first six weeks of employment in addition to the new staff orientation training. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. The Summary of NC Child Care Law brochure and poster were updated in November 2025. Please be sure to add the November 2025 brochure to your enrollment packet and post the November 2025 poster in a prominent location in your classroom. 4. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 5. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 6. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than January 27, 2026. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#3 visit or the rated license process, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have any questions regarding the temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Consultant, by phone at 704-594-0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/10/2025 Number Present: 9 Completed Date: 12/10/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#2) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and transferred this facility file to me in October 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Lindsay Suggs, Teacher Assistant, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher, who assisted me with today’s visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, was unavailable during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last monthly fire drill dated November 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor and outdoor environments. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, and eating lunch. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three new substitute staff files for substitutes who had worked at the facility since the TTP#1 visit on September 30, 2025. I monitored one staff file for the new teacher assistant whose first day of employment was today. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Discussion – I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2). On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. The following have been reviewed for Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2): 1) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. The new teacher assistant needs to be added to this worksheet. Please send the updated Staff Information and Education Worksheet to me by email no later than Friday, December 19, 2025. Once received, staff education standards will be verified in DCDEE WORKS for the staff listed on the worksheet. Ms. Suggs will need to establish a WORKS account and request to be evaluated as a lead teacher and/or teacher. Please make sure all staff have listed in their WORKS account all the facilities that they have worked. This is also important that all work experience is listed on their application for hire. 2) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. In addition to the foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, three engagement and leadership options and one educational opportunity options. 3) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. 4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plan Individual Staff and administration created an individual CQI Plan. I was not able to monitor these individual CQI Plans today. Please place a copy of the CQI/PD Individual Plans in each staff member’s file so they are readily available for review during monitoring visits. 5) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use today. 6) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use today. 7) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Per child care rule .3205(f)(10) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the administrator, the administrator should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in additional to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Per child care rule .3205(f)(11) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the lead teacher, all lead teachers should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Please choose the option in which the administrator and the lead teacher plan to participate and begin working to complete these requirements by 08/18/2026. We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). We discussed that the following would need to be submitted to me no later than the end of the business day on Friday, December 19, 2025: 1) Documentation that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment or the plan that has been put in place to ensure that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment. 2) Copies of the WORKS status letters for the staff listed in this visit summary need to be on file in each staff file. We are required to use the information in WORKS to determine staffs’ education. This may affect the star rating for the facility. The star rating of this facility will be determined after December 19, 2025, when I receive the documentation for the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment and I monitor to determine staffs’ education in WORKS. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed in the upcoming months. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 856 The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of. Two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel were removed from the structure but placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area. One foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair had not been removed from the fenced outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p) 1739 All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division. Two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of their application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. .2318(1-8) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last shelter-in-place drill was completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025 as required. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 1890 Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Five staff record files contained health questionnaires. .0701(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09.0604(u) and .0302(d)(8), shelter-in-place or lockdown drills should be practiced every three months and recorded on the drill log. During today’s visit, I observed a shelter-in-place drill completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025. To correct this violation, you need to complete an emergency drill within two weeks and log the drill on the record. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill every three months. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(d), each staff member should have a staff medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening, and completed health questionnaire in a medical file which is maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Today, I observed five staff record files that contained health questionnaires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you remove all the health questionnaires from the staff records and place them in the medical files you created for each staff member. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p), the outdoor premises should be checked once a day, prior to initial use, to ensure debris and broken equipment is removed and disposed of. During today’s visit, I observed two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel removed and placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area and one foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you remove any broken toys and/or equipment from the outdoor play space by disposing of them in the dumpster. 4. Licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep certain staff records off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the roster attached to the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form. The best practice is to update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. While licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form, best practice is to keep a copy of the CBC qualification letter in the staff member's records on-site. During today’s visit, two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of the application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. To correct this violation, all staff members including substitute staff members should be added to an updated Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest the administrator or the lead teacher update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. 5. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit on February 21, 2025. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. When and if you update your fire evacuation route, shelter-in-place, and/or lock-down drill plan, you need to have the fire department approve the your plan first BEFORE you put it in your EPR plan as an update. 4. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 5. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 6. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 7. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#2 visit, the temporary license period, or licensing in general, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/10/2025 Number Present: 9 Completed Date: 12/10/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#2) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and transferred this facility file to me in October 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Lindsay Suggs, Teacher Assistant, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher, who assisted me with today’s visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, was unavailable during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last monthly fire drill dated November 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor and outdoor environments. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, and eating lunch. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three new substitute staff files for substitutes who had worked at the facility since the TTP#1 visit on September 30, 2025. I monitored one staff file for the new teacher assistant whose first day of employment was today. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Discussion – I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2). On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. The following have been reviewed for Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2): 1) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. The new teacher assistant needs to be added to this worksheet. Please send the updated Staff Information and Education Worksheet to me by email no later than Friday, December 19, 2025. Once received, staff education standards will be verified in DCDEE WORKS for the staff listed on the worksheet. Ms. Suggs will need to establish a WORKS account and request to be evaluated as a lead teacher and/or teacher. Please make sure all staff have listed in their WORKS account all the facilities that they have worked. This is also important that all work experience is listed on their application for hire. 2) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. In addition to the foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, three engagement and leadership options and one educational opportunity options. 3) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. 4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plan Individual Staff and administration created an individual CQI Plan. I was not able to monitor these individual CQI Plans today. Please place a copy of the CQI/PD Individual Plans in each staff member’s file so they are readily available for review during monitoring visits. 5) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use today. 6) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use today. 7) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Per child care rule .3205(f)(10) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the administrator, the administrator should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in additional to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Per child care rule .3205(f)(11) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the lead teacher, all lead teachers should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Please choose the option in which the administrator and the lead teacher plan to participate and begin working to complete these requirements by 08/18/2026. We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). We discussed that the following would need to be submitted to me no later than the end of the business day on Friday, December 19, 2025: 1) Documentation that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment or the plan that has been put in place to ensure that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment. 2) Copies of the WORKS status letters for the staff listed in this visit summary need to be on file in each staff file. We are required to use the information in WORKS to determine staffs’ education. This may affect the star rating for the facility. The star rating of this facility will be determined after December 19, 2025, when I receive the documentation for the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment and I monitor to determine staffs’ education in WORKS. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed in the upcoming months. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 856 The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of. Two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel were removed from the structure but placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area. One foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair had not been removed from the fenced outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p) 1739 All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division. Two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of their application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. .2318(1-8) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last shelter-in-place drill was completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025 as required. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 1890 Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Five staff record files contained health questionnaires. .0701(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09.0604(u) and .0302(d)(8), shelter-in-place or lockdown drills should be practiced every three months and recorded on the drill log. During today’s visit, I observed a shelter-in-place drill completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025. To correct this violation, you need to complete an emergency drill within two weeks and log the drill on the record. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill every three months. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(d), each staff member should have a staff medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening, and completed health questionnaire in a medical file which is maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Today, I observed five staff record files that contained health questionnaires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you remove all the health questionnaires from the staff records and place them in the medical files you created for each staff member. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p), the outdoor premises should be checked once a day, prior to initial use, to ensure debris and broken equipment is removed and disposed of. During today’s visit, I observed two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel removed and placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area and one foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you remove any broken toys and/or equipment from the outdoor play space by disposing of them in the dumpster. 4. Licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep certain staff records off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the roster attached to the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form. The best practice is to update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. While licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form, best practice is to keep a copy of the CBC qualification letter in the staff member's records on-site. During today’s visit, two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of the application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. To correct this violation, all staff members including substitute staff members should be added to an updated Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest the administrator or the lead teacher update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. 5. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit on February 21, 2025. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. When and if you update your fire evacuation route, shelter-in-place, and/or lock-down drill plan, you need to have the fire department approve the your plan first BEFORE you put it in your EPR plan as an update. 4. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 5. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 6. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 7. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#2 visit, the temporary license period, or licensing in general, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0701 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/10/2025 Number Present: 9 Completed Date: 12/10/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#2) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and transferred this facility file to me in October 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Lindsay Suggs, Teacher Assistant, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher, who assisted me with today’s visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, was unavailable during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last monthly fire drill dated November 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor and outdoor environments. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, and eating lunch. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three new substitute staff files for substitutes who had worked at the facility since the TTP#1 visit on September 30, 2025. I monitored one staff file for the new teacher assistant whose first day of employment was today. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Discussion – I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2). On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. The following have been reviewed for Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2): 1) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. The new teacher assistant needs to be added to this worksheet. Please send the updated Staff Information and Education Worksheet to me by email no later than Friday, December 19, 2025. Once received, staff education standards will be verified in DCDEE WORKS for the staff listed on the worksheet. Ms. Suggs will need to establish a WORKS account and request to be evaluated as a lead teacher and/or teacher. Please make sure all staff have listed in their WORKS account all the facilities that they have worked. This is also important that all work experience is listed on their application for hire. 2) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. In addition to the foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, three engagement and leadership options and one educational opportunity options. 3) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. 4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plan Individual Staff and administration created an individual CQI Plan. I was not able to monitor these individual CQI Plans today. Please place a copy of the CQI/PD Individual Plans in each staff member’s file so they are readily available for review during monitoring visits. 5) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use today. 6) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use today. 7) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Per child care rule .3205(f)(10) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the administrator, the administrator should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in additional to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Per child care rule .3205(f)(11) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the lead teacher, all lead teachers should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Please choose the option in which the administrator and the lead teacher plan to participate and begin working to complete these requirements by 08/18/2026. We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). We discussed that the following would need to be submitted to me no later than the end of the business day on Friday, December 19, 2025: 1) Documentation that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment or the plan that has been put in place to ensure that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment. 2) Copies of the WORKS status letters for the staff listed in this visit summary need to be on file in each staff file. We are required to use the information in WORKS to determine staffs’ education. This may affect the star rating for the facility. The star rating of this facility will be determined after December 19, 2025, when I receive the documentation for the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment and I monitor to determine staffs’ education in WORKS. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed in the upcoming months. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 856 The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of. Two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel were removed from the structure but placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area. One foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair had not been removed from the fenced outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p) 1739 All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division. Two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of their application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. .2318(1-8) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last shelter-in-place drill was completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025 as required. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 1890 Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Five staff record files contained health questionnaires. .0701(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09.0604(u) and .0302(d)(8), shelter-in-place or lockdown drills should be practiced every three months and recorded on the drill log. During today’s visit, I observed a shelter-in-place drill completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025. To correct this violation, you need to complete an emergency drill within two weeks and log the drill on the record. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill every three months. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(d), each staff member should have a staff medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening, and completed health questionnaire in a medical file which is maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Today, I observed five staff record files that contained health questionnaires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you remove all the health questionnaires from the staff records and place them in the medical files you created for each staff member. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p), the outdoor premises should be checked once a day, prior to initial use, to ensure debris and broken equipment is removed and disposed of. During today’s visit, I observed two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel removed and placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area and one foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you remove any broken toys and/or equipment from the outdoor play space by disposing of them in the dumpster. 4. Licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep certain staff records off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the roster attached to the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form. The best practice is to update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. While licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form, best practice is to keep a copy of the CBC qualification letter in the staff member's records on-site. During today’s visit, two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of the application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. To correct this violation, all staff members including substitute staff members should be added to an updated Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest the administrator or the lead teacher update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. 5. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit on February 21, 2025. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. When and if you update your fire evacuation route, shelter-in-place, and/or lock-down drill plan, you need to have the fire department approve the your plan first BEFORE you put it in your EPR plan as an update. 4. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 5. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 6. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 7. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#2 visit, the temporary license period, or licensing in general, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09.0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/10/2025 Number Present: 9 Completed Date: 12/10/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#2) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and transferred this facility file to me in October 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Lindsay Suggs, Teacher Assistant, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher, who assisted me with today’s visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, was unavailable during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last monthly fire drill dated November 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor and outdoor environments. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, and eating lunch. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three new substitute staff files for substitutes who had worked at the facility since the TTP#1 visit on September 30, 2025. I monitored one staff file for the new teacher assistant whose first day of employment was today. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Discussion – I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2). On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. The following have been reviewed for Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2): 1) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. The new teacher assistant needs to be added to this worksheet. Please send the updated Staff Information and Education Worksheet to me by email no later than Friday, December 19, 2025. Once received, staff education standards will be verified in DCDEE WORKS for the staff listed on the worksheet. Ms. Suggs will need to establish a WORKS account and request to be evaluated as a lead teacher and/or teacher. Please make sure all staff have listed in their WORKS account all the facilities that they have worked. This is also important that all work experience is listed on their application for hire. 2) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. In addition to the foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, three engagement and leadership options and one educational opportunity options. 3) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. 4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plan Individual Staff and administration created an individual CQI Plan. I was not able to monitor these individual CQI Plans today. Please place a copy of the CQI/PD Individual Plans in each staff member’s file so they are readily available for review during monitoring visits. 5) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use today. 6) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use today. 7) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Per child care rule .3205(f)(10) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the administrator, the administrator should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in additional to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Per child care rule .3205(f)(11) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the lead teacher, all lead teachers should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Please choose the option in which the administrator and the lead teacher plan to participate and begin working to complete these requirements by 08/18/2026. We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). We discussed that the following would need to be submitted to me no later than the end of the business day on Friday, December 19, 2025: 1) Documentation that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment or the plan that has been put in place to ensure that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment. 2) Copies of the WORKS status letters for the staff listed in this visit summary need to be on file in each staff file. We are required to use the information in WORKS to determine staffs’ education. This may affect the star rating for the facility. The star rating of this facility will be determined after December 19, 2025, when I receive the documentation for the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment and I monitor to determine staffs’ education in WORKS. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed in the upcoming months. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 856 The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of. Two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel were removed from the structure but placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area. One foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair had not been removed from the fenced outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p) 1739 All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division. Two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of their application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. .2318(1-8) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last shelter-in-place drill was completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025 as required. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 1890 Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Five staff record files contained health questionnaires. .0701(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09.0604(u) and .0302(d)(8), shelter-in-place or lockdown drills should be practiced every three months and recorded on the drill log. During today’s visit, I observed a shelter-in-place drill completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025. To correct this violation, you need to complete an emergency drill within two weeks and log the drill on the record. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill every three months. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(d), each staff member should have a staff medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening, and completed health questionnaire in a medical file which is maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Today, I observed five staff record files that contained health questionnaires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you remove all the health questionnaires from the staff records and place them in the medical files you created for each staff member. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p), the outdoor premises should be checked once a day, prior to initial use, to ensure debris and broken equipment is removed and disposed of. During today’s visit, I observed two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel removed and placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area and one foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you remove any broken toys and/or equipment from the outdoor play space by disposing of them in the dumpster. 4. Licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep certain staff records off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the roster attached to the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form. The best practice is to update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. While licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form, best practice is to keep a copy of the CBC qualification letter in the staff member's records on-site. During today’s visit, two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of the application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. To correct this violation, all staff members including substitute staff members should be added to an updated Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest the administrator or the lead teacher update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. 5. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit on February 21, 2025. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. When and if you update your fire evacuation route, shelter-in-place, and/or lock-down drill plan, you need to have the fire department approve the your plan first BEFORE you put it in your EPR plan as an update. 4. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 5. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 6. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 7. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#2 visit, the temporary license period, or licensing in general, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/10/2025 Number Present: 9 Completed Date: 12/10/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#2) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and transferred this facility file to me in October 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Lindsay Suggs, Teacher Assistant, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher, who assisted me with today’s visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, was unavailable during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last monthly fire drill dated November 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor and outdoor environments. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, and eating lunch. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three new substitute staff files for substitutes who had worked at the facility since the TTP#1 visit on September 30, 2025. I monitored one staff file for the new teacher assistant whose first day of employment was today. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Discussion – I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2). On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. The following have been reviewed for Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2): 1) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. The new teacher assistant needs to be added to this worksheet. Please send the updated Staff Information and Education Worksheet to me by email no later than Friday, December 19, 2025. Once received, staff education standards will be verified in DCDEE WORKS for the staff listed on the worksheet. Ms. Suggs will need to establish a WORKS account and request to be evaluated as a lead teacher and/or teacher. Please make sure all staff have listed in their WORKS account all the facilities that they have worked. This is also important that all work experience is listed on their application for hire. 2) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. In addition to the foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, three engagement and leadership options and one educational opportunity options. 3) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. 4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plan Individual Staff and administration created an individual CQI Plan. I was not able to monitor these individual CQI Plans today. Please place a copy of the CQI/PD Individual Plans in each staff member’s file so they are readily available for review during monitoring visits. 5) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use today. 6) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use today. 7) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Per child care rule .3205(f)(10) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the administrator, the administrator should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in additional to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Per child care rule .3205(f)(11) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the lead teacher, all lead teachers should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Please choose the option in which the administrator and the lead teacher plan to participate and begin working to complete these requirements by 08/18/2026. We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). We discussed that the following would need to be submitted to me no later than the end of the business day on Friday, December 19, 2025: 1) Documentation that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment or the plan that has been put in place to ensure that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment. 2) Copies of the WORKS status letters for the staff listed in this visit summary need to be on file in each staff file. We are required to use the information in WORKS to determine staffs’ education. This may affect the star rating for the facility. The star rating of this facility will be determined after December 19, 2025, when I receive the documentation for the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment and I monitor to determine staffs’ education in WORKS. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed in the upcoming months. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 856 The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of. Two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel were removed from the structure but placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area. One foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair had not been removed from the fenced outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p) 1739 All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division. Two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of their application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. .2318(1-8) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last shelter-in-place drill was completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025 as required. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 1890 Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Five staff record files contained health questionnaires. .0701(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09.0604(u) and .0302(d)(8), shelter-in-place or lockdown drills should be practiced every three months and recorded on the drill log. During today’s visit, I observed a shelter-in-place drill completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025. To correct this violation, you need to complete an emergency drill within two weeks and log the drill on the record. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill every three months. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(d), each staff member should have a staff medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening, and completed health questionnaire in a medical file which is maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Today, I observed five staff record files that contained health questionnaires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you remove all the health questionnaires from the staff records and place them in the medical files you created for each staff member. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p), the outdoor premises should be checked once a day, prior to initial use, to ensure debris and broken equipment is removed and disposed of. During today’s visit, I observed two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel removed and placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area and one foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you remove any broken toys and/or equipment from the outdoor play space by disposing of them in the dumpster. 4. Licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep certain staff records off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the roster attached to the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form. The best practice is to update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. While licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form, best practice is to keep a copy of the CBC qualification letter in the staff member's records on-site. During today’s visit, two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of the application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. To correct this violation, all staff members including substitute staff members should be added to an updated Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest the administrator or the lead teacher update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. 5. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit on February 21, 2025. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. When and if you update your fire evacuation route, shelter-in-place, and/or lock-down drill plan, you need to have the fire department approve the your plan first BEFORE you put it in your EPR plan as an update. 4. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 5. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 6. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 7. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#2 visit, the temporary license period, or licensing in general, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/10/2025 Number Present: 9 Completed Date: 12/10/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the second Temporary Time Period (TTP#2) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and transferred this facility file to me in October 2025. I will be your point of contact throughout the remainder of your temporary license period. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Lindsay Suggs, Teacher Assistant, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher, who assisted me with today’s visit. Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, was unavailable during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, reviewed and signed the visit summary at the end of the visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area of the classroom. The last monthly fire drill dated November 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated November 17, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items today that met meal pattern requirements. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor and outdoor environments. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing before eating, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, and eating lunch. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I monitored supervision, adequate approved space use, capacity and group size, enhanced reduced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three new substitute staff files for substitutes who had worked at the facility since the TTP#1 visit on September 30, 2025. I monitored one staff file for the new teacher assistant whose first day of employment was today. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, does not serve as the lead teacher or assistant teacher in the classroom. This program uses Ages and Stages as the developmental screening tool, Teaching Strategies Gold as the formative assessment tool, and Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Fourth Edition, as the approved curriculum. The health assessment including the physical examination, immunizations, vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are used to refer children for additional services as needed. This program’s family engagement component included formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, opportunities for involvement in decision-making about the early childhood program, and opportunities to engage families outside the regular school day. You call or text the parent on the day of absence and at least by the third day of any child’s absence to inquire about the reason for the absence and report absences to Ms. Hayes and the Catawba County Partnership for Children. This NC PreK program followed the Newton-Conover City Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Rated License Discussion – I received the “Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” on October 14, 2025. This program is choosing Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2). On the application, you checked that this program would meet enhanced reduced staff/child ratio. The following have been reviewed for Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment (Pathway 2): 1) Staff Education Standards: I received the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet on October 14, 2025. The new teacher assistant needs to be added to this worksheet. Please send the updated Staff Information and Education Worksheet to me by email no later than Friday, December 19, 2025. Once received, staff education standards will be verified in DCDEE WORKS for the staff listed on the worksheet. Ms. Suggs will need to establish a WORKS account and request to be evaluated as a lead teacher and/or teacher. Please make sure all staff have listed in their WORKS account all the facilities that they have worked. This is also important that all work experience is listed on their application for hire. 2) Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers I received the Family and Community Engagement Standards Child Care Centers / Centers Located in a Residence document on October 14, 2025. In addition to the foundational practices required to meet the family and community engagement standards (CC RULE .3209) at the two-star level, this program has chosen to meet two communication options, three engagement and leadership options and one educational opportunity options. 3) Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan The facility CQI Plan was created. I received a copy of the plan on October 14, 2025. 4) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Professional Development (PD) Plan Individual Staff and administration created an individual CQI Plan. I was not able to monitor these individual CQI Plans today. Please place a copy of the CQI/PD Individual Plans in each staff member’s file so they are readily available for review during monitoring visits. 5) Approved Curriculum You stated that the approved curriculum used in the classroom is Creative Curriculum. I verified use today. 6) Approved Formative Assessment The approved formative assessment used is Teaching Strategies Gold. I verified use today. 7) Coaching/training options for administrators and lead teachers Per child care rule .3205(f)(10) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the administrator, the administrator should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in additional to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Per child care rule .3205(f)(11) pertaining to coaching, mentoring, and training options for the lead teacher, all lead teachers should plan to participate in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices: (A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by the administrator, another lead teacher in the center, a lead teacher in another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an administrator of another licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner; (B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218; or (C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in child care rule .1103 and child care rules .3211, .3212, .3213, .3214, .3215, .3216 and .3218. Please choose the option in which the administrator and the lead teacher plan to participate and begin working to complete these requirements by 08/18/2026. We reviewed the Classroom and Instructional Quality Star Level Assessment for Child Care Centers (Pathway 2). We discussed that the following would need to be submitted to me no later than the end of the business day on Friday, December 19, 2025: 1) Documentation that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment or the plan that has been put in place to ensure that the administrator and lead teachers receive training related to the curriculum and formative assessment. 2) Copies of the WORKS status letters for the staff listed in this visit summary need to be on file in each staff file. We are required to use the information in WORKS to determine staffs’ education. This may affect the star rating for the facility. The star rating of this facility will be determined after December 19, 2025, when I receive the documentation for the training related to the approved curriculum and formative assessment and I monitor to determine staffs’ education in WORKS. Star Rated License Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent at all times [NC GS 110-90(4)(d)]. In addition to the star rated license assessment, we discussed the need to have a current Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) 3 assessment completed to satisfy the NC PreK requirements. The ECERS-3 assessment was ordered on November 21, 2025. ERS assessors have reached out to this facility and scheduled the ERS to be completed in the upcoming months. Because this facility has chosen to complete the Classroom and Instructional Quality Assessment option (Pathway 2), this ERS score will not affect the star-rated license status. Please be reminded that NC PreK requirements require this facility to operate under a four or five-star license therefore an ERS score of 5.0 or higher is required. The following violations were observed and cited during today: Violation Number Comment Rule 856 The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of. Two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel were removed from the structure but placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area. One foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair had not been removed from the fenced outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p) 1739 All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division. Two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of their application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. .2318(1-8) 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last shelter-in-place drill was completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025 as required. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 1890 Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Five staff record files contained health questionnaires. .0701(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care rules 10A NCAC 09.0604(u) and .0302(d)(8), shelter-in-place or lockdown drills should be practiced every three months and recorded on the drill log. During today’s visit, I observed a shelter-in-place drill completed on August 29, 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in November 2025. No emergency drill was completed in November 2025. To correct this violation, you need to complete an emergency drill within two weeks and log the drill on the record. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill every three months. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(d), each staff member should have a staff medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening, and completed health questionnaire in a medical file which is maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. Today, I observed five staff record files that contained health questionnaires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you remove all the health questionnaires from the staff records and place them in the medical files you created for each staff member. 3. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(p), the outdoor premises should be checked once a day, prior to initial use, to ensure debris and broken equipment is removed and disposed of. During today’s visit, I observed two pieces to the caterpillar tunnel removed and placed on the concrete pad within the fenced play area and one foldable child-sized chair with at least half of the padded seat ripped and missing from the chair. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you remove any broken toys and/or equipment from the outdoor play space by disposing of them in the dumpster. 4. Licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep certain staff records off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the roster attached to the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form. The best practice is to update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. While licensed child care programs operating in a Department of Instruction (DPI) building are allowed to keep Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters off-site as long as the staff member is listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff form, best practice is to keep a copy of the CBC qualification letter in the staff member's records on-site. During today’s visit, two new substitute staff members were not listed on the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document dated 08/22/2025 and a copy of the application, staff medical report, TB test results, and New Staff Orientation Documentation were not on file. To correct this violation, all staff members including substitute staff members should be added to an updated Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest the administrator or the lead teacher update the Public-School Off-Site Records Verification Staff document anytime a new staff member is hired. 5. As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r), child care operators have five business days to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. The process of notifying the Division has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Today, I observed a staff roster for the facility established on the ABCMS portal established. However, one permanent staff member currently employed by the facility was not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. Therefore, DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established and was not notified of new employees hired since your last monitoring visit on February 21, 2025. To correct this violation, current staff members and any newly hired staff members should be added to the facility staff roster in the ABCMS Provider Portal. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, you should update the information in the ABCMS portal regarding new hires and staff members as they separate from employment. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-8401 and someone will assist you. CONSULTATION for the ECERS-3 ASSESSMENT: 1. Remember that the ECERS-3 assessment will be completed in three hours with no interview process. If the assessors do not observe an indicator in action or posted as required, there will be no opportunity to explain the omission. 2. If your current classroom schedule and routine allows for outside play after 11am, you may want to revise your classroom schedule to include outside play in the first three hours of the school day. If you choose to make a schedule change, I suggest you make those changes as soon as possible and to begin to train the children and staff in the new routine. 3. Allow bleach water to sit on surfaces at least two minutes before wiping off or using the surface. 4. Ensure that children wash hands upon arrival, before and after water play, after messy art/play dough play, after coming in from outside, before eating, after toileting/diapering and after coughing/sneezing, etc. 5. Ensure that learning centers are accessible a substantial portion of the day and that your daily schedule reflects it. Areas that must be made available for a minimum of 2hrs and 10 minutes to meet the “Substantial Portion of the Day” requirement are: Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science/Exploration, Math/Numbers, and Books. 6. Ensure that children go outside every day weather permitting. 7. Ensure that your block centers are protected from foot traffic, large enough for three children to build a sizeable structure and enough blocks for three children to build. 8. Ensure that books and materials are in good repair and no books depict violent images (guns, swords, teeth bearing). 9. Ensure that the majority of direction/redirection is positive instead of negative. 10. Ensure that staff member's pocket books are stored in locked storage since they almost always contain medications or lotions that must be inaccessible to children. 11. Ensure that staff are interacting with children, engaging in meaningful conversations, and helping children work through altercations and conflicts as they occur. RATED LICENSE CONSULTATION: 1. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the Education Workforce Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 2. I suggested you begin compiling documentation to support the foundational Family and Community Engagement practices and the additional options you have chosen. I suggested you include flyers, messages, emails, pictures, attendance rosters, etc. as documentation of events and resources. 3. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 4. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION: 1. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 2. Helpful resources: • Southwestern Child Development Commission: https://www.swcdcinc.org/ • Child Care Resources Inc.: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ • North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ • Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/ 3. When and if you update your fire evacuation route, shelter-in-place, and/or lock-down drill plan, you need to have the fire department approve the your plan first BEFORE you put it in your EPR plan as an update. 4. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 5. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: • Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information • Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development • QRIS Modernization Plan resources: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization • Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings • Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. • Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. • Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy • DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 6. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 7. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#2 visit, the temporary license period, or licensing in general, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0605 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0701 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0802 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .3009 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .3015 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09. 1804 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SHUFORD ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000640 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 325 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first Temporary Time Period (TTP#1) visit. Carolyn Conley, Lead Child Care Consultant, issued your temporary license and will continue to be your point of contact through the remainder of your temporary license period. I completed this TTP#1 visit upon Ms. Conley’s request and as a courtesy to Ms. Conley. I will be your point of contact for this TTP#1 visit only. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Muriel Powell, Lead Teacher, and Carrie Wright, Substitute Teacher Assistant, who assisted me with today’s visit. Later in the visit, Jonathan Tharpe, Administrator/Principal, visited the classroom and assisted me with today’s visit. Currently, your facility operates with a temporary license issued from August 18, 2025 through February 18, 2026. The facility’s temporary license, NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure dated February 2025, Classroom Staff to Child Ratio chart, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, evacuation plan, daily schedule, activity plan, emergency phone numbers, and first aid information poster were posted in a prominent area. The last monthly fire drill dated September 24, 2025 was documented on the Fire Drill Log. The last emergency drill dated September 24, 2025 was a lockdown drill documented on the Emergency Drill Log. The last monthly playground inspection dated August 29, 2025 was documented on the Playground Inspection Checklist. The current and posted menu documented appropriate nutritious snacks and meals, showed a variety of foods, and complied with Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs. Meals were prepared and served in the school cafeteria. The children were given multiple choices of food items that met meal pattern requirements. Cold food and milk was stored in a commercial refrigerator in the cafeteria at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit and in a compact refrigerator in the classroom at a temperature of forty-two degrees Fahrenheit. I completed a walkthrough of the indoor environment. The children were observed engaging in free play in activity areas, participating in a small group alphabet recognition and phonic lesson with the lead teacher, transitioning from activity areas to a whole group movement activity with music, transitioning to the cafeteria, handwashing, choosing food items through the cafeteria line, eating lunch, transitioning back to the classroom from the cafeteria, attending to personal care routines, and napping. Positive interactions between the staff and children took place throughout the visit today. I completed a walkthrough of the outdoor environment with Mr. Tharpe and provided technical assistance and consultation regarding maintaining the four foot height of the fence from the top of the mulch surfacing, options for preventing tripping hazards in the concrete areas, and maintaining the paint on the metal exit/entrance doors to the playground. I monitored supervision, adequate approved enhanced space use, enhanced capacity and group size, enhanced staff/child ratios and permit restrictions. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored a portion of the children files. I monitored three staff files available for review. No Staff and Training (S&T) worksheet was provided today. Please keep an S&T worksheet current and available for review by DCDEE staff during monitoring visits. You stated that this facility does not provide transportation. I discussed the rated license process with Mr. Tharpe. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with the QRIS Pathways to the Stars. There are now three options available to demonstrate quality and earn a two through five star rated license. It includes updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. Please visit the following link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. You will find more information and details about the three different pathways so that your program can begin working towards the star rated license. During today’s visit, we visited the link above and reviewed the following documents: -Application for Assessment for a Rated License for Centers -Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request -Competency Evaluations -Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) for Centers and CLIAR -Education Standards – Administrator -Education Standards – Lead Teacher -Education Standards – Teacher -Family & Community Engagement Standards for Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 1 – Program Assessment for Child Care Centers and CLIAR -Pathway 2 – Classroom And Instructional Quality For Child Care Centers And CLIAR Please submit the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” and the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” forms to Carolyn Conley by the end of the business day on October 14, 2025. Please be reminded that a compliance history score of seventy-five percent or above must be maintained to receive a rated license. The following violations were cited during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Peeling and chipping paint was observed on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer were stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. .2820(b) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/01/2022 did not have an Emergency Information Form on file. .0701(a) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The parent statement acknowledging receipt of the discipline policy did not include the enrollment date for the child with a date of enrollment of 08/22/2025. .1804(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a), walls and ceilings, including doors and windows, should be kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. During today’s visit, I observed peeling and chipping paint on the exterior metal door leading from the classroom to the playground, on the exterior metal door leading from the playground to the hallway, and on the exterior metal window frames outside the classroom. To maintain compliance with this sanitation rule, I suggest you touch up the peeling and chipping paint on the exterior doors and windows adjacent to the preschool classroom. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(i), the fence around the outdoor play space should measure four feet from the ground or the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. During today’s visit, the height of the fence around the playground measured between three feet and six inches and three feet and ten inches from the top of the mulch to the top of the fence. To correct the violation of this child care requirement, I advised you to rake the mulch back twelve inches from the bottom of the fence. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you make plans to regularly have the mulch raked back or consider replacing the four foot fence with a five or six foot fence. 3. Per sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(b), all cleaning supplies, aerosol cans, and items with “Keep out of the reach children” labels with additional warnings such as poison control contact numbers or first aid procedures should be stored in a locked cabinet, drawer, or closet. During today’s visit, I observed ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and one bulk refill container of Equate Hand Sanitizer stored unlocked and above five feet on a shelf in the classroom bathroom. Today, Ms. Powell placed the ten containers of Clorox disinfecting wipes, the one container of Member’s Mark disinfecting wipes, and the bulk container of Equate Hand Sanitizer in a locked closet in the classroom which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review this sanitation and child care requirement with your staff. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(g)(1-6), an incident log should be completed any time an incident report is completed. Today, an incident log was available in the facility compliance notebook, but the one incident report completed to date was not logged on the incident log. Ms. Wright logged the incident report on the incident log which corrected the violation during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you establish a procedure and practice for recording each incident on the incident log as soon as the incident report is completed. 5. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a), all child care providers should have an emergency information form on file on or before the first day of work. The emergency information form should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency, and the responsible party's choice of health care professional. The emergency information form should be updated as changes occur and at least annually. Today, Mr. Tharpe completed and dated the emergency information form with his information to be placed in his staff file. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you have each employee complete their emergency information form on the first day of employment and at a designated staff meeting annually. This practice will allow you to get as many employees as possible on the same annual update schedule and make tracking easier for you to maintain. 6. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09. 1804(b), each discipline policy acknowledgement statement signed and dated by the parent should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the child enrollment forms carefully when receiving them from the parent and have the parent add any missing information before the child’s first day of attendance. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, the outdoor play space has an enhanced licensed capacity allowing twenty-two children to use the playground at any given time. 2. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 NC PreK Staff-To-Child Ratio And Class Size, the NC PreK classroom shall not exceed a maximum staff-to-child ratio of one staff member to ten children with a maximum class size of twenty children, with at least one teacher and one teacher assistant per classroom. A classroom of ten children or less is not required to have a teacher assistant. 3. For children enrolled in an NC PreK classroom, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required in addition to the health physical exam and immunization record. Documentation of all three screenings should be in each child’s record file within thirty days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the three screenings would include the Children’s Medical Report from DCDEE, a health care wellness visit summary from a vision specialist, hearing specialist, dentist, or the child’s health care provider stating a vision, hearing, and/or dental screening was completed, a signed and dated statement from a school nurse or child care health consultant, or the kindergarten health assessment form. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, we advise you to examine the received document to be sure a vision, hearing, and dental screening was completed. If the child was uncooperative, the health care professional conducting the screening may document that on the form, but the child would need to have the screening completed again until all of the required screenings are completed. We advise you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because this document does not have a section for dental screening and therefore, a dental screening would be required from another health care professional such as a dentist or school nurse. 4. As discussed today, per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .3015 NC PRE-K Teacher And Teacher Assistant Standards, NC Pre-K teachers and teacher assistants shall provide child-directed and teacher-directed instructional day-to-day learning activities for children enrolled in the NC Pre-K program for at least 32.5-hours a week. In addition to these day-to-day instructional experiences, the Pre-K program shall provide adequate additional time for the teacher and teacher assistant staff for planning, scheduling and conducting home visits, meeting with children's families, or attending required professional development activities as set forth in Rule .3016 of this Section. These related activities shall take place outside of the 32.5-hour work week of direct teacher-child contact. 5. All staff must have their current education evaluated by the WORKS Unit in Raleigh. Instructions for the DCDEE WORKS system, including establishing a NCID, is located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Remember to track the date information is submitted by staff. If you have questions regarding submitting information in the WORKS system, contact WORKS at 1-800-859-0829. 6. Visit the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s website: ncrlap.org. There are training and resources available for the Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ERS-3) assessments. 7. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. 8. Helpful resources: • https://www.swcdcinc.org/ Southwestern Child Development Commission • https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ Child Care Resources inc. • https://www.childcarerrnc.org/ North Carolina Child Care Resources and Referral Council • https://www.smartstart.org/ Smart Start 9. On July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Rules Review Commission (RRC) approved the new child care rule language for the QRIS Modernization Plan, known as “Pathways to the Stars”. The Division of Child Development and Early Education is currently preparing a summary of the rules, an online training module for Moodle, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will allow time for administrators and operators to learn and understand the different pathways and the changes within our system. We encourage you to visit the QRIS Modernization page on the DCDEE website at this link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization to learn more now. 10. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 11. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Child-Care-Rules-Law-and-Public-Information Training and Professional Development: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development Required Health and Safety Training: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Training-and-Professional-Development/Health-and-Safety-Trainings Healthy Social Behaviors: https://www.childcarerrnc.org/special-projects/healthy-social-behaviors/. Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline: Call at 1-704-376-6697 or toll free at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1 or email at sbrawley@childcareresourcesinc.org or jbyrd@childcareresources.org. Care for Children Receiving Subsidy: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Providing-Child-Care/Subsidized-Child-Care/Care-for-Children-Receiving-Subsidy DCDEE Updates, Current Projects, and information applicable to Child Care in NC: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New 12. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 13. If you would like an electronic link to any of the links shared above, please send me an email requesting the links that you wish to receive, and I will be glad to send the hyperlinks to you by email. COMPLIANCE PLAN: All violations cited and not corrected today must be corrected immediately. Please submit a written, signed, and dated statement to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. 1) Your compliance letter must include the following: 1. The name of your center 2. The center’s ID number 3. The date you write the letter 4. Address each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including documents and photos that I can use to verify the corrected violation and compliance with child care requirements. I should receive your compliance letter no later than October 14, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Child care programs are required to maintain compliance with all applicable child care rules and regulations at all times. North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent for the past eighteen months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action against the facility's license. Any violations cited during a visit may affect your score. Your letter may be mailed to me at: Kimberly Crane Post Office Box 6217 Hickory, NC 28603 For your convenience, your compliance letter may be sent by email to: kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included in the body of the email: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. If you have any questions regarding this TTP#1 visit, feel free to contact me by phone at 828.493.6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov. or you may contact Erin Pickard, Licensing Supervisor, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. If you have questions regarding your temporary license period or licensing in general, please contact your lead child care consultant, Carolyn Conley by phone at 704.594.0149 or by email at carolyn.conley@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. Thank you for your time today. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times