NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: Lee's Academy Child Care Facility ID: 26002635 Consultant: RHONDA BLACKMON Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 11/19/2025 Number Present: 1 Completed Date: 11/19/2025 Age: From 2 To 2 Total Minutes: 250 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to a second temporary time period visit. The previous temporary time visit was completed October 3, 2025, and prior to today’s visit, the eighteen-month compliance history score was 100%, as required by North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(c-d). This program currently operates with a temporary license effective August 28, 2025 to February 28, 2026. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by Nora Lee. Current Inspection is as follows: Sanitation Classification of Superior with four (4) demerits completed August 25, 2025. N. Lee, Operator/Teacher, was present and assisted me during the visit. I washed my hands and completed a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. One child, aged two years old, was present. The child participated in free play activities indoors, hand washing and personal care routines, ate lunch, and transitioned to his cot for rest time. During the visit, the child manipulated puzzles, looked at books, and played with pretend food and cooked in the dramatic play area. Lunch consisted of spam, wheat bread, pork and beans, apple slices, and milk. The operator and child’s files and program records were monitored today. The most current fire drill was conducted on November 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. The most current outdoor inspection checklist for Family Child Care Homes was completed on November 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with N. Lee. The following violations were observed: Violation Number Comment Rule 1741 Prior to enrollment of children in a Family Child Care Home, and before animals come into the Family Child Care Home, the operator did not obtain each parent's signature on a form acknowledging the type of animal located on the premises and where the animal will be kept during child care operating hours and /or the signed form was not maintained in the child's file. Prior to enrollment, and before animals came into the FCCH, the operator did not obtain the parent's signature on a form acknowledging the type of animal located on the premises and where the animal will be kept during child care operating hours. 10 NCAC 09 .1719(b)(3) 1889 Products that are labeled "keep out of reach of children" without any other warnings, were not stored on a shelf or in an unlocked cabinet that is five feet above the finished floor. A pack of baby wipes labeled "keep out of reach of children" without any other warnings, were stored in a basket, next to the entrance, less than five feet above the finished floor. This was corrected when the operator removed the baby wipes from the basket and placed them on a shelf that is five feet above the finished floor. .1719(a)(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. The violations observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violations observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on December 3, 2025, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to me. The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If the letter states that corrections have been made when they have not, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Rhonda Blackmon Lead Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 279 Linden, NC 28356 Rhonda.blackmon@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, you must include a signature block, which contains your name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The compliance history is based on violations that are cited during visits to your facility. If you have an acceptable compliance history at the end of your temporary license you will be eligible to apply for a star rated license. Failure to maintain an acceptable compliance history may result in the issuance of administrative action up to and including denial of a full license at the end of the temporary time period. Technical Assistance/Consultation/Reminders Specific to Today’s Visit: Children’s Files: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a child care program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children's files often to ensure the program maintains accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. We discussed the importance of reviewing all children’s files to ensure accuracy with completion of all required areas of the child's application, signatures on required forms, and items required to be on file on Day 1. Continue to use the resource from the DCDEE website entitled, “Children’s File Checklist” to ensure the required information is on file by the due date. Upon receipt, record the date received/completed on the checklist. As a reminder, prior to enrollment of children in a Family Child Care Home, and before animals come into the Family Child Care Home, you must obtain each parent's signature on a form acknowledging the type of animal located on the premises and where the animal will be kept during child care operating hours and place the signed acknowledgement inside each child’s file. Rated License Assessment: During the TTP visit completed October 3, 2025, an overview of section .3200 of the child care rules were provided. Each of the following pathway options were discussed: Program Assessment Pathway, Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway, and Accreditation and Head Start Pathway. Education requirements were also reviewed. As discussed on October 3, 2025, the FCCH must transition to a 3-5 Star Rated License to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized child care assistance after six (6) months. Based on today’s conversation, N. Lee stated she plans to achieve compliance with Classroom and Instructional Quality: Pathway 2 for a five-star license, and that Kathleen Hoffler, Region 5 Family Child Care Consultant, is her Coach/Mentor. A TA application was completed and submitted to the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County for technical assistance and consultation regarding the Family and Community Engagement Standards, CQI, and Professional Development Plan. Currently, N. Lee is using an approved curriculum (The Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care, 2nd edition, Vols 1 & 2) along with the formulative assessment: Gold Teaching Strategies. Additionally, N. Lee has a BA in Sociology, an AA in ECE, and thirty-three (33) years ECE experience. As a reminder, a child care facility is eligible for a rated license of two through five-stars upon application and assessment of compliance with the requirements. For additional information, you may review the Pathway to the Stars: The NC Quality Rating and Improvement System Child Care Rating System information/requirements at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. At the conclusion of today’s visit, N. Lee submitted the following items: • Application for Assessment for a Rated License for a FCCH • Family and Community Engagement Standards N. Lee stated that she and K. Hoffler have a scheduled visit for November 20, 2025, to review the Facility’s Continuous Quality Improvement Plan and her Professional Development Plan to review established goals and to document progress. Training: N. Lee has four (4) months from the date of licensure (December 28, 2025) to go online at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx and complete the EPR Plan for this location. As a reminder, you shall review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changes to ensure all information is current. Additional caregivers and substitutes shall review the EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with N. Lee. Documentation of the review shall be maintained on file. You already know the Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As a reminder, the child care rule roll out module for section .3200 is complete and ready for viewing in Moodle. Please make time to listen to the module, it will further assist your understanding of these new rules. As we continue expanding our training offerings, the DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle Support. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. 2025 License Fee: Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. Please note that annual license fees do not apply to state or public school-operated child care facilities, or to religious-sponsored facilities operating under a Notice of Compliance. Keep an eye on your email inbox for the 2025 Annual License Fee invoice. Invoices will be emailed to the facility email address by November 3, 2025. Since the invoice number changes each year, you will need to ensure the invoice number you are paying begins with 25. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. For questions regarding license fees, visit the License Fee Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs en español) or email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance. Adult MHFA for Child Development and Early Educators: In partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education, the School of Social Work is pleased to offer free Mental Health First Aid training to teachers, staff, and administrators of NC licensed child care facilities serving young children aged birth to five years. Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. This training has two hours of digital prework and 6 hours of live synchronous training via zoom. Upon completion, the participant will earn 8 approved DCDEE contact hours. To register, visit https://ncmhfa.unc.edu/adult-mhfa-for-child-development-and-early-educators/ For Questions, Please Email nccommunitymhfa@ssw.unc.edu The DCDEE has a new initiative – Natural Outdoor Learning Initiative: Through this initiative, we hope to increase knowledge and confidence for everyone in developing and implementing best practices to support the creation, programming, and safe use of naturalized outdoor spaces in child care facilities. You can learn more by visiting the NLI website, where you will also find many resources, including an updated Toolkit designed to help you enhance your outdoor learning environment. The downloadable NLI Toolkit is available at: https://naturalearning.org/preschool-outdoor-toolkit Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all applicable laws and rules at all times. Periodically review the child care law and rules. Visit the DCDEE website and click on the “What’s New” tab to stay abreast of all updates. Please feel free to contact me at (910) 709-4168 if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. 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