NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 25000578 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0925-202L Visit Date: 9/30/2025 Number Present: 4 Completed Date: 9/30/2025 Age: From 1 To 1 Total Minutes: 125 Time In: 02:15 PM Time Out: 04:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to obtain information regarding alleged violations of child care requirements. The allegations are as follows: 1. There are concerns that inappropriate discipline was used. Enrollment: Space 1: Staff- D. Cruz Five children, one year of age enrolled, four children, one year of age present One child, two years of age enrolled A. Scurry, Administrator, assisted me with today's visit. I observed space #1. Upon arrival, the children were waking from rest time and completing personal care routines. The children sat at the table and in the high chair to eat a snack of whole wheat crackers, cheese, and water. After snack, the children danced to music and went through a tunnel. Regarding the allegation that inappropriate discipline was used, I made classroom observations, and interviewed staff members and the administrator. I was unable to review recorded camera footage due to technical difficulties. It was reported to me that the youngest children enrolled use high chairs at meal times. It was also reported that the youngest children are sometimes placed in high chairs before meals are served, during diaper changes, and when the classroom needs to be cleaned. Based on the above information, the allegation is confirmed. The following violation was documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 1877 A child was restrained as a form of discipline. Children in space #1 are sometimes placed in high chairs before meals are served, during diaper changes, and when the classroom needs to be cleaned. .1803(a)(10) 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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 10/14/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Discipline: It is nearly impossible to prevent children from ever misbehaving; however, there are positive steps caregivers can take to limit misbehavior and guide children towards more acceptable behaviors or positive choices. No child shall be restrained as a form of discipline unless the child's safety or the safety of others is at risk. We discussed that you cannot restrict children for a minimum amount of time necessary to ensure a safe environment. High chairs offer potential for entrapment, falls, and injury. Caregivers should transition children from high chairs to small tables and chairs as soon as they are capable of using them. During the visit, you removed the high chairs during the visit and stated that the children will all sit at the table. We reviewed the discipline policy and discussed that restraining children is never appropriate and to ask for help if assistance is needed to complete routine tasks. You stated that she did ask for help today and you will review the discipline policy with all staff members. Have a staff meeting to review the discipline policy and make classroom observations to ensure that appropriate discipline strategies are being followed. Additional Comments: A violation was documented for failure to maintain compliance with discipline requirements. Violations of this nature directly impact the safety of the children while in your care. During the visit, we discussed that confirmed allegations may lead to an administrative action against your license. A follow-up visit will be conducted in the near future to monitor compliance with child care requirements. Southwestern Child Development Commission https://www.swcdcinc.org/ offers a variety of online courses and trainings, including BSAC. We discussed this site being a resource for completing on-going training hours, BSAC, and orientation. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this Visit Summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 25000578 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 8/4/2025 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 8/4/2025 Age: From 0 To 11 Total Minutes: 330 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. A. Scurry, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued 10/4/2019, earning 4 points in the education component, 5 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for having a staff benefits package and infrastructure of parent infrastructure of parent involvement. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/4/24. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/17/25 with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/3/25 and your facility was approved for daytime and night care. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety two percent as of 7/29/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 7/29/25 and Kidz Choice Learning Center LLC was listed as current- active. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Children throughout the center were engaged in free play in activity centers, personal care routines, and transitions. Children enrolled in space #1 were observed in the outdoor space climbing the portable equipment. Toddlers were drawing shapes on construction paper with crayons. Preschoolers were observed having group time on the carpet and discussed the books children were reading. The outdoor spaces were observed with portable climbers, a basketball hoop, riding toys, and balls for the children to engage in gross motor play. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken, rice, peaches green beans, and milk. The following violations were documented. 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. A staff member hired on 6/18/24 had certification of First Aid for Heartsaver K-12. .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. A staff member hired on 6/18/24 had certification of CPR for Heartsaver K-12. .1102(d) 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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 8/18/25, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@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: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: CPR/First Aid: Knowing what to do in an emergency medical situation can mean the difference between life or death. Being trained in CPR and first aid can be invaluable when someone is in serious medical distress. Therefore, it is so important that all staff working directly with children have current CPR and First Aid Certification appropriate to the ages of children in care. Staff have 90 days from the day of hire to complete the required trainings. A staff member hired on 6/18/24 had certification of CPR and First Aid for Heartsaver K-12. You stated that the staff member also works at one of the local schools. We discussed that CPR/First Aid certification must be appropriate for the infants and toddlers that are in care. You scheduled a CPR/First Aid training for the staff member during the visit to be completed today. Please send a copy of staff cards upon completion as proof of correction. Examine documents thoroughly when accepting them to ensure that they meets the requirements before documenting on the staff file checklist. We discussed that repeated CPR/First Aid violations could warrant an administrative action. Additional Comments: NC Child Care Commission’s QRIS Modernization Plan (QRIS Reform): Today, we looked on the Division’s website at the proposed rules and pathways. Review to learn more about the offering of a choice of three pathways to demonstrate quality and earn a 2-5 Star Rated License, updates to education standards for early childhood educators to expand options; and how it adds standards for both educators and facilities that support continuous quality improvement and family/community engagement practices that promote communication and collaboration. We discussed completing the survey with this information. NCID: Did you know that if you do not login on any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 25000578 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/3/2025 Number Present: 20 Completed Date: 4/3/2025 Age: From 1 To 5 Total Minutes: 165 Time In: 09:55 AM Time Out: 12:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, accompanied me on today’s visit. A. Scurry, Administrator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued 10/4/2019, earning 4 points in the education component, 5 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for having a staff benefits package and infrastructure of parental involvement. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/4/24. The sanitation inspection was completed on 12/17/24 with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/3/25. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety three percent as of 3/25/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 3/25/25 and Kidz Choice Learning Center LLC was listed as current-active. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. In space #1, children were sitting at the table and the staff member was reading them a book. Preschoolers were having group time on the carpet before transitioning to playing with playdough at the table. Toddlers were dancing to music. The outdoor space was observed to have stationary climbers, riding toys, and balls for the children to engage in gross motor activities. Lunch was observed to include beef steak with gravy over rice, mixed vegetables, mandarin oranges, and milk. The following violation was documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 544 Screen time was offered to children under three years of age. In space #1, children one year of age, were watching Cocomelon on a telephone screen. .0510(f) 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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 4/17/25, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance with Violations: Screen time: Excessive media use has been associated with lags in achievement of knowledge and skills, as well as negative impacts on sleep, weight, and social/emotional health. Screen time, for children three years and older, should be used to stimulate a developmental domain; limited to 30 minutes a day and documented on a cumulative log or the activity plan that is available for review. In space #1, children, one year of age, were watching Cocomelon on a telephone screen. The teacher stated they were waiting for lunch to arrive. We discussed that she could turn the music on and dance with the children or have a container of toys available for the children to play with on the carpet while waiting for lunch. The administrator modeled these choices for the teacher during the visit. We also discussed that telephones can be used to play music as long as the screen is pointed away from the children. Ensure that all staff members understand that screen time can not be used for children under the age of three and complete random classroom observations to monitor for screen time. Additional Comments: DCDEE WORKS: Staff members need to send their current transcripts to WORKS to be evaluated. I sent you instructions on how to register and submit electronic transcripts during the visit. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to early care professionals and those who perform specialized functions in the early care system. https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project: NCRLAP’s mission is to promote the quality of child care by consistently and reliably assessing environments for the North Carolina Star Rated License. We collaborate with professionals in the early childhood education field to foster the development and learning of young children. The website ncrlap.org offers resources, trainings, videos, worksheets, and getting ready for ITERS-3 and ECERS-3. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 25000578 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/4/2024 Number Present: 15 Completed Date: 9/4/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 200 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 12:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. Michelle O'Kelley, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on today's visit. A. Scurry, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued 10/4/2019, earning 4 points in the education component, 5 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for having a staff benefits package and infrastructure of parent infrastructure of parent involvement. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/28/23. The sanitation inspection was completed 6/10/24 with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/8/24 and your facility was approved for daytime and night care. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety two percent as of 8/27/24. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 8/27/24 and Kidz Choice Learning Center LLC was listed as current- active. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. You visited each indoor and outdoor space with me. Children throughout the center were engaged in free play in activity centers, personal care routines, and transitions. Children enrolled in space #2 were creating a Very Hungry Caterpillar craft before transitioning to the carpet for circle time. Children enrolled in space #3 were creating cloud crafts. The outdoor spaces were observed with stationary climbers, a basketball hoop, and balls for the children to engage in gross motor play. Lunch was observed and consisted of BBQ chicken, rice, peaches, mixed veggies, and milk. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 1065 Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years. Child care administrators did not complete the ITS-SIDS training within 90 days of employment and every three years thereafter. A. Ruiz, Administrator, had SIDS certification on file that expired 3/30/2024. .1102(f) 1899 Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. A. Ruiz did not complete a child maltreatment training as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. .1103(b) 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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 9/18/24, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@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: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: On-Going Training: Completing ITS/SIDS training at hire and every three years provides staff with the most current information and required practices to protect infants from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other accidents that may occur while sleeping. Administrators and all staff working in the infant room (Lead Teachers, Teachers, Floaters, Substitutes and uncompensated employees counting in staff/child ratio) are required to complete Infant Toddler Safe Sleep/ SIDS Reduction Training within two months of employment and recertify every three years; however, if an infant is present, there must always be a staff member with safe sleep training in the room. A. Ruiz, Administrator, had SIDS certification on file that expired 3/30/2024. We discussed that since A. Ruiz is an administrator, she has to maintain SIDS certification even if she is not assigned to the infant classroom. You stated that you did not realize that administrators had to maintain SIDS even if they do not work in the infant room. A. Ruiz did not complete a child maltreatment training as part of on- going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. Use a digital calendar that can be shared with administrators to set a reminder of when trainings are due. Additional Comments: Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. ABCMS Portal Training on DCDEE Moodle: After successfully completing the tutorial and the questions that follow, you will be able to edit your facility roster to reflect employees currently working in your program, as well as obtain the status of eligible applicants. Throughout the demonstration, you will see and hear step by step instructions for navigating the ABCMS Provider Portal. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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: KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 25000578 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/15/2024 Number Present: 22 Completed Date: 4/15/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 250 Time In: 09:10 AM Time Out: 01:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. A. Scurry, Administrator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued 10/4/2019, earning 4 points in the education component, 5 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for having a staff benefits package and infrastructure of parental involvement. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/28/23. The sanitation inspection was completed on 10/23/23 with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/8/24. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety four percent as of 4/9/24. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 4/9/24 and Kidz Choice Learning Center LLC was listed as current-active. You visited each indoor and outdoor space with me. Infants were engaged in free play on the carpet. Toddlers were sitting at the table and coloring with crayons on construction paper. Preschoolers were observed riding bikes in the outdoor space. The outdoor space was observed to have climbers, riding toys, and balls for the children to engage in gross motor activities. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. A child was observed sleeping in a crib and upon review of the safe sleep chart, there was not any documentation to reflect the times the child had been sleeping. .0606(g) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A staff member hired 10/30/23 had a medical report on file dated 11/30/23. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1033 On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. A staff member hired 10/30/23 had a medical report of TB skin test dated 11/3/23. .0701(a) 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. A staff member hired 11/20/23 had certification of first aid dated 3/18/24. .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. A staff member hired 11/20/23 had certification of CPR dated 3/18/24. .1102(d) 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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 4/29/24, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical assistance with violations: Safe Sleep Charts: Maintaining accurate documentation at the child care center is important in determining compliance with the child care rules and to ensure the health and safety of each child. Infant sleep charts allow teachers to document visually checking sleeping infants every 15 minutes. They note the infant’s sleep position, skin color, breathing, level of sleep, and body temperature. This needs to be documented every time a child is sleeping in your care. A child was observed sleeping in a crib and upon review of the safe sleep chart, there was not any documentation to reflect the times the child had been sleeping. We discussed that documentation needs to be done every time the children are asleep. The sleep chart is hanging above the crib and can easily be accessed. You stated that the staff member that was in the classroom was only in there for a short time until another staff member arrived. We discussed that all staff members that work in the infant classroom must understand how to complete safe sleep charts. During your next staff meeting, discuss safe sleep charts so that everyone is aware of how to document when infants are sleeping. Staff Records: The health and safety of children requires that information regarding each staff working with the children be kept and available when needed. Staff records consist of various documentation such as employment application, medical report, TB test results, Annual Health Questionnaire, emergency contact information, receipt of policies, CRC qualification letter, and documentation of orientation, in-service hours, CPR and First Aid, and playground safety. A staff member hired 10/30/23 had a medical report on file dated 11/30/23 and a medical report of TB skin test dated 11/3/23. You stated that this staff member had worked at the center previously and still had the previous file from 2020. We discussed that once a staff member is no longer actively employed, a new file and documentation is required if they are rehired. A staff member hired 11/20/23 had certification of first aid and CPR dated 3/18/24. You stated that you had a hard time finding a CPR/First Aid course. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email on a digital calendar that can be shared with other administrators, when an employee is hired to ensure you register for a class before the employee has been employed for 90 days or certificates expire. Additional Comments: The Cohort 2 Rated License Preparation Year begins 7/1/24 and will end 6/20/25. Your Assessment Year is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. Per our discussion, you have been in contact with Craven Smart Start and are preparing for the prep year. Contact me when you are ready to have an assessment completed. Natural Learning Initiative: Time outdoors is a critical tool for supporting mental and physical health in young children. Adoption of best practices for outdoor play and learning spaces is critical to increase daily time spent outside. The four components of this project include: 1. Relaunch a supportive network for outdoor play and learning environments in North Carolina; 2. Research nature-based programs and spaces and develop a plan to embed these in licensed childcare in North Carolina. 3. Motivate and train early educators and specialists to promote best practices and increase time in outdoor play and learning in NC childcare facilities; 4. Increase time outdoors playing and learning in NC family child care homes through professional development and technical assistance. Today, we discussed ways to create a natural learning environment in the outdoor spaces. Some of the ideas included a music wall made from kitchen accessories, a garden that the children can help plant, a science center, and stepping stone made from logs. I encourage you to check out naturallearning.org to find resources and professional development options for ways to enhance your outdoor learning environments. Rule Changes Effective January 2024 Training Modules Available in DCDEE Moodle The Child Care Commission adopted child care rule changes in January 2024. Changes relate to definitions; lead and asbestos for centers and family child care homes; building requirements for family child care homes; multi-unit child care centers; and criminal background checks. Consultants will assist as you begin to review and implement the changes, but please note, some of the rule changes may or may not impact your facility. An example is the rules in section .2600 for multi-unit child care center. These rules are specific to child care centers with multiple licensed centers within one building. Please ensure you are using the updated January 2024 rule book, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle (enroll if necessary). You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, use this link to get one: https://ncid.nc.gov. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and how to navigate, please visit: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Learning-Resources/How-to-Navigate-Moodle. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-9326. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to early care professionals and those who perform specialized functions in the early care system. https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 25000578 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/15/2024 Number Present: 22 Completed Date: 4/15/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 250 Time In: 09:10 AM Time Out: 01:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. A. Scurry, Administrator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued 10/4/2019, earning 4 points in the education component, 5 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for having a staff benefits package and infrastructure of parental involvement. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 9/28/23. The sanitation inspection was completed on 10/23/23 with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/8/24. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety four percent as of 4/9/24. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 4/9/24 and Kidz Choice Learning Center LLC was listed as current-active. You visited each indoor and outdoor space with me. Infants were engaged in free play on the carpet. Toddlers were sitting at the table and coloring with crayons on construction paper. Preschoolers were observed riding bikes in the outdoor space. The outdoor space was observed to have climbers, riding toys, and balls for the children to engage in gross motor activities. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. A child was observed sleeping in a crib and upon review of the safe sleep chart, there was not any documentation to reflect the times the child had been sleeping. .0606(g) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A staff member hired 10/30/23 had a medical report on file dated 11/30/23. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1033 On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. A staff member hired 10/30/23 had a medical report of TB skin test dated 11/3/23. .0701(a) 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. A staff member hired 11/20/23 had certification of first aid dated 3/18/24. .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. A staff member hired 11/20/23 had certification of CPR dated 3/18/24. .1102(d) 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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 4/29/24, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical assistance with violations: Safe Sleep Charts: Maintaining accurate documentation at the child care center is important in determining compliance with the child care rules and to ensure the health and safety of each child. Infant sleep charts allow teachers to document visually checking sleeping infants every 15 minutes. They note the infant’s sleep position, skin color, breathing, level of sleep, and body temperature. This needs to be documented every time a child is sleeping in your care. A child was observed sleeping in a crib and upon review of the safe sleep chart, there was not any documentation to reflect the times the child had been sleeping. We discussed that documentation needs to be done every time the children are asleep. The sleep chart is hanging above the crib and can easily be accessed. You stated that the staff member that was in the classroom was only in there for a short time until another staff member arrived. We discussed that all staff members that work in the infant classroom must understand how to complete safe sleep charts. During your next staff meeting, discuss safe sleep charts so that everyone is aware of how to document when infants are sleeping. Staff Records: The health and safety of children requires that information regarding each staff working with the children be kept and available when needed. Staff records consist of various documentation such as employment application, medical report, TB test results, Annual Health Questionnaire, emergency contact information, receipt of policies, CRC qualification letter, and documentation of orientation, in-service hours, CPR and First Aid, and playground safety. A staff member hired 10/30/23 had a medical report on file dated 11/30/23 and a medical report of TB skin test dated 11/3/23. You stated that this staff member had worked at the center previously and still had the previous file from 2020. We discussed that once a staff member is no longer actively employed, a new file and documentation is required if they are rehired. A staff member hired 11/20/23 had certification of first aid and CPR dated 3/18/24. You stated that you had a hard time finding a CPR/First Aid course. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email on a digital calendar that can be shared with other administrators, when an employee is hired to ensure you register for a class before the employee has been employed for 90 days or certificates expire. Additional Comments: The Cohort 2 Rated License Preparation Year begins 7/1/24 and will end 6/20/25. Your Assessment Year is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. Per our discussion, you have been in contact with Craven Smart Start and are preparing for the prep year. Contact me when you are ready to have an assessment completed. Natural Learning Initiative: Time outdoors is a critical tool for supporting mental and physical health in young children. Adoption of best practices for outdoor play and learning spaces is critical to increase daily time spent outside. The four components of this project include: 1. Relaunch a supportive network for outdoor play and learning environments in North Carolina; 2. Research nature-based programs and spaces and develop a plan to embed these in licensed childcare in North Carolina. 3. Motivate and train early educators and specialists to promote best practices and increase time in outdoor play and learning in NC childcare facilities; 4. Increase time outdoors playing and learning in NC family child care homes through professional development and technical assistance. Today, we discussed ways to create a natural learning environment in the outdoor spaces. Some of the ideas included a music wall made from kitchen accessories, a garden that the children can help plant, a science center, and stepping stone made from logs. I encourage you to check out naturallearning.org to find resources and professional development options for ways to enhance your outdoor learning environments. Rule Changes Effective January 2024 Training Modules Available in DCDEE Moodle The Child Care Commission adopted child care rule changes in January 2024. Changes relate to definitions; lead and asbestos for centers and family child care homes; building requirements for family child care homes; multi-unit child care centers; and criminal background checks. Consultants will assist as you begin to review and implement the changes, but please note, some of the rule changes may or may not impact your facility. An example is the rules in section .2600 for multi-unit child care center. These rules are specific to child care centers with multiple licensed centers within one building. Please ensure you are using the updated January 2024 rule book, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle (enroll if necessary). You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, use this link to get one: https://ncid.nc.gov. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and how to navigate, please visit: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Learning-Resources/How-to-Navigate-Moodle. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-9326. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to early care professionals and those who perform specialized functions in the early care system. https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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: KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 25000578 Consultant: TAMARIA WILLIAMS Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/28/2023 Number Present: 12 Completed Date: 9/28/2023 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 12:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an Annual Compliance visit. A. Scurry, Owner, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a four-star license, issued 10/4/2019, earning 4 points in the education component, 5 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for having a staff benefits package and infrastructure of parental involvement. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 11/9/22. The sanitation inspection was completed on 10/18/22 with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/5/23. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-two percent as of 9/25/23. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 9/25/23 and KIDZ CHOICE LEARNING CENTER LLC was listed as current- active. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. Children throughout the center were engaged in free play and personal care routines. Developmentally appropriate toys were available on low-lying open shelves. The fenced in outdoor space located behind the building was observed to have stationary climbers, riding toys, and balls for the children to engage in gross motor activities. Children rested on linen-covered cots after lunch. Lunch was served and consisted of baked fish sticks, mixed vegetables, pineapple, rolls, and milk. The following violation was documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 858 Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. A roll of First Mark paper towels in plastic packaging was located in an unlocked cabinet under the sink area. .0604(q) 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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. Technical Assistance: Plastic bags have been recognized for many years as a suffocation hazard. According to Caring for Our Children, 3rd edition, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received average annual reports of twenty-five deaths per year to children due to suffocation from plastic bags. In child care facilities, plastic bags should be made inaccessible to children less than three years of age. In space 1, a roll of First Mark paper towels in plastic packaging was located in an unlocked cabinet under the sink area. To make plastic bags inaccessible to children less than three years old, store them above five feet from the finished floor. Post a reminder in the classrooms where children less than three years old are enrolled to remind teachers of this child care requirement. This was corrected during the visit. Additional Comments: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) via its online Moodle Training Portal at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. Annual Licensing Fee – Licensed facilities that have a current license (whether active or inactive) on October 1st of each year will receive an invoice for a licensing fee based on their licensed capacity. Invoices will be mailed out in November and must be paid on-line. For more information, watch for the Email Blasts from NC DHHS to your facility email address. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Tamaria Williams, Child Care Consultant, (252) 508-5621, Tamaria.Williams@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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.