Southwest Primary Preschool

10A NCAC 09 .0304 · Violation

Name of Operation: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/10/2025 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 10/10/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 393 Time In: 09:12 AM Time Out: 03:45 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. You, Skyler Bolden, Lead Teacher, and Patricia Williams, Teacher Assistant, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit with a rated license assessment on November 7, 2024. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You requested that I add the web address for the facility to our system. I made that addition for you. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 94% as of October 9, 2025 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on November 18, 2024, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 1, 2025 with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated May 4, 2025 and indicated there were lead concerns in one or more water source with mitigation actions pending. Please take the recommended and necessary actions to mitigate the lead concerns and report those mitigation actions to RTI. I verified that you have started the lead-based paint and asbestos testing enrollment but have not completed this enrollment. Please complete the enrollment process for both these testing requirements. Your last fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025 and was received during today’s visit. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children in Space 1 were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Children in Space 2 were playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing in activity areas, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Positive interactions between teachers and children were observed. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing, light table and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and cozy area. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. A current 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 in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of thirty-five (Space 1) and forty-five (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. Teachers and Teacher Assistants met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities alongside typically developing children. This DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. This DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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, 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Developmental Day Handbook dated 2023 and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2025 - 2026 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). One staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) 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. DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. Three staff members with dates of employment of 10/23/2023, 08/12/2024, and 09/20/2024 currently employed by the facility were not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. 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. A shelter-in-place drill completed in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & 10A NCAC 09 .2703(e), each employee should have a valid Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letter on file in their staff records. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025 resulting in a violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, this violation should be corrected within two weeks, and a copy of the qualification letter should be sent to the child care consultant along with the compliance letter. If the violation is corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member may remain in the facility. If the violation is not corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member will need to be removed from the work schedule until the CBC qualification letter is received and verified by the child care consultant. 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 staff member and four substitute staff members currently employed by the facility were 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, these five 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 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 in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. During a follow up phone call on October 13, 2025, Ms. Elizabeth Rollins, Lead Teacher, stated she thought their public school based program was only required to complete emergency drills within the school calendar but now understood that should include all the months that program operates within the school calendar including the few days the program operates in August. 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 conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill in August, November, February, and May of each school year. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a), the operator/administrator should schedule and obtain a fire inspection within twelve months of the facility’s previous fire inspection. It is the responsibility of the operator/administrator to notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the facility’s annual fire inspection. The original copy of the approved fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. Your annual fire inspection report was due no later than November 30, 2025. Your most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. Because the fire inspection report was received during today’s visit, the violation was considered corrected during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest that you forward the fire inspection report to me once when it is received from the fire inspector. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, in November 2024, your facility requested and completed a voluntary rated license reassessment using the old QRIS assessment system and was issued an updated five-star rated license on November 18, 2024. Today, I monitored your facility for on-going compliance with five-star rated license requirements. Your next rated license assessment will be completed no later than November 18, 2027 using the new QRIS Modernization Plan: Pathway to the Stars. During the walk-through and while reviewing the staff record files, I noticed one staff member from another NC Pre-K site location whose education had been evaluated in a rated license reassessment in 2024 had been assigned to your facility for the 2025-2026 school year. I observed that all staff members education was evaluated in 2024. Based on my informal assessment of staff education standards, program standards, and continued verification of the quality point, I observed this facility maintaining their five-star rated license standards. 2. During today’s visit, we discussed the three QRIS Pathways to the Stars effective July 1, 2025. We covered enhanced ratios and space expectations, staff education including ensuring all staff have WORKS accounts, understanding the 50% requirement for lead teachers and for other educators, and how work experience may count, the Family and Community Engagement Foundational Practices, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan for the Facility and Individuals, Self-Study and Coaching/Mentoring & Training. As discussed today, the facility’s rated license reassessment is due to be completed by November 18, 2027. We will start the facility’s rated license reassessment process using the Pathway to the Stars option of your choice beginning in March 2027. I advise you to use this school year as a year of preparation and training for your staff to prepare them for the new child care requirements for the rated license assessment process, Pathways to the Stars. The following steps are how you can begin preparing for the Rated License process: If you choose Pathway 1: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Complete the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” form electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Begin planning for your three-month self-study using the applicable ITERS-3, ECERS-3, SACERS-U, OR FCCERS-3 books. • Prepare for Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) assessments. o Access resources, trainings, and outreach via ncrlap.org. o Work with CCR&R or Smart Start for support in preparation. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • If four-year-olds are enrolled, select and implement an approved curriculum. If you choose Pathway 2: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • Select and implement a curriculum. (4- and 5-star centers must use an approved curriculum and formative assessment tool for all ages.) • Arranging coaching or training options for administrators and lead teachers. If you choose Pathway 3: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Ensure all staff have active WORKS accounts. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC, you may earn a three star rated license with NO Education standards evaluation. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC and would like to earn a four or five star rated license, the Education standard evaluation will determine the star rating earned. • If you are accredited through NAEYC, NAC, COGNIA, or your facility is Head Start and/or Early Head Start Education, NO Education standards evaluation is needed. • Documentation of accreditation status and Head Start designation must be submitted to process your star rated license. 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. 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. 5. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 6. 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 7. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 8. 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: No compliance letter documentation is due for violation item number 106 which was corrected during today’s visit. I documented the actions taken to correct that violation in this visit summary. 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 the following: 1. Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. 2. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than October 24, 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. Due to time constraints, at the completion of the visit, a handwritten visit summary was prepared, printed, signed, reviewed and a copy was left with you today. this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. A computer-generated visit summary was prepared and mailed to you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you and your staff 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 .2703 · Violation

Name of Operation: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/10/2025 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 10/10/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 393 Time In: 09:12 AM Time Out: 03:45 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. You, Skyler Bolden, Lead Teacher, and Patricia Williams, Teacher Assistant, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit with a rated license assessment on November 7, 2024. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You requested that I add the web address for the facility to our system. I made that addition for you. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 94% as of October 9, 2025 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on November 18, 2024, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 1, 2025 with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated May 4, 2025 and indicated there were lead concerns in one or more water source with mitigation actions pending. Please take the recommended and necessary actions to mitigate the lead concerns and report those mitigation actions to RTI. I verified that you have started the lead-based paint and asbestos testing enrollment but have not completed this enrollment. Please complete the enrollment process for both these testing requirements. Your last fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025 and was received during today’s visit. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children in Space 1 were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Children in Space 2 were playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing in activity areas, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Positive interactions between teachers and children were observed. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing, light table and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and cozy area. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. A current 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 in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of thirty-five (Space 1) and forty-five (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. Teachers and Teacher Assistants met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities alongside typically developing children. This DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. This DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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, 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Developmental Day Handbook dated 2023 and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2025 - 2026 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). One staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) 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. DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. Three staff members with dates of employment of 10/23/2023, 08/12/2024, and 09/20/2024 currently employed by the facility were not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. 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. A shelter-in-place drill completed in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & 10A NCAC 09 .2703(e), each employee should have a valid Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letter on file in their staff records. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025 resulting in a violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, this violation should be corrected within two weeks, and a copy of the qualification letter should be sent to the child care consultant along with the compliance letter. If the violation is corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member may remain in the facility. If the violation is not corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member will need to be removed from the work schedule until the CBC qualification letter is received and verified by the child care consultant. 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 staff member and four substitute staff members currently employed by the facility were 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, these five 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 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 in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. During a follow up phone call on October 13, 2025, Ms. Elizabeth Rollins, Lead Teacher, stated she thought their public school based program was only required to complete emergency drills within the school calendar but now understood that should include all the months that program operates within the school calendar including the few days the program operates in August. 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 conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill in August, November, February, and May of each school year. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a), the operator/administrator should schedule and obtain a fire inspection within twelve months of the facility’s previous fire inspection. It is the responsibility of the operator/administrator to notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the facility’s annual fire inspection. The original copy of the approved fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. Your annual fire inspection report was due no later than November 30, 2025. Your most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. Because the fire inspection report was received during today’s visit, the violation was considered corrected during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest that you forward the fire inspection report to me once when it is received from the fire inspector. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, in November 2024, your facility requested and completed a voluntary rated license reassessment using the old QRIS assessment system and was issued an updated five-star rated license on November 18, 2024. Today, I monitored your facility for on-going compliance with five-star rated license requirements. Your next rated license assessment will be completed no later than November 18, 2027 using the new QRIS Modernization Plan: Pathway to the Stars. During the walk-through and while reviewing the staff record files, I noticed one staff member from another NC Pre-K site location whose education had been evaluated in a rated license reassessment in 2024 had been assigned to your facility for the 2025-2026 school year. I observed that all staff members education was evaluated in 2024. Based on my informal assessment of staff education standards, program standards, and continued verification of the quality point, I observed this facility maintaining their five-star rated license standards. 2. During today’s visit, we discussed the three QRIS Pathways to the Stars effective July 1, 2025. We covered enhanced ratios and space expectations, staff education including ensuring all staff have WORKS accounts, understanding the 50% requirement for lead teachers and for other educators, and how work experience may count, the Family and Community Engagement Foundational Practices, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan for the Facility and Individuals, Self-Study and Coaching/Mentoring & Training. As discussed today, the facility’s rated license reassessment is due to be completed by November 18, 2027. We will start the facility’s rated license reassessment process using the Pathway to the Stars option of your choice beginning in March 2027. I advise you to use this school year as a year of preparation and training for your staff to prepare them for the new child care requirements for the rated license assessment process, Pathways to the Stars. The following steps are how you can begin preparing for the Rated License process: If you choose Pathway 1: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Complete the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” form electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Begin planning for your three-month self-study using the applicable ITERS-3, ECERS-3, SACERS-U, OR FCCERS-3 books. • Prepare for Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) assessments. o Access resources, trainings, and outreach via ncrlap.org. o Work with CCR&R or Smart Start for support in preparation. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • If four-year-olds are enrolled, select and implement an approved curriculum. If you choose Pathway 2: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • Select and implement a curriculum. (4- and 5-star centers must use an approved curriculum and formative assessment tool for all ages.) • Arranging coaching or training options for administrators and lead teachers. If you choose Pathway 3: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Ensure all staff have active WORKS accounts. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC, you may earn a three star rated license with NO Education standards evaluation. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC and would like to earn a four or five star rated license, the Education standard evaluation will determine the star rating earned. • If you are accredited through NAEYC, NAC, COGNIA, or your facility is Head Start and/or Early Head Start Education, NO Education standards evaluation is needed. • Documentation of accreditation status and Head Start designation must be submitted to process your star rated license. 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. 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. 5. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 6. 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 7. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 8. 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: No compliance letter documentation is due for violation item number 106 which was corrected during today’s visit. I documented the actions taken to correct that violation in this visit summary. 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 the following: 1. Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. 2. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than October 24, 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. Due to time constraints, at the completion of the visit, a handwritten visit summary was prepared, printed, signed, reviewed and a copy was left with you today. this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. A computer-generated visit summary was prepared and mailed to you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you and your staff 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/10/2025 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 10/10/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 393 Time In: 09:12 AM Time Out: 03:45 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. You, Skyler Bolden, Lead Teacher, and Patricia Williams, Teacher Assistant, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit with a rated license assessment on November 7, 2024. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You requested that I add the web address for the facility to our system. I made that addition for you. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 94% as of October 9, 2025 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on November 18, 2024, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 1, 2025 with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated May 4, 2025 and indicated there were lead concerns in one or more water source with mitigation actions pending. Please take the recommended and necessary actions to mitigate the lead concerns and report those mitigation actions to RTI. I verified that you have started the lead-based paint and asbestos testing enrollment but have not completed this enrollment. Please complete the enrollment process for both these testing requirements. Your last fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025 and was received during today’s visit. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children in Space 1 were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Children in Space 2 were playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing in activity areas, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Positive interactions between teachers and children were observed. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing, light table and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and cozy area. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. A current 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 in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of thirty-five (Space 1) and forty-five (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. Teachers and Teacher Assistants met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities alongside typically developing children. This DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. This DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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, 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Developmental Day Handbook dated 2023 and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2025 - 2026 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). One staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) 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. DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. Three staff members with dates of employment of 10/23/2023, 08/12/2024, and 09/20/2024 currently employed by the facility were not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. 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. A shelter-in-place drill completed in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & 10A NCAC 09 .2703(e), each employee should have a valid Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letter on file in their staff records. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025 resulting in a violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, this violation should be corrected within two weeks, and a copy of the qualification letter should be sent to the child care consultant along with the compliance letter. If the violation is corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member may remain in the facility. If the violation is not corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member will need to be removed from the work schedule until the CBC qualification letter is received and verified by the child care consultant. 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 staff member and four substitute staff members currently employed by the facility were 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, these five 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 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 in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. During a follow up phone call on October 13, 2025, Ms. Elizabeth Rollins, Lead Teacher, stated she thought their public school based program was only required to complete emergency drills within the school calendar but now understood that should include all the months that program operates within the school calendar including the few days the program operates in August. 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 conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill in August, November, February, and May of each school year. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a), the operator/administrator should schedule and obtain a fire inspection within twelve months of the facility’s previous fire inspection. It is the responsibility of the operator/administrator to notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the facility’s annual fire inspection. The original copy of the approved fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. Your annual fire inspection report was due no later than November 30, 2025. Your most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. Because the fire inspection report was received during today’s visit, the violation was considered corrected during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest that you forward the fire inspection report to me once when it is received from the fire inspector. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, in November 2024, your facility requested and completed a voluntary rated license reassessment using the old QRIS assessment system and was issued an updated five-star rated license on November 18, 2024. Today, I monitored your facility for on-going compliance with five-star rated license requirements. Your next rated license assessment will be completed no later than November 18, 2027 using the new QRIS Modernization Plan: Pathway to the Stars. During the walk-through and while reviewing the staff record files, I noticed one staff member from another NC Pre-K site location whose education had been evaluated in a rated license reassessment in 2024 had been assigned to your facility for the 2025-2026 school year. I observed that all staff members education was evaluated in 2024. Based on my informal assessment of staff education standards, program standards, and continued verification of the quality point, I observed this facility maintaining their five-star rated license standards. 2. During today’s visit, we discussed the three QRIS Pathways to the Stars effective July 1, 2025. We covered enhanced ratios and space expectations, staff education including ensuring all staff have WORKS accounts, understanding the 50% requirement for lead teachers and for other educators, and how work experience may count, the Family and Community Engagement Foundational Practices, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan for the Facility and Individuals, Self-Study and Coaching/Mentoring & Training. As discussed today, the facility’s rated license reassessment is due to be completed by November 18, 2027. We will start the facility’s rated license reassessment process using the Pathway to the Stars option of your choice beginning in March 2027. I advise you to use this school year as a year of preparation and training for your staff to prepare them for the new child care requirements for the rated license assessment process, Pathways to the Stars. The following steps are how you can begin preparing for the Rated License process: If you choose Pathway 1: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Complete the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” form electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Begin planning for your three-month self-study using the applicable ITERS-3, ECERS-3, SACERS-U, OR FCCERS-3 books. • Prepare for Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) assessments. o Access resources, trainings, and outreach via ncrlap.org. o Work with CCR&R or Smart Start for support in preparation. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • If four-year-olds are enrolled, select and implement an approved curriculum. If you choose Pathway 2: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • Select and implement a curriculum. (4- and 5-star centers must use an approved curriculum and formative assessment tool for all ages.) • Arranging coaching or training options for administrators and lead teachers. If you choose Pathway 3: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Ensure all staff have active WORKS accounts. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC, you may earn a three star rated license with NO Education standards evaluation. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC and would like to earn a four or five star rated license, the Education standard evaluation will determine the star rating earned. • If you are accredited through NAEYC, NAC, COGNIA, or your facility is Head Start and/or Early Head Start Education, NO Education standards evaluation is needed. • Documentation of accreditation status and Head Start designation must be submitted to process your star rated license. 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. 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. 5. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 6. 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 7. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 8. 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: No compliance letter documentation is due for violation item number 106 which was corrected during today’s visit. I documented the actions taken to correct that violation in this visit summary. 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 the following: 1. Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. 2. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than October 24, 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. Due to time constraints, at the completion of the visit, a handwritten visit summary was prepared, printed, signed, reviewed and a copy was left with you today. this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. A computer-generated visit summary was prepared and mailed to you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you and your staff 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/10/2025 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 10/10/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 393 Time In: 09:12 AM Time Out: 03:45 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. You, Skyler Bolden, Lead Teacher, and Patricia Williams, Teacher Assistant, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit with a rated license assessment on November 7, 2024. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You requested that I add the web address for the facility to our system. I made that addition for you. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 94% as of October 9, 2025 and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on November 18, 2024, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 1, 2025 with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated May 4, 2025 and indicated there were lead concerns in one or more water source with mitigation actions pending. Please take the recommended and necessary actions to mitigate the lead concerns and report those mitigation actions to RTI. I verified that you have started the lead-based paint and asbestos testing enrollment but have not completed this enrollment. Please complete the enrollment process for both these testing requirements. Your last fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025 and was received during today’s visit. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children in Space 1 were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Children in Space 2 were playing outside, transitioning from outdoors to indoors including handwashing, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, playing in activity areas, eating lunch, attending to personal care needs and napping. Positive interactions between teachers and children were observed. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing, light table and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and cozy area. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. A current 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 in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of thirty-five (Space 1) and forty-five (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. Teachers and Teacher Assistants met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities alongside typically developing children. This DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. This DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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, 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Developmental Day Handbook dated 2023 and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2025 - 2026 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). One staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) 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. DCDEE was not notified within five business days of employment when the ABCMS staff roster was established. Three staff members with dates of employment of 10/23/2023, 08/12/2024, and 09/20/2024 currently employed by the facility were not listed on the facility’s ABCMS staff roster. 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. A shelter-in-place drill completed in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & 10A NCAC 09 .2703(e), each employee should have a valid Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letter on file in their staff records. Today, one staff member with a date of employment of 08/12/2024 had a CBC qualification letter on file dated 07/31/2020 which had expired on 07/31/2025 resulting in a violation. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, this violation should be corrected within two weeks, and a copy of the qualification letter should be sent to the child care consultant along with the compliance letter. If the violation is corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member may remain in the facility. If the violation is not corrected as stated and within two weeks, the staff member will need to be removed from the work schedule until the CBC qualification letter is received and verified by the child care consultant. 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 staff member and four substitute staff members currently employed by the facility were 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, these five 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 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 in May 2025 which would make the next emergency drill due to be completed in August 2025. No emergency drill was completed in August 2025. During a follow up phone call on October 13, 2025, Ms. Elizabeth Rollins, Lead Teacher, stated she thought their public school based program was only required to complete emergency drills within the school calendar but now understood that should include all the months that program operates within the school calendar including the few days the program operates in August. 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 conduct a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill in August, November, February, and May of each school year. 4. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a), the operator/administrator should schedule and obtain a fire inspection within twelve months of the facility’s previous fire inspection. It is the responsibility of the operator/administrator to notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the facility’s annual fire inspection. The original copy of the approved fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. Your annual fire inspection report was due no later than November 30, 2025. Your most recent fire inspection was dated September 18, 2025, and received during today’s visit rather than within one week of the inspection as required. Because the fire inspection report was received during today’s visit, the violation was considered corrected during today’s visit. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest that you forward the fire inspection report to me once when it is received from the fire inspector. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, in November 2024, your facility requested and completed a voluntary rated license reassessment using the old QRIS assessment system and was issued an updated five-star rated license on November 18, 2024. Today, I monitored your facility for on-going compliance with five-star rated license requirements. Your next rated license assessment will be completed no later than November 18, 2027 using the new QRIS Modernization Plan: Pathway to the Stars. During the walk-through and while reviewing the staff record files, I noticed one staff member from another NC Pre-K site location whose education had been evaluated in a rated license reassessment in 2024 had been assigned to your facility for the 2025-2026 school year. I observed that all staff members education was evaluated in 2024. Based on my informal assessment of staff education standards, program standards, and continued verification of the quality point, I observed this facility maintaining their five-star rated license standards. 2. During today’s visit, we discussed the three QRIS Pathways to the Stars effective July 1, 2025. We covered enhanced ratios and space expectations, staff education including ensuring all staff have WORKS accounts, understanding the 50% requirement for lead teachers and for other educators, and how work experience may count, the Family and Community Engagement Foundational Practices, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan for the Facility and Individuals, Self-Study and Coaching/Mentoring & Training. As discussed today, the facility’s rated license reassessment is due to be completed by November 18, 2027. We will start the facility’s rated license reassessment process using the Pathway to the Stars option of your choice beginning in March 2027. I advise you to use this school year as a year of preparation and training for your staff to prepare them for the new child care requirements for the rated license assessment process, Pathways to the Stars. The following steps are how you can begin preparing for the Rated License process: If you choose Pathway 1: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Complete the “Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment Request” form electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Begin planning for your three-month self-study using the applicable ITERS-3, ECERS-3, SACERS-U, OR FCCERS-3 books. • Prepare for Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) assessments. o Access resources, trainings, and outreach via ncrlap.org. o Work with CCR&R or Smart Start for support in preparation. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • If four-year-olds are enrolled, select and implement an approved curriculum. If you choose Pathway 2: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Confirm all staff have active WORKS accounts. • Complete the QRIS Staff Information and Education Worksheet electronically. • Identify CQI goals and begin planning for implementation. • Develop strategies for Family and Community Engagement. • Select and implement a curriculum. (4- and 5-star centers must use an approved curriculum and formative assessment tool for all ages.) • Arranging coaching or training options for administrators and lead teachers. If you choose Pathway 3: • Complete the “Application For Assessment for a Rated License for Centers” electronically and submit to your child care consultant no later than March 2027. • Ensure all staff have active WORKS accounts. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC, you may earn a three star rated license with NO Education standards evaluation. • If you are accredited through NAFCC, NECPA, AMS, or IMC and would like to earn a four or five star rated license, the Education standard evaluation will determine the star rating earned. • If you are accredited through NAEYC, NAC, COGNIA, or your facility is Head Start and/or Early Head Start Education, NO Education standards evaluation is needed. • Documentation of accreditation status and Head Start designation must be submitted to process your star rated license. 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. 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. 5. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 6. 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 7. Here is the link to the training calendar from the Children’s Resource Center: https://childrensresourcecenter.org/training-calendar/. 8. 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: No compliance letter documentation is due for violation item number 106 which was corrected during today’s visit. I documented the actions taken to correct that violation in this visit summary. 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 the following: 1. Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. 2. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than October 24, 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. Due to time constraints, at the completion of the visit, a handwritten visit summary was prepared, printed, signed, reviewed and a copy was left with you today. this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you today. A computer-generated visit summary was prepared and mailed to you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. We appreciate all you and your staff 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/10/2025 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 4/10/2025 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: 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Skyler Bolden, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to the facility phone number, fax number, email address, or mailing address. I reviewed the permit restrictions, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your center's compliance history was 91% as of April 9, 2025, and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a 5-star license, issued on November 18, 2025, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or child development. Your most recent fire inspection was dated November 16, 2024, and received in my office on November 16, 2024. Your most recent sanitation inspection was dated February 21, 2025, with a Superior classification and zero demerits. I verified that you have not completed the lead water testing required to be completed every three years. Today, I verified that the test results dated November 23, 2020, indicated that your facility’s drinking water source was within the required limits. I verified that you have enrolled for the lead-based paint testing and the asbestos testing. I completed a walk-through of the facility today. I monitored the indoor licensed spaces. I observed children playing in activity areas, participating in a special art activity with a visitor from Hickory Museum of the Arts, playing outside, and attending to personal care routines. I observed staff facilitating play and peer interactions, talking through behavior management needs with the children, fostering self-regulation and positive choices, leading teacher lead activities, and assisting the children with personal care routines as needed. A current menu was posted in each classroom, 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 in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Today’s lunch included mandarin orange chicken, glazed carrots, mandarin oranges, brown rice, and unflavored milk. Cold food and milk served to the children was stored in residential refrigerators in each classroom at temperatures of 30 degrees Fahrenheit in Space 1 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit in Space 2. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline. I monitored program records including emergency medical care plan, safe arrival and departure procedures, incident log, outdoor safety inspections, fire drills, emergency drills, and your Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan. I reviewed staff record files for seven returning staff members and four returning substitute staff members to verify current and valid Criminal Background Check qualification letters, valid CPR and First Aid training, completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, completion of Playground Safety training by at least one staff member who completed the monthly outdoor play inspections, and completion of Emergency Preparedness Response Training by at least one staff member. I reviewed staff record files for one new substitute staff member hired since the last annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. I monitored health and safety requirements. I reviewed your written operational, administrative, and personnel policies and your parent participation plan at routine unannounced visits on May 4, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and at an annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. Today, you gave me a copy of the Catawba County ‘s Preschool Classes’ Family Handbook dated 2024-2025 and the Hickory Public Schools Developmental Preschool Programs Parent Handbook dated 2023. You stated your written policies and procedures had not changed. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. Staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom and art activities provided by Hickory Museum of Art alongside typically developing children. Your DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, having parents as members of an advisory board, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. Your DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages and DIAL-4 as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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 the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored supervision, staff-child ratios, group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I observed and cited the following violations during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 859 Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. A monthly playground inspection form was missing for November 2024. .0605(q) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. A shelter-in-place drill was completed on 10/17/2025. A shelter-in-place or lockdown drill was due to be completed in January 2025 but was not completed. A lockdown drill was completed on 04/09/2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 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. 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 and record the drill on the emergency drill log. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(q), monthly playground inspections should be completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements using a playground inspection checklist provided by the Division. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a monthly playground inspection and complete the playground inspection form. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, since this facility’s star-rated license was voluntarily reassessed in 2024, this facility is not held harmless under the hold harmless provision and should therefore maintain the star-rated license requirements as a 5-Star facility. The lead teacher and teacher newly assigned to this facility in August 2024 did not change the staff education points earned by this facility in February 2024. No concerns were observed regarding this facility’s program standards. The facility continues to qualify for the quality point. This facility continues to earn seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having an BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or child development and therefore maintains a 5-Star rated license. 2. The NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure and poster were both updated in February 2025 and are available on the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Provider-Documents-and-Forms. Today, I observed the February 2025 version of the NC Summary of Child Care Law poster posted in a prominent location in both classrooms. Please include and use the February 2025 version of the NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure in your enrollment packet. 3. 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. The compliance of this rule will be monitored during your next visit. No action is needed on your part if you have already completed the ABCMS Provider Portal training and are currently using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or FCCH residents. Be sure this information is updated in ABCMS on an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and terminated and as FCCH residents move in or reach sixteen years of age. If you are not already using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or FCCH residents, you will need both an Individual NCID and a Business NCID. You will need an email address for your Individual NCID and a different email address for your Business NCID account. Once you have created your Business NCID, complete the ABCMS Provider Portal training in Moodle at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/course/view.php?id=119. Once the training has been completed and access has been given to you, you must verify your facility roster to ensure current staff or current FCCH residents are noted on the roster. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated and as FCCH residents change or reach sixteen years of age. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. 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. 4. The new QRIS Modernization Plan known as “Pathways to Success” is being added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission will continue the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. Please be reminded that any ERS assessment completed on February 1, 2025 and after will be assessed using the ERS-3 versions. 5. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 6. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Getting-a-License 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 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 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 the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than April 24, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 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, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/10/2025 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 4/10/2025 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: 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Skyler Bolden, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to the facility phone number, fax number, email address, or mailing address. I reviewed the permit restrictions, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your center's compliance history was 91% as of April 9, 2025, and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a 5-star license, issued on November 18, 2025, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or child development. Your most recent fire inspection was dated November 16, 2024, and received in my office on November 16, 2024. Your most recent sanitation inspection was dated February 21, 2025, with a Superior classification and zero demerits. I verified that you have not completed the lead water testing required to be completed every three years. Today, I verified that the test results dated November 23, 2020, indicated that your facility’s drinking water source was within the required limits. I verified that you have enrolled for the lead-based paint testing and the asbestos testing. I completed a walk-through of the facility today. I monitored the indoor licensed spaces. I observed children playing in activity areas, participating in a special art activity with a visitor from Hickory Museum of the Arts, playing outside, and attending to personal care routines. I observed staff facilitating play and peer interactions, talking through behavior management needs with the children, fostering self-regulation and positive choices, leading teacher lead activities, and assisting the children with personal care routines as needed. A current menu was posted in each classroom, 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 in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Today’s lunch included mandarin orange chicken, glazed carrots, mandarin oranges, brown rice, and unflavored milk. Cold food and milk served to the children was stored in residential refrigerators in each classroom at temperatures of 30 degrees Fahrenheit in Space 1 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit in Space 2. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline. I monitored program records including emergency medical care plan, safe arrival and departure procedures, incident log, outdoor safety inspections, fire drills, emergency drills, and your Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan. I reviewed staff record files for seven returning staff members and four returning substitute staff members to verify current and valid Criminal Background Check qualification letters, valid CPR and First Aid training, completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, completion of Playground Safety training by at least one staff member who completed the monthly outdoor play inspections, and completion of Emergency Preparedness Response Training by at least one staff member. I reviewed staff record files for one new substitute staff member hired since the last annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. I monitored health and safety requirements. I reviewed your written operational, administrative, and personnel policies and your parent participation plan at routine unannounced visits on May 4, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and at an annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. Today, you gave me a copy of the Catawba County ‘s Preschool Classes’ Family Handbook dated 2024-2025 and the Hickory Public Schools Developmental Preschool Programs Parent Handbook dated 2023. You stated your written policies and procedures had not changed. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. Staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom and art activities provided by Hickory Museum of Art alongside typically developing children. Your DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, having parents as members of an advisory board, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. Your DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages and DIAL-4 as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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 the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored supervision, staff-child ratios, group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I observed and cited the following violations during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 859 Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. A monthly playground inspection form was missing for November 2024. .0605(q) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. A shelter-in-place drill was completed on 10/17/2025. A shelter-in-place or lockdown drill was due to be completed in January 2025 but was not completed. A lockdown drill was completed on 04/09/2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 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. 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 and record the drill on the emergency drill log. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(q), monthly playground inspections should be completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements using a playground inspection checklist provided by the Division. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a monthly playground inspection and complete the playground inspection form. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, since this facility’s star-rated license was voluntarily reassessed in 2024, this facility is not held harmless under the hold harmless provision and should therefore maintain the star-rated license requirements as a 5-Star facility. The lead teacher and teacher newly assigned to this facility in August 2024 did not change the staff education points earned by this facility in February 2024. No concerns were observed regarding this facility’s program standards. The facility continues to qualify for the quality point. This facility continues to earn seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having an BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or child development and therefore maintains a 5-Star rated license. 2. The NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure and poster were both updated in February 2025 and are available on the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Provider-Documents-and-Forms. Today, I observed the February 2025 version of the NC Summary of Child Care Law poster posted in a prominent location in both classrooms. Please include and use the February 2025 version of the NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure in your enrollment packet. 3. 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. The compliance of this rule will be monitored during your next visit. No action is needed on your part if you have already completed the ABCMS Provider Portal training and are currently using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or FCCH residents. Be sure this information is updated in ABCMS on an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and terminated and as FCCH residents move in or reach sixteen years of age. If you are not already using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or FCCH residents, you will need both an Individual NCID and a Business NCID. You will need an email address for your Individual NCID and a different email address for your Business NCID account. Once you have created your Business NCID, complete the ABCMS Provider Portal training in Moodle at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/course/view.php?id=119. Once the training has been completed and access has been given to you, you must verify your facility roster to ensure current staff or current FCCH residents are noted on the roster. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated and as FCCH residents change or reach sixteen years of age. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. 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. 4. The new QRIS Modernization Plan known as “Pathways to Success” is being added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission will continue the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. Please be reminded that any ERS assessment completed on February 1, 2025 and after will be assessed using the ERS-3 versions. 5. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 6. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Getting-a-License 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 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 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 the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than April 24, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 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, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/10/2025 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 4/10/2025 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: 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Skyler Bolden, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to the facility phone number, fax number, email address, or mailing address. I reviewed the permit restrictions, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your center's compliance history was 91% as of April 9, 2025, and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a 5-star license, issued on November 18, 2025, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or child development. Your most recent fire inspection was dated November 16, 2024, and received in my office on November 16, 2024. Your most recent sanitation inspection was dated February 21, 2025, with a Superior classification and zero demerits. I verified that you have not completed the lead water testing required to be completed every three years. Today, I verified that the test results dated November 23, 2020, indicated that your facility’s drinking water source was within the required limits. I verified that you have enrolled for the lead-based paint testing and the asbestos testing. I completed a walk-through of the facility today. I monitored the indoor licensed spaces. I observed children playing in activity areas, participating in a special art activity with a visitor from Hickory Museum of the Arts, playing outside, and attending to personal care routines. I observed staff facilitating play and peer interactions, talking through behavior management needs with the children, fostering self-regulation and positive choices, leading teacher lead activities, and assisting the children with personal care routines as needed. A current menu was posted in each classroom, 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 in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Today’s lunch included mandarin orange chicken, glazed carrots, mandarin oranges, brown rice, and unflavored milk. Cold food and milk served to the children was stored in residential refrigerators in each classroom at temperatures of 30 degrees Fahrenheit in Space 1 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit in Space 2. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline. I monitored program records including emergency medical care plan, safe arrival and departure procedures, incident log, outdoor safety inspections, fire drills, emergency drills, and your Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) Plan. I reviewed staff record files for seven returning staff members and four returning substitute staff members to verify current and valid Criminal Background Check qualification letters, valid CPR and First Aid training, completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, completion of Playground Safety training by at least one staff member who completed the monthly outdoor play inspections, and completion of Emergency Preparedness Response Training by at least one staff member. I reviewed staff record files for one new substitute staff member hired since the last annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. I monitored health and safety requirements. I reviewed your written operational, administrative, and personnel policies and your parent participation plan at routine unannounced visits on May 4, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and at an annual compliance visit on November 7, 2024. Today, you gave me a copy of the Catawba County ‘s Preschool Classes’ Family Handbook dated 2024-2025 and the Hickory Public Schools Developmental Preschool Programs Parent Handbook dated 2023. You stated your written policies and procedures had not changed. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. Staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom and art activities provided by Hickory Museum of Art alongside typically developing children. Your DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, having parents as members of an advisory board, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. Your DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages and DIAL-4 as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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 the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored supervision, staff-child ratios, group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I observed and cited the following violations during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 859 Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. A monthly playground inspection form was missing for November 2024. .0605(q) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. A shelter-in-place drill was completed on 10/17/2025. A shelter-in-place or lockdown drill was due to be completed in January 2025 but was not completed. A lockdown drill was completed on 04/09/2025. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 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. 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 and record the drill on the emergency drill log. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0605(q), monthly playground inspections should be completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements using a playground inspection checklist provided by the Division. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you set a reminder on your phone to conduct a monthly playground inspection and complete the playground inspection form. CONSULTATION: 1. As discussed today, since this facility’s star-rated license was voluntarily reassessed in 2024, this facility is not held harmless under the hold harmless provision and should therefore maintain the star-rated license requirements as a 5-Star facility. The lead teacher and teacher newly assigned to this facility in August 2024 did not change the staff education points earned by this facility in February 2024. No concerns were observed regarding this facility’s program standards. The facility continues to qualify for the quality point. This facility continues to earn seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having an BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or child development and therefore maintains a 5-Star rated license. 2. The NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure and poster were both updated in February 2025 and are available on the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Provider-Documents-and-Forms. Today, I observed the February 2025 version of the NC Summary of Child Care Law poster posted in a prominent location in both classrooms. Please include and use the February 2025 version of the NC Summary of Child Care Law brochure in your enrollment packet. 3. 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. The compliance of this rule will be monitored during your next visit. No action is needed on your part if you have already completed the ABCMS Provider Portal training and are currently using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or FCCH residents. Be sure this information is updated in ABCMS on an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and terminated and as FCCH residents move in or reach sixteen years of age. If you are not already using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or FCCH residents, you will need both an Individual NCID and a Business NCID. You will need an email address for your Individual NCID and a different email address for your Business NCID account. Once you have created your Business NCID, complete the ABCMS Provider Portal training in Moodle at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/course/view.php?id=119. Once the training has been completed and access has been given to you, you must verify your facility roster to ensure current staff or current FCCH residents are noted on the roster. This information should be updated in ABCMS in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated and as FCCH residents change or reach sixteen years of age. These actions satisfy the requirement to notify the Division within five business days of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility. 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. 4. The new QRIS Modernization Plan known as “Pathways to Success” is being added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission will continue the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. Please be reminded that any ERS assessment completed on February 1, 2025 and after will be assessed using the ERS-3 versions. 5. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. 6. Here are some important links on the DCEEE website that may be helpful: Child Care Rules and Laws: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Getting-a-License 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 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 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 the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I should receive your compliance letter no later than April 24, 2025. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 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, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/7/2024 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 11/8/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 465 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 04:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp w/Rated Lic Assess 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Skyler Bolden, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on November 14, 2023. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You updated the facility fax number which I recorded for you in our database. I reviewed the facility’s permit. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 91% as of November 4, 2024, and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 17, 2024, with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated November 23, 2020. I verified that you have not started the lead water testing process which is required to be completed every three years. I verified that you have enrolled for the lead-based paint and asbestos testing, but no results have been received to date. Your last fire inspection was dated November 6, 2024, and was received in my office on November 6, 2024. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, eating lunch, napping, transitioning from nap to snack, eating snack, and departing. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and quiet box. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. Lunch was documented on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. Meals were prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Today’s lunch included lasagna rollup, garden salad with ranch dressing, cinnamon baked pears, garlic bread stick, and unflavored milk. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of 28 (Space 1) and 45 (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. Staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities and “Stretch and Grow” activities alongside typically developing children. Your DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, having parents as members of an advisory board, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. Your DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I reviewed your written operational, administrative, and personnel policies and your parent participation plan at routine unannounced visits on May 4, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and during today’s visit. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Student Handbook for 2024 – 2025 school year and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2024 - 2025 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas. In Space 2, no allergy list was posted in the classroom. .0901(g) 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In Space 2, a charging tower was stored on top of a counter below five feet with seven electrical outlets left uncovered. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 1, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag placed on a hook on the wall that allowed the bottom of the bag to hang below five feet. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care requirement 10A NCAC 09 .0901 (g), children's special diets or food allergies should be posted where they can be seen in the food preparation area and in the child's eating area. During today’s visit, no allergies were posted in Space 2. You created an allergy posting and placed it near the classroom refrigerator in Space 2 which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c), each electrical outlet and power strip outlet should be covered including those electrical outlets and USB ports contained in charging towers. During today’s visit, a charging tower stored on top of a cabinet below five feet in Space 2 containing electrical and USB ports had seven uncovered electrical outlets. You covered the seven electrical outlets on the charging tower which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 3. Emergency medications for chronic illnesses such as inhalers for asthma, epi-pens for allergies, and seizure medications should be stored above five feet in an unlocked cabinet or location that’s easy for staff members to get to quickly and should not be stored in locked storage. During today’s visit, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag on a command hook in Space 1 which allowed the bottom of the ready-to-go bag to hang below five feet. Today, you moved the ready-to -go bag to a top shelf in the classroom that was above five feet making the medication inaccessible to the children but easily reached by staff which corrected this violation during today's visit. To maintain compliance with this sanitation requirement, I suggest you review this sanitation rule with your staff. CONSULTATION: 1. While monitoring the playground, I noticed the children were kicking the mulch under the swings leaving an area under each swing seat with less than six inches of mulch. In order to maintain the required surfacing depth under and around each swing, be sure to rake the mulch back into place routinely before, during, and after the children play on the swing set. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0803(2)(a), prescription medications should be in the original pharmaceutical container with the original pharmaceutical label attached. When accepting prescription medications be sure to check both the medication manufacturer’s expiration date and the discard date listed on the pharmaceutical label and follow the expiration date that would come first. When the pharmaceutical discard date expires before the manufacturer’s expiration date, the parent may use the medication at home until the manufacturer’s date expiration date, but the facility needs an updated medication. 3. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 4. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings. 5. On Friday, July 12, 2024, DCDEE sent a “Raise North Carolina” email blast announcing the signing of Senate Bill 425. The email contained a section entitled, “Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) Modernization” which provided updated information regarding the Rated License Reassessment process and approved extended stabilization grant funding. What does all this mean for child care in general? 1. The new QRIS Modifications and additional pathways will be added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for ECCERS. ITERS and FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission have already begun the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. 2. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Providers in any Cohort may voluntarily request a star rated license reassessment if they wish. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. 3. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers will need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. What does all this mean for facilities in Cohort 1? A facility may voluntarily request to complete the star rated license reassessment at any time but will not be required to complete the star rated license reassessment process this year. COMPLIANCE PLAN: Since the violations cited today were all corrected during today’s visit, no compliance letter documentation is required after today’s visit because I have documented in this visit summary the corrective actions taken today. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. RATED LICENSE INFORMATION: Your three-year re-assessment was due by June 2, 2023, but was extended due to the hold harmless provision. You VOLUNTARILY submitted your application for re-assessment on October 3, 2024. Your new star license will be based on the following: Total points will be determined upon completion and scores of the environment rating scale assessments and receipt of evaluation results from the Workforce Unit. 1-3 total points = 1 star 4-6 total points = 2 star 7-9 total points = 3 star 10-12 total points = 4 star 13-15 total points = 5 star Education – Points are earned based on the lowest level of education for any one position. The Administrator has the North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential (NCECAC) Level 3 and has 26 years of combined early childhood education and administrative experience earning 7 points. The facility has two required lead teachers. Each of them has the NCECC or ECE Scale Level I or higher, at least 50% have completed AAS ECE/CD or have ECE Scale Level VI or higher and each has at least two years of experience in childcare earning 7 points. Four teachers are required. Each of them has NCECC and two years of experience and at least 50% have completed at least six semester hours in EC earning them 7 points. Based on the information noted above, your program earned 7 points in the Education component. Program Standards – The program meets all applicable requirements for enhanced standards, enhanced space, and highest enhanced ratios. The facility requested a practice Environment Rating Scale (ERS) on March 27, 2024. The ECERS ERS was completed on May 21, 2024. The ECERS score of 5.70 was received on June 4, 2024, and reviewed with the facility administrator and lead teachers by phone on June 7, 2024. The facility completed the request for the and submitted it with the reassessment packet on October 3, 2020. The average score was 5.70 earning this facility 7 points in this component. Quality Point – You have chosen to meet Programmatic Options: Meeting the following: Staff Benefits Package and Infrastructure of Parent Involvement earning this facility 1 quality point. Total Points: 7 + 7 + 1 = 15 = 5 Star License. A final evaluation decision is pending and will be based on my supervisor’s review and approval of the evaluation components and information documented above. Once a final evaluation decision is made, a new license will be mailed directly to you and should be posted upon receipt. Please keep your current license posted until you receive your new license. When you receive your new license, please return the old license to me as it remains the property of the State of North Carolina. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/7/2024 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 11/8/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 465 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 04:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp w/Rated Lic Assess 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Skyler Bolden, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on November 14, 2023. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You updated the facility fax number which I recorded for you in our database. I reviewed the facility’s permit. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 91% as of November 4, 2024, and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 17, 2024, with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated November 23, 2020. I verified that you have not started the lead water testing process which is required to be completed every three years. I verified that you have enrolled for the lead-based paint and asbestos testing, but no results have been received to date. Your last fire inspection was dated November 6, 2024, and was received in my office on November 6, 2024. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, eating lunch, napping, transitioning from nap to snack, eating snack, and departing. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and quiet box. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. Lunch was documented on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. Meals were prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Today’s lunch included lasagna rollup, garden salad with ranch dressing, cinnamon baked pears, garlic bread stick, and unflavored milk. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of 28 (Space 1) and 45 (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. Staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities and “Stretch and Grow” activities alongside typically developing children. Your DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, having parents as members of an advisory board, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. Your DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I reviewed your written operational, administrative, and personnel policies and your parent participation plan at routine unannounced visits on May 4, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and during today’s visit. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Student Handbook for 2024 – 2025 school year and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2024 - 2025 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas. In Space 2, no allergy list was posted in the classroom. .0901(g) 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In Space 2, a charging tower was stored on top of a counter below five feet with seven electrical outlets left uncovered. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 1, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag placed on a hook on the wall that allowed the bottom of the bag to hang below five feet. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care requirement 10A NCAC 09 .0901 (g), children's special diets or food allergies should be posted where they can be seen in the food preparation area and in the child's eating area. During today’s visit, no allergies were posted in Space 2. You created an allergy posting and placed it near the classroom refrigerator in Space 2 which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c), each electrical outlet and power strip outlet should be covered including those electrical outlets and USB ports contained in charging towers. During today’s visit, a charging tower stored on top of a cabinet below five feet in Space 2 containing electrical and USB ports had seven uncovered electrical outlets. You covered the seven electrical outlets on the charging tower which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 3. Emergency medications for chronic illnesses such as inhalers for asthma, epi-pens for allergies, and seizure medications should be stored above five feet in an unlocked cabinet or location that’s easy for staff members to get to quickly and should not be stored in locked storage. During today’s visit, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag on a command hook in Space 1 which allowed the bottom of the ready-to-go bag to hang below five feet. Today, you moved the ready-to -go bag to a top shelf in the classroom that was above five feet making the medication inaccessible to the children but easily reached by staff which corrected this violation during today's visit. To maintain compliance with this sanitation requirement, I suggest you review this sanitation rule with your staff. CONSULTATION: 1. While monitoring the playground, I noticed the children were kicking the mulch under the swings leaving an area under each swing seat with less than six inches of mulch. In order to maintain the required surfacing depth under and around each swing, be sure to rake the mulch back into place routinely before, during, and after the children play on the swing set. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0803(2)(a), prescription medications should be in the original pharmaceutical container with the original pharmaceutical label attached. When accepting prescription medications be sure to check both the medication manufacturer’s expiration date and the discard date listed on the pharmaceutical label and follow the expiration date that would come first. When the pharmaceutical discard date expires before the manufacturer’s expiration date, the parent may use the medication at home until the manufacturer’s date expiration date, but the facility needs an updated medication. 3. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 4. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings. 5. On Friday, July 12, 2024, DCDEE sent a “Raise North Carolina” email blast announcing the signing of Senate Bill 425. The email contained a section entitled, “Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) Modernization” which provided updated information regarding the Rated License Reassessment process and approved extended stabilization grant funding. What does all this mean for child care in general? 1. The new QRIS Modifications and additional pathways will be added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for ECCERS. ITERS and FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission have already begun the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. 2. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Providers in any Cohort may voluntarily request a star rated license reassessment if they wish. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. 3. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers will need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. What does all this mean for facilities in Cohort 1? A facility may voluntarily request to complete the star rated license reassessment at any time but will not be required to complete the star rated license reassessment process this year. COMPLIANCE PLAN: Since the violations cited today were all corrected during today’s visit, no compliance letter documentation is required after today’s visit because I have documented in this visit summary the corrective actions taken today. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. RATED LICENSE INFORMATION: Your three-year re-assessment was due by June 2, 2023, but was extended due to the hold harmless provision. You VOLUNTARILY submitted your application for re-assessment on October 3, 2024. Your new star license will be based on the following: Total points will be determined upon completion and scores of the environment rating scale assessments and receipt of evaluation results from the Workforce Unit. 1-3 total points = 1 star 4-6 total points = 2 star 7-9 total points = 3 star 10-12 total points = 4 star 13-15 total points = 5 star Education – Points are earned based on the lowest level of education for any one position. The Administrator has the North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential (NCECAC) Level 3 and has 26 years of combined early childhood education and administrative experience earning 7 points. The facility has two required lead teachers. Each of them has the NCECC or ECE Scale Level I or higher, at least 50% have completed AAS ECE/CD or have ECE Scale Level VI or higher and each has at least two years of experience in childcare earning 7 points. Four teachers are required. Each of them has NCECC and two years of experience and at least 50% have completed at least six semester hours in EC earning them 7 points. Based on the information noted above, your program earned 7 points in the Education component. Program Standards – The program meets all applicable requirements for enhanced standards, enhanced space, and highest enhanced ratios. The facility requested a practice Environment Rating Scale (ERS) on March 27, 2024. The ECERS ERS was completed on May 21, 2024. The ECERS score of 5.70 was received on June 4, 2024, and reviewed with the facility administrator and lead teachers by phone on June 7, 2024. The facility completed the request for the and submitted it with the reassessment packet on October 3, 2020. The average score was 5.70 earning this facility 7 points in this component. Quality Point – You have chosen to meet Programmatic Options: Meeting the following: Staff Benefits Package and Infrastructure of Parent Involvement earning this facility 1 quality point. Total Points: 7 + 7 + 1 = 15 = 5 Star License. A final evaluation decision is pending and will be based on my supervisor’s review and approval of the evaluation components and information documented above. Once a final evaluation decision is made, a new license will be mailed directly to you and should be posted upon receipt. Please keep your current license posted until you receive your new license. When you receive your new license, please return the old license to me as it remains the property of the State of North Carolina. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/7/2024 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 11/8/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 465 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 04:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp w/Rated Lic Assess 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Skyler Bolden, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on November 14, 2023. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You updated the facility fax number which I recorded for you in our database. I reviewed the facility’s permit. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 91% as of November 4, 2024, and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 17, 2024, with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated November 23, 2020. I verified that you have not started the lead water testing process which is required to be completed every three years. I verified that you have enrolled for the lead-based paint and asbestos testing, but no results have been received to date. Your last fire inspection was dated November 6, 2024, and was received in my office on November 6, 2024. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, eating lunch, napping, transitioning from nap to snack, eating snack, and departing. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and quiet box. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. Lunch was documented on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. Meals were prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Today’s lunch included lasagna rollup, garden salad with ranch dressing, cinnamon baked pears, garlic bread stick, and unflavored milk. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of 28 (Space 1) and 45 (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. Staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities and “Stretch and Grow” activities alongside typically developing children. Your DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, having parents as members of an advisory board, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. Your DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I reviewed your written operational, administrative, and personnel policies and your parent participation plan at routine unannounced visits on May 4, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and during today’s visit. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Student Handbook for 2024 – 2025 school year and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2024 - 2025 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas. In Space 2, no allergy list was posted in the classroom. .0901(g) 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In Space 2, a charging tower was stored on top of a counter below five feet with seven electrical outlets left uncovered. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 1, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag placed on a hook on the wall that allowed the bottom of the bag to hang below five feet. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care requirement 10A NCAC 09 .0901 (g), children's special diets or food allergies should be posted where they can be seen in the food preparation area and in the child's eating area. During today’s visit, no allergies were posted in Space 2. You created an allergy posting and placed it near the classroom refrigerator in Space 2 which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c), each electrical outlet and power strip outlet should be covered including those electrical outlets and USB ports contained in charging towers. During today’s visit, a charging tower stored on top of a cabinet below five feet in Space 2 containing electrical and USB ports had seven uncovered electrical outlets. You covered the seven electrical outlets on the charging tower which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 3. Emergency medications for chronic illnesses such as inhalers for asthma, epi-pens for allergies, and seizure medications should be stored above five feet in an unlocked cabinet or location that’s easy for staff members to get to quickly and should not be stored in locked storage. During today’s visit, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag on a command hook in Space 1 which allowed the bottom of the ready-to-go bag to hang below five feet. Today, you moved the ready-to -go bag to a top shelf in the classroom that was above five feet making the medication inaccessible to the children but easily reached by staff which corrected this violation during today's visit. To maintain compliance with this sanitation requirement, I suggest you review this sanitation rule with your staff. CONSULTATION: 1. While monitoring the playground, I noticed the children were kicking the mulch under the swings leaving an area under each swing seat with less than six inches of mulch. In order to maintain the required surfacing depth under and around each swing, be sure to rake the mulch back into place routinely before, during, and after the children play on the swing set. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0803(2)(a), prescription medications should be in the original pharmaceutical container with the original pharmaceutical label attached. When accepting prescription medications be sure to check both the medication manufacturer’s expiration date and the discard date listed on the pharmaceutical label and follow the expiration date that would come first. When the pharmaceutical discard date expires before the manufacturer’s expiration date, the parent may use the medication at home until the manufacturer’s date expiration date, but the facility needs an updated medication. 3. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 4. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings. 5. On Friday, July 12, 2024, DCDEE sent a “Raise North Carolina” email blast announcing the signing of Senate Bill 425. The email contained a section entitled, “Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) Modernization” which provided updated information regarding the Rated License Reassessment process and approved extended stabilization grant funding. What does all this mean for child care in general? 1. The new QRIS Modifications and additional pathways will be added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for ECCERS. ITERS and FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission have already begun the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. 2. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Providers in any Cohort may voluntarily request a star rated license reassessment if they wish. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. 3. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers will need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. What does all this mean for facilities in Cohort 1? A facility may voluntarily request to complete the star rated license reassessment at any time but will not be required to complete the star rated license reassessment process this year. COMPLIANCE PLAN: Since the violations cited today were all corrected during today’s visit, no compliance letter documentation is required after today’s visit because I have documented in this visit summary the corrective actions taken today. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. RATED LICENSE INFORMATION: Your three-year re-assessment was due by June 2, 2023, but was extended due to the hold harmless provision. You VOLUNTARILY submitted your application for re-assessment on October 3, 2024. Your new star license will be based on the following: Total points will be determined upon completion and scores of the environment rating scale assessments and receipt of evaluation results from the Workforce Unit. 1-3 total points = 1 star 4-6 total points = 2 star 7-9 total points = 3 star 10-12 total points = 4 star 13-15 total points = 5 star Education – Points are earned based on the lowest level of education for any one position. The Administrator has the North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential (NCECAC) Level 3 and has 26 years of combined early childhood education and administrative experience earning 7 points. The facility has two required lead teachers. Each of them has the NCECC or ECE Scale Level I or higher, at least 50% have completed AAS ECE/CD or have ECE Scale Level VI or higher and each has at least two years of experience in childcare earning 7 points. Four teachers are required. Each of them has NCECC and two years of experience and at least 50% have completed at least six semester hours in EC earning them 7 points. Based on the information noted above, your program earned 7 points in the Education component. Program Standards – The program meets all applicable requirements for enhanced standards, enhanced space, and highest enhanced ratios. The facility requested a practice Environment Rating Scale (ERS) on March 27, 2024. The ECERS ERS was completed on May 21, 2024. The ECERS score of 5.70 was received on June 4, 2024, and reviewed with the facility administrator and lead teachers by phone on June 7, 2024. The facility completed the request for the and submitted it with the reassessment packet on October 3, 2020. The average score was 5.70 earning this facility 7 points in this component. Quality Point – You have chosen to meet Programmatic Options: Meeting the following: Staff Benefits Package and Infrastructure of Parent Involvement earning this facility 1 quality point. Total Points: 7 + 7 + 1 = 15 = 5 Star License. A final evaluation decision is pending and will be based on my supervisor’s review and approval of the evaluation components and information documented above. Once a final evaluation decision is made, a new license will be mailed directly to you and should be posted upon receipt. Please keep your current license posted until you receive your new license. When you receive your new license, please return the old license to me as it remains the property of the State of North Carolina. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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 .0901 · Violation

Name of Operation: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/7/2024 Number Present: 27 Completed Date: 11/8/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 465 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 04:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp w/Rated Lic Assess 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Skyler Bolden, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on November 14, 2023. I reviewed with you today the facility information found in our system. You stated there have been no changes to your phone number, email address, mailing address, or corporate contact for the facility. You updated the facility fax number which I recorded for you in our database. I reviewed the facility’s permit. I reviewed the restrictions on your license, capacity, and age range on your permit and observed these being maintained. Your program’s compliance history was 91% as of November 4, 2024, and was reviewed with you today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning seven points in staff education, seven points in program standards, and one quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your last sanitation inspection was dated October 17, 2024, with a Superior classification and zero demerits. Your last lead water test results were dated November 23, 2020. I verified that you have not started the lead water testing process which is required to be completed every three years. I verified that you have enrolled for the lead-based paint and asbestos testing, but no results have been received to date. Your last fire inspection was dated November 6, 2024, and was received in my office on November 6, 2024. I visited each licensed indoor space and each outdoor space with you today. Children were playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, eating lunch, napping, transitioning from nap to snack, eating snack, and departing. Age-appropriate and child-sized tables, chairs, shelving, and storage were provided. Developmentally appropriate materials were provided in sufficient quantities and were accessible to the children. All materials, furniture, and equipment were in good repair. Activity areas in Space 1 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, dollhouse, writing and safe space. Activity areas in Space 2 included books, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, creative art, science, music, sensory, water play, train table, writing and quiet box. Screen time offered to the children was logged on the activity plans. Documented screen time was limited to no more than thirty minutes daily and linked to a developmental domain and goal. The outdoor space was supplied with adequate shade and age-appropriate materials and equipment that were in good repair. The covered sandbox contained a minimal amount of sand. The fence was sufficient height and in good repair. The mulch surfacing was of adequate depth for stationary structures. Lunch was documented on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. Meals were prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classrooms. Today’s lunch included lasagna rollup, garden salad with ranch dressing, cinnamon baked pears, garlic bread stick, and unflavored milk. Cold food and milk brought from home and/or served to children or staff was stored in full-size refrigerators in both classrooms at temperatures of 28 (Space 1) and 45 (Space 2) degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored hazardous product storage, medication storage, medication administration, general safety, and discipline practices. I monitored program records, child record files, staff record files. I monitored health and safety requirements. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. Staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. Typically developing children participated in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. Activities allowed the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. Children identified with developmental delays were enrolled, interacting, and participating in all classroom activities and “Stretch and Grow” activities alongside typically developing children. Your DD program offered family involvement including providing quarterly parent education sessions, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, having parents as members of an advisory board, providing opportunities for parent volunteers to assist with special classroom activities, field trips, etc. and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. Your DD program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. The Administrator, Dr. Timothy Sims is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, and does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You used Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You used Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your 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 the reason for the absence and report absences to the Catawba County Partnership for Children. Your NC PreK program followed the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year. I reviewed your written operational, administrative, and personnel policies and your parent participation plan at routine unannounced visits on May 4, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and during today’s visit. Your written administrative and personnel policies had not changed. Your operational policies and parent participation plan were updated with all the required components documented in the Hickory Public Schools Student Handbook for 2024 – 2025 school year and the Catawba County Preschool Handbook for 2024 - 2025 school year. I monitored supervision of children, staff-child ratios and group sizes, approved space use, space capacities, and permit restrictions. I completed the “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” during today’s visit. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas. In Space 2, no allergy list was posted in the classroom. .0901(g) 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In Space 2, a charging tower was stored on top of a counter below five feet with seven electrical outlets left uncovered. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 1, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag placed on a hook on the wall that allowed the bottom of the bag to hang below five feet. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 1. Per child care requirement 10A NCAC 09 .0901 (g), children's special diets or food allergies should be posted where they can be seen in the food preparation area and in the child's eating area. During today’s visit, no allergies were posted in Space 2. You created an allergy posting and placed it near the classroom refrigerator in Space 2 which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c), each electrical outlet and power strip outlet should be covered including those electrical outlets and USB ports contained in charging towers. During today’s visit, a charging tower stored on top of a cabinet below five feet in Space 2 containing electrical and USB ports had seven uncovered electrical outlets. You covered the seven electrical outlets on the charging tower which corrected this violation today. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you review this child care requirement with your staff. 3. Emergency medications for chronic illnesses such as inhalers for asthma, epi-pens for allergies, and seizure medications should be stored above five feet in an unlocked cabinet or location that’s easy for staff members to get to quickly and should not be stored in locked storage. During today’s visit, emergency medication was stored in a ready-to-go bag on a command hook in Space 1 which allowed the bottom of the ready-to-go bag to hang below five feet. Today, you moved the ready-to -go bag to a top shelf in the classroom that was above five feet making the medication inaccessible to the children but easily reached by staff which corrected this violation during today's visit. To maintain compliance with this sanitation requirement, I suggest you review this sanitation rule with your staff. CONSULTATION: 1. While monitoring the playground, I noticed the children were kicking the mulch under the swings leaving an area under each swing seat with less than six inches of mulch. In order to maintain the required surfacing depth under and around each swing, be sure to rake the mulch back into place routinely before, during, and after the children play on the swing set. 2. Per child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0803(2)(a), prescription medications should be in the original pharmaceutical container with the original pharmaceutical label attached. When accepting prescription medications be sure to check both the medication manufacturer’s expiration date and the discard date listed on the pharmaceutical label and follow the expiration date that would come first. When the pharmaceutical discard date expires before the manufacturer’s expiration date, the parent may use the medication at home until the manufacturer’s date expiration date, but the facility needs an updated medication. 3. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 4. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings. 5. On Friday, July 12, 2024, DCDEE sent a “Raise North Carolina” email blast announcing the signing of Senate Bill 425. The email contained a section entitled, “Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) Modernization” which provided updated information regarding the Rated License Reassessment process and approved extended stabilization grant funding. What does all this mean for child care in general? 1. The new QRIS Modifications and additional pathways will be added to law which included moving to the use of the updated Environmental Rating Scale (ERS-3 versions) for ECCERS. ITERS and FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. DCDEE and the NC Child Care Commission have already begun the rulemaking process to add the rule language to child care requirements. This process with take several months. 2. Hold Harmless provisions have been extended. Star rated license reassessments are postponed until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Providers in any Cohort may voluntarily request a star rated license reassessment if they wish. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs. 3. A pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies may now move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers will need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing: Accreditation Licensure Request Form. What does all this mean for facilities in Cohort 1? A facility may voluntarily request to complete the star rated license reassessment at any time but will not be required to complete the star rated license reassessment process this year. COMPLIANCE PLAN: Since the violations cited today were all corrected during today’s visit, no compliance letter documentation is required after today’s visit because I have documented in this visit summary the corrective actions taken today. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. RATED LICENSE INFORMATION: Your three-year re-assessment was due by June 2, 2023, but was extended due to the hold harmless provision. You VOLUNTARILY submitted your application for re-assessment on October 3, 2024. Your new star license will be based on the following: Total points will be determined upon completion and scores of the environment rating scale assessments and receipt of evaluation results from the Workforce Unit. 1-3 total points = 1 star 4-6 total points = 2 star 7-9 total points = 3 star 10-12 total points = 4 star 13-15 total points = 5 star Education – Points are earned based on the lowest level of education for any one position. The Administrator has the North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential (NCECAC) Level 3 and has 26 years of combined early childhood education and administrative experience earning 7 points. The facility has two required lead teachers. Each of them has the NCECC or ECE Scale Level I or higher, at least 50% have completed AAS ECE/CD or have ECE Scale Level VI or higher and each has at least two years of experience in childcare earning 7 points. Four teachers are required. Each of them has NCECC and two years of experience and at least 50% have completed at least six semester hours in EC earning them 7 points. Based on the information noted above, your program earned 7 points in the Education component. Program Standards – The program meets all applicable requirements for enhanced standards, enhanced space, and highest enhanced ratios. The facility requested a practice Environment Rating Scale (ERS) on March 27, 2024. The ECERS ERS was completed on May 21, 2024. The ECERS score of 5.70 was received on June 4, 2024, and reviewed with the facility administrator and lead teachers by phone on June 7, 2024. The facility completed the request for the and submitted it with the reassessment packet on October 3, 2020. The average score was 5.70 earning this facility 7 points in this component. Quality Point – You have chosen to meet Programmatic Options: Meeting the following: Staff Benefits Package and Infrastructure of Parent Involvement earning this facility 1 quality point. Total Points: 7 + 7 + 1 = 15 = 5 Star License. A final evaluation decision is pending and will be based on my supervisor’s review and approval of the evaluation components and information documented above. Once a final evaluation decision is made, a new license will be mailed directly to you and should be posted upon receipt. Please keep your current license posted until you receive your new license. When you receive your new license, please return the old license to me as it remains the property of the State of North Carolina. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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 .0302 · Violation

Name of Operation: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/14/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 11/16/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 405 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: 01:45 PM Time Out: 04:30 PM 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Talia Godfrey, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on December 7, 2022. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning 7 points in staff education, 7 points in program standards, and 1 quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your program’s compliance history was 88% as of November 13, 2023 and was reviewed with you today. Your last sanitation inspection was dated September 25, 2023 with a Superior classification and 2 demerits. Your last fire inspection was dated March 16, 2023 and was received in my office on May 4, 2023. I observed and cited one violation. I visited each licensed indoor space in and each outdoor space with you today. I observed students playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, participating in a fire alarm event, eating lunch, napping, and transitioning from nap to snack. I observed lunch listed on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. I observed lunch prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classroom. I observed the children eating sloppy joe on a bun, potato wedges, peaches, and milk. I observed children adequately supervised, adequate approved enhanced space used, highest voluntary enhanced staff-child ratios and permit restrictions including “Daytime care only”, “Certified Developmental Day program”, “Reduced staff/child ratios by one child per group”, “Meets enhanced ratios”, and “Meets enhanced space” maintained during today’s visit. I reviewed program records today. I observed and cited one violation. I reviewed children’s records today. I observed and cited five violations. I reviewed three staff record files for new staff members hired since your last AC visit. I reviewed six staff record files for substitute staff members. I reviewed three staff record files for returning staff members. I reviewed Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters for two therapist that serve preschool age children outside of the preschool classroom. I observed and cited four violations. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. I observed staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. I observed typically developing children participating in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. I observed activities allowing the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. I observed children identified with developmental delays enrolled, interacting, and participating in activities alongside typically developing children. You stated your DD program offers family involvement including holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing quarterly parent education sessions, and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. You stated your DD program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. I observed the Administrator, who is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You use Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You use Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your family engagement component includes formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, visits to the classroom and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, and opportunities to participate in activities 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 the reason for the absence. You stated your NC PreK program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was dated 03/16/2023 but was not received until 05/04/2023. The fire inspection was received prior to today's visit. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 125 Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. In Space 1, the arrival times for two children were not recorded at the time of arrival. The teacher recorded the arrival times for these two children. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(4) 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a medical report on file prior to employment. The staff medical report was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The medical report was completed and on file prior to today's visit. 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a TB screening form or negative results of TB on file prior to employment. The TB screening form was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The TB screening form was completed and on file prior to today's visit. .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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 has not completed first aid training within 90 day days of employment. .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 08/14/2023 has not completed CPR training within 90 day days of employment. .1102(d) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child did not have a medical exam or health assessment documented and on file within 30 days of enrollment. The teacher had documentation from the parent stating a doctor appointment was scheduled for 11/20/2023. GS110-91(1) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. Three discipline policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment. .1804(b) 1767 The health assessment did not include a vision screening. One child did not have a vision screening on file. The health examine documented on the school health screening form was completed within 30 days but a vision screening was not documented on the form. .3005 (a)(3) 1769 The health assessment did not include a dental screening. Two children did not have dental screenings on file. The health examines documented on the school health screening forms were completed within 30 days but documentation of dental screenings were not on file. .3005 (a)(5) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. Two Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. .0608(b)(1-6) Compliance Plan: All violations cited must be corrected immediately. Please submit written, signed, and dated compliance documentation to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. Your compliance documentation must include the following: 1) A compliance letter including the following: 1. The name of your facility 2. The ID number of your facility 3. The date you write the letter 4. A corrective action statement for each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. A compliance plan statement for each violation stating how you plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than November 28, 2023. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: 1. An arrival and departure time for each child in attendance should be recorded at the time of arrival and at the time of departure rather than later in the day. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you move the sign in and out clipboard to the front entrance of the classroom when you know children are to arrive late and expect them to enter the classroom through the front entrance of the classroom. Having the clipboard by the front entrance will be a visual reminder for you to record the arrival time as the child enters the classroom. 2. The annual fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you or the school principal forward the email containing the fire inspection report to me when you receive it from the fire inspector. 3. Each teacher and teacher assistant should complete First Aid and CPR training within 90 days of employment and every two years before the certification expires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you include registration in a First Aid and CPR training course as part of your new staff orientation when you cover your emergency medical care plan. 4. Staff medical report/health assessments and TB tests should be completed prior to employment and on file by the first day of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you give each new employee the Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report document and the Tuberculosis Screening Form/Tuberculosis Testing Form with instructions to have the documents completed and returned to you prior to the first day of employment. 5. A health physical exam and copy of the immunization record are required for each child enrolled in a licensed child care setting. In addition, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required for each child enrolled in a NC PreK classroom. Documentation of the health examine, immunizations, and all screenings should be in each child’s record file within 30 days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the health examine include the Children’s Medical Report located on the DCDEE website or the kindergarten health assessment form. Acceptable forms of documentation for the screenings would include 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, I advised 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. If you accept the kindergarten health assessment form as documentation of the health examine, you still need to require the parent to complete Part A of the Children’s Medical Report and staple the two documents together. I advised you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because it 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. 6. The discipline policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the discipline policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment if it is missing. 7. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s date of enrollment and the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent if it is missing. Consultation: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. The Change of Information form for CBC is listed in law. When a new staff member starts working at a facility and gives the administrator a CBC qualification letter that was previously completed while working at another facility, but is still current, the administrator must send a Change of Information form for that new staff member to the CBC unit. The Change of Information form can be found on DCDEE’s website under Provider Documents and Forms. 3. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 4. The Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report form should include the date of the assessment as the date the health exam was completed as well as the health care professional’s signature and date of signature. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you highlight the “date of the assessment” on the document so remind health care professionals that information is required in addition to their signature and date of signature. 5. In Space 1, the Classroom Staff to Child Ratio worksheets should be completed to reflect the DD ratio of 1:6 and the “Highest Voluntary Enhanced Requirements” should be checked on the worksheet. Also, this document should be posted in a way that it is easily visible to staff, parents, and visitors. Nothing should be covering any part of this document. 6. Medication Permission to Administer forms for medications prescribed for chronic illness should be updated every six months. Medical Action Plans should be updated annually. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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 .0304 · Violation

Name of Operation: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/14/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 11/16/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 405 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: 01:45 PM Time Out: 04:30 PM 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Talia Godfrey, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on December 7, 2022. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning 7 points in staff education, 7 points in program standards, and 1 quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your program’s compliance history was 88% as of November 13, 2023 and was reviewed with you today. Your last sanitation inspection was dated September 25, 2023 with a Superior classification and 2 demerits. Your last fire inspection was dated March 16, 2023 and was received in my office on May 4, 2023. I observed and cited one violation. I visited each licensed indoor space in and each outdoor space with you today. I observed students playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, participating in a fire alarm event, eating lunch, napping, and transitioning from nap to snack. I observed lunch listed on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. I observed lunch prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classroom. I observed the children eating sloppy joe on a bun, potato wedges, peaches, and milk. I observed children adequately supervised, adequate approved enhanced space used, highest voluntary enhanced staff-child ratios and permit restrictions including “Daytime care only”, “Certified Developmental Day program”, “Reduced staff/child ratios by one child per group”, “Meets enhanced ratios”, and “Meets enhanced space” maintained during today’s visit. I reviewed program records today. I observed and cited one violation. I reviewed children’s records today. I observed and cited five violations. I reviewed three staff record files for new staff members hired since your last AC visit. I reviewed six staff record files for substitute staff members. I reviewed three staff record files for returning staff members. I reviewed Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters for two therapist that serve preschool age children outside of the preschool classroom. I observed and cited four violations. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. I observed staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. I observed typically developing children participating in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. I observed activities allowing the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. I observed children identified with developmental delays enrolled, interacting, and participating in activities alongside typically developing children. You stated your DD program offers family involvement including holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing quarterly parent education sessions, and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. You stated your DD program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. I observed the Administrator, who is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You use Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You use Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your family engagement component includes formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, visits to the classroom and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, and opportunities to participate in activities 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 the reason for the absence. You stated your NC PreK program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was dated 03/16/2023 but was not received until 05/04/2023. The fire inspection was received prior to today's visit. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 125 Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. In Space 1, the arrival times for two children were not recorded at the time of arrival. The teacher recorded the arrival times for these two children. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(4) 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a medical report on file prior to employment. The staff medical report was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The medical report was completed and on file prior to today's visit. 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a TB screening form or negative results of TB on file prior to employment. The TB screening form was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The TB screening form was completed and on file prior to today's visit. .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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 has not completed first aid training within 90 day days of employment. .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 08/14/2023 has not completed CPR training within 90 day days of employment. .1102(d) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child did not have a medical exam or health assessment documented and on file within 30 days of enrollment. The teacher had documentation from the parent stating a doctor appointment was scheduled for 11/20/2023. GS110-91(1) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. Three discipline policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment. .1804(b) 1767 The health assessment did not include a vision screening. One child did not have a vision screening on file. The health examine documented on the school health screening form was completed within 30 days but a vision screening was not documented on the form. .3005 (a)(3) 1769 The health assessment did not include a dental screening. Two children did not have dental screenings on file. The health examines documented on the school health screening forms were completed within 30 days but documentation of dental screenings were not on file. .3005 (a)(5) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. Two Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. .0608(b)(1-6) Compliance Plan: All violations cited must be corrected immediately. Please submit written, signed, and dated compliance documentation to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. Your compliance documentation must include the following: 1) A compliance letter including the following: 1. The name of your facility 2. The ID number of your facility 3. The date you write the letter 4. A corrective action statement for each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. A compliance plan statement for each violation stating how you plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than November 28, 2023. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: 1. An arrival and departure time for each child in attendance should be recorded at the time of arrival and at the time of departure rather than later in the day. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you move the sign in and out clipboard to the front entrance of the classroom when you know children are to arrive late and expect them to enter the classroom through the front entrance of the classroom. Having the clipboard by the front entrance will be a visual reminder for you to record the arrival time as the child enters the classroom. 2. The annual fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you or the school principal forward the email containing the fire inspection report to me when you receive it from the fire inspector. 3. Each teacher and teacher assistant should complete First Aid and CPR training within 90 days of employment and every two years before the certification expires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you include registration in a First Aid and CPR training course as part of your new staff orientation when you cover your emergency medical care plan. 4. Staff medical report/health assessments and TB tests should be completed prior to employment and on file by the first day of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you give each new employee the Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report document and the Tuberculosis Screening Form/Tuberculosis Testing Form with instructions to have the documents completed and returned to you prior to the first day of employment. 5. A health physical exam and copy of the immunization record are required for each child enrolled in a licensed child care setting. In addition, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required for each child enrolled in a NC PreK classroom. Documentation of the health examine, immunizations, and all screenings should be in each child’s record file within 30 days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the health examine include the Children’s Medical Report located on the DCDEE website or the kindergarten health assessment form. Acceptable forms of documentation for the screenings would include 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, I advised 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. If you accept the kindergarten health assessment form as documentation of the health examine, you still need to require the parent to complete Part A of the Children’s Medical Report and staple the two documents together. I advised you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because it 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. 6. The discipline policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the discipline policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment if it is missing. 7. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s date of enrollment and the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent if it is missing. Consultation: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. The Change of Information form for CBC is listed in law. When a new staff member starts working at a facility and gives the administrator a CBC qualification letter that was previously completed while working at another facility, but is still current, the administrator must send a Change of Information form for that new staff member to the CBC unit. The Change of Information form can be found on DCDEE’s website under Provider Documents and Forms. 3. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 4. The Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report form should include the date of the assessment as the date the health exam was completed as well as the health care professional’s signature and date of signature. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you highlight the “date of the assessment” on the document so remind health care professionals that information is required in addition to their signature and date of signature. 5. In Space 1, the Classroom Staff to Child Ratio worksheets should be completed to reflect the DD ratio of 1:6 and the “Highest Voluntary Enhanced Requirements” should be checked on the worksheet. Also, this document should be posted in a way that it is easily visible to staff, parents, and visitors. Nothing should be covering any part of this document. 6. Medication Permission to Administer forms for medications prescribed for chronic illness should be updated every six months. Medical Action Plans should be updated annually. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/14/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 11/16/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 405 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: 01:45 PM Time Out: 04:30 PM 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Talia Godfrey, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on December 7, 2022. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning 7 points in staff education, 7 points in program standards, and 1 quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your program’s compliance history was 88% as of November 13, 2023 and was reviewed with you today. Your last sanitation inspection was dated September 25, 2023 with a Superior classification and 2 demerits. Your last fire inspection was dated March 16, 2023 and was received in my office on May 4, 2023. I observed and cited one violation. I visited each licensed indoor space in and each outdoor space with you today. I observed students playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, participating in a fire alarm event, eating lunch, napping, and transitioning from nap to snack. I observed lunch listed on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. I observed lunch prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classroom. I observed the children eating sloppy joe on a bun, potato wedges, peaches, and milk. I observed children adequately supervised, adequate approved enhanced space used, highest voluntary enhanced staff-child ratios and permit restrictions including “Daytime care only”, “Certified Developmental Day program”, “Reduced staff/child ratios by one child per group”, “Meets enhanced ratios”, and “Meets enhanced space” maintained during today’s visit. I reviewed program records today. I observed and cited one violation. I reviewed children’s records today. I observed and cited five violations. I reviewed three staff record files for new staff members hired since your last AC visit. I reviewed six staff record files for substitute staff members. I reviewed three staff record files for returning staff members. I reviewed Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters for two therapist that serve preschool age children outside of the preschool classroom. I observed and cited four violations. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. I observed staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. I observed typically developing children participating in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. I observed activities allowing the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. I observed children identified with developmental delays enrolled, interacting, and participating in activities alongside typically developing children. You stated your DD program offers family involvement including holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing quarterly parent education sessions, and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. You stated your DD program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. I observed the Administrator, who is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You use Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You use Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your family engagement component includes formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, visits to the classroom and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, and opportunities to participate in activities 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 the reason for the absence. You stated your NC PreK program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was dated 03/16/2023 but was not received until 05/04/2023. The fire inspection was received prior to today's visit. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 125 Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. In Space 1, the arrival times for two children were not recorded at the time of arrival. The teacher recorded the arrival times for these two children. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(4) 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a medical report on file prior to employment. The staff medical report was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The medical report was completed and on file prior to today's visit. 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a TB screening form or negative results of TB on file prior to employment. The TB screening form was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The TB screening form was completed and on file prior to today's visit. .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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 has not completed first aid training within 90 day days of employment. .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 08/14/2023 has not completed CPR training within 90 day days of employment. .1102(d) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child did not have a medical exam or health assessment documented and on file within 30 days of enrollment. The teacher had documentation from the parent stating a doctor appointment was scheduled for 11/20/2023. GS110-91(1) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. Three discipline policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment. .1804(b) 1767 The health assessment did not include a vision screening. One child did not have a vision screening on file. The health examine documented on the school health screening form was completed within 30 days but a vision screening was not documented on the form. .3005 (a)(3) 1769 The health assessment did not include a dental screening. Two children did not have dental screenings on file. The health examines documented on the school health screening forms were completed within 30 days but documentation of dental screenings were not on file. .3005 (a)(5) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. Two Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. .0608(b)(1-6) Compliance Plan: All violations cited must be corrected immediately. Please submit written, signed, and dated compliance documentation to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. Your compliance documentation must include the following: 1) A compliance letter including the following: 1. The name of your facility 2. The ID number of your facility 3. The date you write the letter 4. A corrective action statement for each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. A compliance plan statement for each violation stating how you plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than November 28, 2023. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: 1. An arrival and departure time for each child in attendance should be recorded at the time of arrival and at the time of departure rather than later in the day. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you move the sign in and out clipboard to the front entrance of the classroom when you know children are to arrive late and expect them to enter the classroom through the front entrance of the classroom. Having the clipboard by the front entrance will be a visual reminder for you to record the arrival time as the child enters the classroom. 2. The annual fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you or the school principal forward the email containing the fire inspection report to me when you receive it from the fire inspector. 3. Each teacher and teacher assistant should complete First Aid and CPR training within 90 days of employment and every two years before the certification expires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you include registration in a First Aid and CPR training course as part of your new staff orientation when you cover your emergency medical care plan. 4. Staff medical report/health assessments and TB tests should be completed prior to employment and on file by the first day of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you give each new employee the Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report document and the Tuberculosis Screening Form/Tuberculosis Testing Form with instructions to have the documents completed and returned to you prior to the first day of employment. 5. A health physical exam and copy of the immunization record are required for each child enrolled in a licensed child care setting. In addition, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required for each child enrolled in a NC PreK classroom. Documentation of the health examine, immunizations, and all screenings should be in each child’s record file within 30 days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the health examine include the Children’s Medical Report located on the DCDEE website or the kindergarten health assessment form. Acceptable forms of documentation for the screenings would include 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, I advised 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. If you accept the kindergarten health assessment form as documentation of the health examine, you still need to require the parent to complete Part A of the Children’s Medical Report and staple the two documents together. I advised you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because it 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. 6. The discipline policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the discipline policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment if it is missing. 7. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s date of enrollment and the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent if it is missing. Consultation: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. The Change of Information form for CBC is listed in law. When a new staff member starts working at a facility and gives the administrator a CBC qualification letter that was previously completed while working at another facility, but is still current, the administrator must send a Change of Information form for that new staff member to the CBC unit. The Change of Information form can be found on DCDEE’s website under Provider Documents and Forms. 3. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 4. The Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report form should include the date of the assessment as the date the health exam was completed as well as the health care professional’s signature and date of signature. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you highlight the “date of the assessment” on the document so remind health care professionals that information is required in addition to their signature and date of signature. 5. In Space 1, the Classroom Staff to Child Ratio worksheets should be completed to reflect the DD ratio of 1:6 and the “Highest Voluntary Enhanced Requirements” should be checked on the worksheet. Also, this document should be posted in a way that it is easily visible to staff, parents, and visitors. Nothing should be covering any part of this document. 6. Medication Permission to Administer forms for medications prescribed for chronic illness should be updated every six months. Medical Action Plans should be updated annually. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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

GS110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: SOUTHWEST PRIMARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 18000358 Consultant: KIMBERLY CRANE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/14/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 11/16/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 405 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: 01:45 PM Time Out: 04:30 PM 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. You, Elizabeth Rollins and Talia Godfrey, Lead Teachers, assisted me with today’s visit. I conducted your last annual compliance visit on December 7, 2022. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued on February 24, 2022, earning 7 points in staff education, 7 points in program standards, and 1 quality point for 75% of lead teachers having a BA/BA in early childhood education or child development. Your program was monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Your program was monitored for compliance with Developmental Day and NC PreK requirements. Your program’s compliance history was 88% as of November 13, 2023 and was reviewed with you today. Your last sanitation inspection was dated September 25, 2023 with a Superior classification and 2 demerits. Your last fire inspection was dated March 16, 2023 and was received in my office on May 4, 2023. I observed and cited one violation. I visited each licensed indoor space in and each outdoor space with you today. I observed students playing in activity areas, participating in teacher-directed whole group activities, transitioning from activity areas to whole group, playing outside, transitioning from indoors to outdoors, transitioning from outdoors to indoors, participating in a fire alarm event, eating lunch, napping, and transitioning from nap to snack. I observed lunch listed on a current menu posted in both Space 1 and Space 2. I observed lunch prepared in the school cafeteria and served in the classroom. I observed the children eating sloppy joe on a bun, potato wedges, peaches, and milk. I observed children adequately supervised, adequate approved enhanced space used, highest voluntary enhanced staff-child ratios and permit restrictions including “Daytime care only”, “Certified Developmental Day program”, “Reduced staff/child ratios by one child per group”, “Meets enhanced ratios”, and “Meets enhanced space” maintained during today’s visit. I reviewed program records today. I observed and cited one violation. I reviewed children’s records today. I observed and cited five violations. I reviewed three staff record files for new staff members hired since your last AC visit. I reviewed six staff record files for substitute staff members. I reviewed three staff record files for returning staff members. I reviewed Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letters for two therapist that serve preschool age children outside of the preschool classroom. I observed and cited four violations. I monitored Developmental Day (DD) requirements during today’s visit. I observed staff members met the education requirements for DD staff. The children identified with developmental delays have care plans documented on an IFSP, IEP or PCP. I observed typically developing children participating in daily activities that were outlined in a plan of care documented on an activity plan meeting all child care requirements. I observed activities allowing the children to participate as a whole group, small group, part of the group or independently. I observed children identified with developmental delays enrolled, interacting, and participating in activities alongside typically developing children. You stated your DD program offers family involvement including holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, communicating on an individual basis with parents, providing quarterly parent education sessions, and providing parents with referral information about other community programs and resources serving young children. You stated your DD program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I monitored NC PreK requirements during today’s visit. I observed the Administrator, who is the Director of Elementary Education, Federal Programs, and CTE for Hickory Public Schools, does not serve as the Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher in the classroom. You use Ages and Stages as the Developmental Screening tool. You use Teaching Strategies Gold as the Formative Assessment tool and Creative Curriculum as your approved curriculum. Your family engagement component includes formal and informal parent-teacher conferences, visits to the classroom and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities, parent education, and opportunities to participate in activities 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 the reason for the absence. You stated your NC PreK program follows the Hickory Public Schools calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year. I observed and cited the following violations during today's visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was dated 03/16/2023 but was not received until 05/04/2023. The fire inspection was received prior to today's visit. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) 125 Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. In Space 1, the arrival times for two children were not recorded at the time of arrival. The teacher recorded the arrival times for these two children. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(4) 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a medical report on file prior to employment. The staff medical report was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The medical report was completed and on file prior to today's visit. 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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 did not have a TB screening form or negative results of TB on file prior to employment. The TB screening form was dated 09/23/2023 and was in the staff file. The TB screening form was completed and on file prior to today's visit. .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. One staff member with a date of employment of 08/14/2023 has not completed first aid training within 90 day days of employment. .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 08/14/2023 has not completed CPR training within 90 day days of employment. .1102(d) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child did not have a medical exam or health assessment documented and on file within 30 days of enrollment. The teacher had documentation from the parent stating a doctor appointment was scheduled for 11/20/2023. GS110-91(1) 1325 Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. Three discipline policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment. .1804(b) 1767 The health assessment did not include a vision screening. One child did not have a vision screening on file. The health examine documented on the school health screening form was completed within 30 days but a vision screening was not documented on the form. .3005 (a)(3) 1769 The health assessment did not include a dental screening. Two children did not have dental screenings on file. The health examines documented on the school health screening forms were completed within 30 days but documentation of dental screenings were not on file. .3005 (a)(5) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. Two Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statements signed and dated by the parents did not include the date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. .0608(b)(1-6) Compliance Plan: All violations cited must be corrected immediately. Please submit written, signed, and dated compliance documentation to me at the email/address below detailing the steps taken to correct each violation. Your compliance documentation must include the following: 1) A compliance letter including the following: 1. The name of your facility 2. The ID number of your facility 3. The date you write the letter 4. A corrective action statement for each violation stating how you corrected the violation and are now in compliance. 5. A compliance plan statement for each violation stating how you plan to ensure that you will not have that violation again. 6. Your signature 2) Supporting documentation including the following: Please send supporting documentation such as training certificates, CBC letters, acknowledgement statements, and photographs for me to use to verify compliance. Please DO NOT send staff or child medical documents or documentation for verification as this is a violation of HIPPA protocol. If needed I will verify these documents at the next monitoring visit. I must receive your compliance letter no later than November 28, 2023. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If you state in your compliance letter that corrections have been made when they have not, it will be considered falsification of information. If you cannot meet the requirements by this date you shall contact me with a timeline of the corrections. In some cases, this timeline may be extended. 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 (75%) for the past eighteen (18) 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. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: 1. An arrival and departure time for each child in attendance should be recorded at the time of arrival and at the time of departure rather than later in the day. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you move the sign in and out clipboard to the front entrance of the classroom when you know children are to arrive late and expect them to enter the classroom through the front entrance of the classroom. Having the clipboard by the front entrance will be a visual reminder for you to record the arrival time as the child enters the classroom. 2. The annual fire inspection report should be sent to me by email within one week of completion. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you or the school principal forward the email containing the fire inspection report to me when you receive it from the fire inspector. 3. Each teacher and teacher assistant should complete First Aid and CPR training within 90 days of employment and every two years before the certification expires. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you include registration in a First Aid and CPR training course as part of your new staff orientation when you cover your emergency medical care plan. 4. Staff medical report/health assessments and TB tests should be completed prior to employment and on file by the first day of employment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you give each new employee the Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report document and the Tuberculosis Screening Form/Tuberculosis Testing Form with instructions to have the documents completed and returned to you prior to the first day of employment. 5. A health physical exam and copy of the immunization record are required for each child enrolled in a licensed child care setting. In addition, a vision screening, hearing screening, and dental screening are required for each child enrolled in a NC PreK classroom. Documentation of the health examine, immunizations, and all screenings should be in each child’s record file within 30 days of the child’s enrollment date. Acceptable forms of documentation for the health examine include the Children’s Medical Report located on the DCDEE website or the kindergarten health assessment form. Acceptable forms of documentation for the screenings would include 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, I advised 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. If you accept the kindergarten health assessment form as documentation of the health examine, you still need to require the parent to complete Part A of the Children’s Medical Report and staple the two documents together. I advised you to be cautious when accepting the kindergarten health assessment form because it 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. 6. The discipline policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s name and date of enrollment. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the discipline policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment if it is missing. 7. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgment statement signed and dated by the parent prior to the child’s enrollment should include the child’s date of enrollment and the date the policy was given and explained to the parent. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggested you review the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy acknowledgement statement in each child’s record file and add the child’s date of enrollment and/or the date the policy was given and explained to the parent if it is missing. Consultation: 1. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ to get the latest information for child care settings and child care updates including the most up to date documents and forms. 2. The Change of Information form for CBC is listed in law. When a new staff member starts working at a facility and gives the administrator a CBC qualification letter that was previously completed while working at another facility, but is still current, the administrator must send a Change of Information form for that new staff member to the CBC unit. The Change of Information form can be found on DCDEE’s website under Provider Documents and Forms. 3. Visit NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at http://healthychildcare.unc.edu to find the following resources: technical assistance, coaching support, resources, handwashing and diapering posters, monthly newsletters, and a list of approved in-service trainings including, but not limited to, ITS-SIDS training and Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training. 4. The Staff Health Assessment/Medical Report form should include the date of the assessment as the date the health exam was completed as well as the health care professional’s signature and date of signature. To maintain compliance with this child care requirement, I suggest you highlight the “date of the assessment” on the document so remind health care professionals that information is required in addition to their signature and date of signature. 5. In Space 1, the Classroom Staff to Child Ratio worksheets should be completed to reflect the DD ratio of 1:6 and the “Highest Voluntary Enhanced Requirements” should be checked on the worksheet. Also, this document should be posted in a way that it is easily visible to staff, parents, and visitors. Nothing should be covering any part of this document. 6. Medication Permission to Administer forms for medications prescribed for chronic illness should be updated every six months. Medical Action Plans should be updated annually. Due to time constraints, a handwritten visit summary and enrollment worksheet were prepared and left with you at the completion of the visit along with copies of the Children’s Record worksheets and the Staff and Training Worksheets. A computer-generated visit summary, enrollment worksheet, and Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Centers document will be prepared and emailed to you within two business days. We appreciate all you do to serve the children and families in your community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone at (828) 493-6390 or by email at kimberly.crane@dhhs.nc.gov or my supervisor, Erin Pickard, by email at erin.pickard@dhhs.nc.gov. 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