10A NCAC 09 .3909 · Violation

Name of Operation: FIRST FLIGHT ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 28000232 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/15/2024 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 4/15/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 265 Time In: 10:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Monitoring included NC Pre-K requirements in the NC Child Care Rules Section .3000 which are applicable to Rooms 117 and 119. Last Annual Compliance visit – 5/8/23 Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/12/23 with an Approved Rating Last Fire Inspection – 9/30/23 with Passed with Comments rating *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. 18-month compliance history from 10/13/22 – 4/12/24 = 95% S. Fletcher, Administrator, was present, but the NCPreK teachers assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Five-Star Center License, issued 5/10/22, earning points in the following components: Program (7 PTS) + Education (7 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 15 Points = 5 Stars *Quality Point met and remains in effect: 75% of lead teachers have a BA/BS or higher in ECE/CD. The next rated license assessment is due by 5/10/25, but DCDEE has developed a two-year cohort system to return all facilities back to rated license reassessments. Your center has been assigned to Cohort 3. The Cohort 3 Rated License Preparation Year is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. You may complete your ECERS-R during the Preparation Year and choose to use your scores and complete the rated license reassessment if education is where you want it to be. If you would like to complete the ECERS-R again to improve your scores, you may do this during your Assessment Year from 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027 at no cost to you which will also give you additional time to work on education, if needed. We will discuss more details at next year’s annual compliance visit. This facility is owned by Dare County Schools. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 1/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored four children’s records, one staff record and all program records. The facility meets DPI requirements for transportation. NCPre-K requirements in Section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance in Rooms 117 and 119, including the NC Pre-K Site Monitoring Tool. Staff-child ratios were 1:9 or 2:18 or better, as required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3909. The current NCPre-K staff are NCPK Teachers: T. Deane and E. MacDonald and NCPK Teacher Assistants: T. Dugger and D. Hahn. All meet education requirements for their positions. D. Hahn is currently enrolled in AAS-ECE program. The facility uses the Dial-4 developmental screening which was completed for children in June 2023 or as they entered the program throughout the year. The NCPreK program uses Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold as approved curriculum and on-going instructional assessment tool to document evidence of each child’s progress three times throughout the school year: Fall, Mid-Winter, Spring and had completed Checkpoints 1 and 2. The NCPre-K operates daily from 9/5/2023 – 5/24/2024 from 7:30am – 2:00pm. Parent conferences are held twice a year. You stated that you use the Ready Rosie, Class DoJo, and Remind app to communicate with families, along with daily notes that go back and forth with reminders, and information for families and from families. The NCPreK program completed a modified Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ECERS-R) on 3/30/22 and scored 6.4. Center Observations: NCPre-K information was posted in the hall outside the NCPre-K classrooms. Children in both classrooms were busy learning about seeds and bugs. Both classrooms had different types of seeds growing in the classroom. Children played in organized activity centers where they had access to art materials, books, dramatic play activities, manipulatives, music, and math and science. Outdoors, they played in the fenced playground. A stationary climber was available along with portable gross motor toys, dramatic play, sand play and other “indoor” activities. The teachers from Room 117 showed the children the new outdoor learning space near the raised garden beds. Both groups ate in the classroom. Lunch as hot dog nuggets, carrots, roasted potatoes and milk. Many children brought their lunch. The teacher reported that they have a Nutrition Opt-Out form in the files. Children had two outdoor times. Later they rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. A substitute working in Room 119 has not completed a Criminal Background Check. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1302 Individual applications were not on file for each child. In one of three children's files reviewed, the Child's Application did not include even number pages and was missing required information related to emergency contacts and emergency medical care. 10A NCAC 09 .0801(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. substitute working in Room 119 did not have a Qualification Letter. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to T. Deane NCPre-K Teacher. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 4/29/2024. The compliance verification letter needs to state the facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. If referring to staff or children in your compliance letter, refer to them by initials or position. Send compliance verification letter in an email from the center’s official email address, nicewongertr@daretolearn.org to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. If sent from another email address, the center’s official address must be Cc’d in the compliance email. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. *I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. *Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information.If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #1302: Child’s Application – The DCDEE form “Child’s Application for Enrollment” contains important information related to the care of children, including parent contact and emergency contact information, alternate pick-up designees, emergency medical information, and authorization to seek medical help if parents cannot be reached. You have combined the information required on the Child’s Application for Enrollment with your NCPre-K Application. It is a comprehensive 12-page enrollment document that captures a bounty of information. In one of the three children’s files reviewed, the Child’s Application only included the odd number pages and did not include the pages that included emergency contact information, emergency medical care information, parent’s signature and authorization to seek emergency medical care. You stated that when copying the front-to-back application, the even pages must not have been copied and shared with the classroom teacher for the working file. You corrected this today by scanning and emailing the even pages to the teacher. Teachers need to review children’s files to verify that all required documents are available and complete. This is the second year that the application did not include all pages in some of the files. Consider having the teachers switch children’s files during the first quarter to double check that all required documents are available, and all required information is completed by the parent. #1041 and #1757: Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. Kaylee Parker worked as a substitute today in Room 119 for the NCPreK Teacher. She did not have a Qualifying Letter available for review and when I checked ABCMS, she had not applied for a DHHS Criminal Background Check and Qualifying Letter. I contacted T. Nicewonger, NCPre-K Coordinator. She stated that Dare County Schools are still working to get all substitutes and therapists qualified. Federal requirements require all staff who work in licensed afterschool or pre-k programs operated by public schools complete a DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) before hire and then every five years. This includes administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, program coordinators, group leaders, assistant group leaders, substitutes, one-on-one assistants, therapists if therapy does not take place in the classroom, and bus drivers. Because Ms. Parker has not completed a DHHS Criminal Background Check and received a CBC Qualification Letter, she may not work in the licensed Pre-K classroom until she is qualified and has provided you with a Qualification Letter. For your compliance letter, describe how you will ensure that staff working with the children enrolled in the licensed NCPre-K program have current DHHS Criminal Background Checks and qualifying letters. General Visit Information: Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and environmental health rules; review them with your staff and assist them with understanding and implementing them to maintain compliance and keep children safe and healthy. The most recent versions of child care laws and rules (updated 1/1/24) and environmental health rules (updated 7/1/23) in North Carolina, the Items Number Listing (can be used as a detailed checklist of required items) and What’s New information are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are available to assist you with technical assistance and training on a multitude of topics including but not limited to: Environment Rating Scales, healthy behaviors and classroom management, developmentally appropriate practice, activity plans, NC Foundations for Early Learning (developmental domains), etc. Child Care Health Consultants can provide training and technical assistance on topics related to health and safety such as sanitation, handwashing, diapering, illness policies, etc. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu Consultation: Some children enrolled in the NCPre-K program receive services in other parts of the school. Because these children are enrolled in the licensed NCPre-K, these spaces have to meet health and safety requirements. The staff who care for them are required to have a criminal background check completed. If children have diapers or pull-ups changed in this classroom, have diaper changing station approved by your Environmental Health Specialist and follow diapering procedures. Reminders: Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Make it easier on yourself and schedule annual updates for health questionnaires and emergency information forms in August when you return to school. They do not need to be reviewed and signed again prior to the Annual Compliance visit. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – All staff have current H&S training. On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 4/15/24 (anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). New Rules on Teacher Assistant Education - All teacher assistants shall have a high school diploma or its equivalent and a CDA or AAS-ECE. All teacher assistants shall complete a minimum of 15 hours of annual in-service professional development. A combination of college coursework, Continuing Education Units (CEUs), or clock hours may be used to complete the requirements of this Rule. *D. Hahn currently enrolled in AAS-ECE Activity Plans – Post where available for review. Handwashing – Review handwashing procedures with children and watch that they are using paper towels to turn off. Because you only have one sink in the classroom, disinfect after being used for handwashing after toileting before being used for other handwashing. Additional Comments: Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - New child care rules require child care facilities to test for lead in drinking water, lead paint, and asbestos. Testing is required by 1/1/2025, but enrollment is required by 5/1/2024. Check out the FAQ in the updated Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids. Currently there is funding to pay for the testing and to mitigate lead paint or asbestos hazards. Depending on the age of your home or building and the information you provide in the enrollment process, testing for lead paint and asbestos may not be required. (Lead paint was not used in homes built after 1978. Asbestos was not used in homes after 1988.) Water testing will be required every three years. For more information go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ or contact your Environmental Health Specialist. I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids – required testing for lead in water, lead paint, asbestos – Enrollment due 5/1/24 2. Moodle Back Up and Running! 3. Rules Changes, effective 1/1/2024 – Review on Moodle! 4. Provider Access to the Background Check Management System 5. Free On-line Teacher Professional Development Memberships 6. Resources from Health and Safety Resource Center! 7. Environmental Health Rules Update 8. NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) Resources 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: FIRST FLIGHT ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 28000232 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/15/2024 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 4/15/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 265 Time In: 10:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Monitoring included NC Pre-K requirements in the NC Child Care Rules Section .3000 which are applicable to Rooms 117 and 119. Last Annual Compliance visit – 5/8/23 Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/12/23 with an Approved Rating Last Fire Inspection – 9/30/23 with Passed with Comments rating *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. 18-month compliance history from 10/13/22 – 4/12/24 = 95% S. Fletcher, Administrator, was present, but the NCPreK teachers assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Five-Star Center License, issued 5/10/22, earning points in the following components: Program (7 PTS) + Education (7 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 15 Points = 5 Stars *Quality Point met and remains in effect: 75% of lead teachers have a BA/BS or higher in ECE/CD. The next rated license assessment is due by 5/10/25, but DCDEE has developed a two-year cohort system to return all facilities back to rated license reassessments. Your center has been assigned to Cohort 3. The Cohort 3 Rated License Preparation Year is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. You may complete your ECERS-R during the Preparation Year and choose to use your scores and complete the rated license reassessment if education is where you want it to be. If you would like to complete the ECERS-R again to improve your scores, you may do this during your Assessment Year from 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027 at no cost to you which will also give you additional time to work on education, if needed. We will discuss more details at next year’s annual compliance visit. This facility is owned by Dare County Schools. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 1/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored four children’s records, one staff record and all program records. The facility meets DPI requirements for transportation. NCPre-K requirements in Section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance in Rooms 117 and 119, including the NC Pre-K Site Monitoring Tool. Staff-child ratios were 1:9 or 2:18 or better, as required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3909. The current NCPre-K staff are NCPK Teachers: T. Deane and E. MacDonald and NCPK Teacher Assistants: T. Dugger and D. Hahn. All meet education requirements for their positions. D. Hahn is currently enrolled in AAS-ECE program. The facility uses the Dial-4 developmental screening which was completed for children in June 2023 or as they entered the program throughout the year. The NCPreK program uses Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold as approved curriculum and on-going instructional assessment tool to document evidence of each child’s progress three times throughout the school year: Fall, Mid-Winter, Spring and had completed Checkpoints 1 and 2. The NCPre-K operates daily from 9/5/2023 – 5/24/2024 from 7:30am – 2:00pm. Parent conferences are held twice a year. You stated that you use the Ready Rosie, Class DoJo, and Remind app to communicate with families, along with daily notes that go back and forth with reminders, and information for families and from families. The NCPreK program completed a modified Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ECERS-R) on 3/30/22 and scored 6.4. Center Observations: NCPre-K information was posted in the hall outside the NCPre-K classrooms. Children in both classrooms were busy learning about seeds and bugs. Both classrooms had different types of seeds growing in the classroom. Children played in organized activity centers where they had access to art materials, books, dramatic play activities, manipulatives, music, and math and science. Outdoors, they played in the fenced playground. A stationary climber was available along with portable gross motor toys, dramatic play, sand play and other “indoor” activities. The teachers from Room 117 showed the children the new outdoor learning space near the raised garden beds. Both groups ate in the classroom. Lunch as hot dog nuggets, carrots, roasted potatoes and milk. Many children brought their lunch. The teacher reported that they have a Nutrition Opt-Out form in the files. Children had two outdoor times. Later they rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. A substitute working in Room 119 has not completed a Criminal Background Check. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1302 Individual applications were not on file for each child. In one of three children's files reviewed, the Child's Application did not include even number pages and was missing required information related to emergency contacts and emergency medical care. 10A NCAC 09 .0801(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. substitute working in Room 119 did not have a Qualification Letter. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to T. Deane NCPre-K Teacher. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 4/29/2024. The compliance verification letter needs to state the facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. If referring to staff or children in your compliance letter, refer to them by initials or position. Send compliance verification letter in an email from the center’s official email address, nicewongertr@daretolearn.org to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. If sent from another email address, the center’s official address must be Cc’d in the compliance email. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. *I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. *Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information.If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #1302: Child’s Application – The DCDEE form “Child’s Application for Enrollment” contains important information related to the care of children, including parent contact and emergency contact information, alternate pick-up designees, emergency medical information, and authorization to seek medical help if parents cannot be reached. You have combined the information required on the Child’s Application for Enrollment with your NCPre-K Application. It is a comprehensive 12-page enrollment document that captures a bounty of information. In one of the three children’s files reviewed, the Child’s Application only included the odd number pages and did not include the pages that included emergency contact information, emergency medical care information, parent’s signature and authorization to seek emergency medical care. You stated that when copying the front-to-back application, the even pages must not have been copied and shared with the classroom teacher for the working file. You corrected this today by scanning and emailing the even pages to the teacher. Teachers need to review children’s files to verify that all required documents are available and complete. This is the second year that the application did not include all pages in some of the files. Consider having the teachers switch children’s files during the first quarter to double check that all required documents are available, and all required information is completed by the parent. #1041 and #1757: Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. Kaylee Parker worked as a substitute today in Room 119 for the NCPreK Teacher. She did not have a Qualifying Letter available for review and when I checked ABCMS, she had not applied for a DHHS Criminal Background Check and Qualifying Letter. I contacted T. Nicewonger, NCPre-K Coordinator. She stated that Dare County Schools are still working to get all substitutes and therapists qualified. Federal requirements require all staff who work in licensed afterschool or pre-k programs operated by public schools complete a DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) before hire and then every five years. This includes administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, program coordinators, group leaders, assistant group leaders, substitutes, one-on-one assistants, therapists if therapy does not take place in the classroom, and bus drivers. Because Ms. Parker has not completed a DHHS Criminal Background Check and received a CBC Qualification Letter, she may not work in the licensed Pre-K classroom until she is qualified and has provided you with a Qualification Letter. For your compliance letter, describe how you will ensure that staff working with the children enrolled in the licensed NCPre-K program have current DHHS Criminal Background Checks and qualifying letters. General Visit Information: Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and environmental health rules; review them with your staff and assist them with understanding and implementing them to maintain compliance and keep children safe and healthy. The most recent versions of child care laws and rules (updated 1/1/24) and environmental health rules (updated 7/1/23) in North Carolina, the Items Number Listing (can be used as a detailed checklist of required items) and What’s New information are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are available to assist you with technical assistance and training on a multitude of topics including but not limited to: Environment Rating Scales, healthy behaviors and classroom management, developmentally appropriate practice, activity plans, NC Foundations for Early Learning (developmental domains), etc. Child Care Health Consultants can provide training and technical assistance on topics related to health and safety such as sanitation, handwashing, diapering, illness policies, etc. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu Consultation: Some children enrolled in the NCPre-K program receive services in other parts of the school. Because these children are enrolled in the licensed NCPre-K, these spaces have to meet health and safety requirements. The staff who care for them are required to have a criminal background check completed. If children have diapers or pull-ups changed in this classroom, have diaper changing station approved by your Environmental Health Specialist and follow diapering procedures. Reminders: Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Make it easier on yourself and schedule annual updates for health questionnaires and emergency information forms in August when you return to school. They do not need to be reviewed and signed again prior to the Annual Compliance visit. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – All staff have current H&S training. On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 4/15/24 (anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). New Rules on Teacher Assistant Education - All teacher assistants shall have a high school diploma or its equivalent and a CDA or AAS-ECE. All teacher assistants shall complete a minimum of 15 hours of annual in-service professional development. A combination of college coursework, Continuing Education Units (CEUs), or clock hours may be used to complete the requirements of this Rule. *D. Hahn currently enrolled in AAS-ECE Activity Plans – Post where available for review. Handwashing – Review handwashing procedures with children and watch that they are using paper towels to turn off. Because you only have one sink in the classroom, disinfect after being used for handwashing after toileting before being used for other handwashing. Additional Comments: Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - New child care rules require child care facilities to test for lead in drinking water, lead paint, and asbestos. Testing is required by 1/1/2025, but enrollment is required by 5/1/2024. Check out the FAQ in the updated Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids. Currently there is funding to pay for the testing and to mitigate lead paint or asbestos hazards. Depending on the age of your home or building and the information you provide in the enrollment process, testing for lead paint and asbestos may not be required. (Lead paint was not used in homes built after 1978. Asbestos was not used in homes after 1988.) Water testing will be required every three years. For more information go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ or contact your Environmental Health Specialist. I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids – required testing for lead in water, lead paint, asbestos – Enrollment due 5/1/24 2. Moodle Back Up and Running! 3. Rules Changes, effective 1/1/2024 – Review on Moodle! 4. Provider Access to the Background Check Management System 5. Free On-line Teacher Professional Development Memberships 6. Resources from Health and Safety Resource Center! 7. Environmental Health Rules Update 8. NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) Resources 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: FIRST FLIGHT ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 28000232 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/15/2024 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 4/15/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 265 Time In: 10:05 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Monitoring included NC Pre-K requirements in the NC Child Care Rules Section .3000 which are applicable to Rooms 117 and 119. Last Annual Compliance visit – 5/8/23 Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/12/23 with an Approved Rating Last Fire Inspection – 9/30/23 with Passed with Comments rating *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. 18-month compliance history from 10/13/22 – 4/12/24 = 95% S. Fletcher, Administrator, was present, but the NCPreK teachers assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Five-Star Center License, issued 5/10/22, earning points in the following components: Program (7 PTS) + Education (7 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 15 Points = 5 Stars *Quality Point met and remains in effect: 75% of lead teachers have a BA/BS or higher in ECE/CD. The next rated license assessment is due by 5/10/25, but DCDEE has developed a two-year cohort system to return all facilities back to rated license reassessments. Your center has been assigned to Cohort 3. The Cohort 3 Rated License Preparation Year is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. You may complete your ECERS-R during the Preparation Year and choose to use your scores and complete the rated license reassessment if education is where you want it to be. If you would like to complete the ECERS-R again to improve your scores, you may do this during your Assessment Year from 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027 at no cost to you which will also give you additional time to work on education, if needed. We will discuss more details at next year’s annual compliance visit. This facility is owned by Dare County Schools. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 1/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored four children’s records, one staff record and all program records. The facility meets DPI requirements for transportation. NCPre-K requirements in Section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance in Rooms 117 and 119, including the NC Pre-K Site Monitoring Tool. Staff-child ratios were 1:9 or 2:18 or better, as required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3909. The current NCPre-K staff are NCPK Teachers: T. Deane and E. MacDonald and NCPK Teacher Assistants: T. Dugger and D. Hahn. All meet education requirements for their positions. D. Hahn is currently enrolled in AAS-ECE program. The facility uses the Dial-4 developmental screening which was completed for children in June 2023 or as they entered the program throughout the year. The NCPreK program uses Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold as approved curriculum and on-going instructional assessment tool to document evidence of each child’s progress three times throughout the school year: Fall, Mid-Winter, Spring and had completed Checkpoints 1 and 2. The NCPre-K operates daily from 9/5/2023 – 5/24/2024 from 7:30am – 2:00pm. Parent conferences are held twice a year. You stated that you use the Ready Rosie, Class DoJo, and Remind app to communicate with families, along with daily notes that go back and forth with reminders, and information for families and from families. The NCPreK program completed a modified Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ECERS-R) on 3/30/22 and scored 6.4. Center Observations: NCPre-K information was posted in the hall outside the NCPre-K classrooms. Children in both classrooms were busy learning about seeds and bugs. Both classrooms had different types of seeds growing in the classroom. Children played in organized activity centers where they had access to art materials, books, dramatic play activities, manipulatives, music, and math and science. Outdoors, they played in the fenced playground. A stationary climber was available along with portable gross motor toys, dramatic play, sand play and other “indoor” activities. The teachers from Room 117 showed the children the new outdoor learning space near the raised garden beds. Both groups ate in the classroom. Lunch as hot dog nuggets, carrots, roasted potatoes and milk. Many children brought their lunch. The teacher reported that they have a Nutrition Opt-Out form in the files. Children had two outdoor times. Later they rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. A substitute working in Room 119 has not completed a Criminal Background Check. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1302 Individual applications were not on file for each child. In one of three children's files reviewed, the Child's Application did not include even number pages and was missing required information related to emergency contacts and emergency medical care. 10A NCAC 09 .0801(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. substitute working in Room 119 did not have a Qualification Letter. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to T. Deane NCPre-K Teacher. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 4/29/2024. The compliance verification letter needs to state the facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. If referring to staff or children in your compliance letter, refer to them by initials or position. Send compliance verification letter in an email from the center’s official email address, nicewongertr@daretolearn.org to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. If sent from another email address, the center’s official address must be Cc’d in the compliance email. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. *I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. *Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information.If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #1302: Child’s Application – The DCDEE form “Child’s Application for Enrollment” contains important information related to the care of children, including parent contact and emergency contact information, alternate pick-up designees, emergency medical information, and authorization to seek medical help if parents cannot be reached. You have combined the information required on the Child’s Application for Enrollment with your NCPre-K Application. It is a comprehensive 12-page enrollment document that captures a bounty of information. In one of the three children’s files reviewed, the Child’s Application only included the odd number pages and did not include the pages that included emergency contact information, emergency medical care information, parent’s signature and authorization to seek emergency medical care. You stated that when copying the front-to-back application, the even pages must not have been copied and shared with the classroom teacher for the working file. You corrected this today by scanning and emailing the even pages to the teacher. Teachers need to review children’s files to verify that all required documents are available and complete. This is the second year that the application did not include all pages in some of the files. Consider having the teachers switch children’s files during the first quarter to double check that all required documents are available, and all required information is completed by the parent. #1041 and #1757: Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. Kaylee Parker worked as a substitute today in Room 119 for the NCPreK Teacher. She did not have a Qualifying Letter available for review and when I checked ABCMS, she had not applied for a DHHS Criminal Background Check and Qualifying Letter. I contacted T. Nicewonger, NCPre-K Coordinator. She stated that Dare County Schools are still working to get all substitutes and therapists qualified. Federal requirements require all staff who work in licensed afterschool or pre-k programs operated by public schools complete a DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) before hire and then every five years. This includes administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, program coordinators, group leaders, assistant group leaders, substitutes, one-on-one assistants, therapists if therapy does not take place in the classroom, and bus drivers. Because Ms. Parker has not completed a DHHS Criminal Background Check and received a CBC Qualification Letter, she may not work in the licensed Pre-K classroom until she is qualified and has provided you with a Qualification Letter. For your compliance letter, describe how you will ensure that staff working with the children enrolled in the licensed NCPre-K program have current DHHS Criminal Background Checks and qualifying letters. General Visit Information: Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and environmental health rules; review them with your staff and assist them with understanding and implementing them to maintain compliance and keep children safe and healthy. The most recent versions of child care laws and rules (updated 1/1/24) and environmental health rules (updated 7/1/23) in North Carolina, the Items Number Listing (can be used as a detailed checklist of required items) and What’s New information are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are available to assist you with technical assistance and training on a multitude of topics including but not limited to: Environment Rating Scales, healthy behaviors and classroom management, developmentally appropriate practice, activity plans, NC Foundations for Early Learning (developmental domains), etc. Child Care Health Consultants can provide training and technical assistance on topics related to health and safety such as sanitation, handwashing, diapering, illness policies, etc. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu Consultation: Some children enrolled in the NCPre-K program receive services in other parts of the school. Because these children are enrolled in the licensed NCPre-K, these spaces have to meet health and safety requirements. The staff who care for them are required to have a criminal background check completed. If children have diapers or pull-ups changed in this classroom, have diaper changing station approved by your Environmental Health Specialist and follow diapering procedures. Reminders: Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Make it easier on yourself and schedule annual updates for health questionnaires and emergency information forms in August when you return to school. They do not need to be reviewed and signed again prior to the Annual Compliance visit. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – All staff have current H&S training. On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 4/15/24 (anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). New Rules on Teacher Assistant Education - All teacher assistants shall have a high school diploma or its equivalent and a CDA or AAS-ECE. All teacher assistants shall complete a minimum of 15 hours of annual in-service professional development. A combination of college coursework, Continuing Education Units (CEUs), or clock hours may be used to complete the requirements of this Rule. *D. Hahn currently enrolled in AAS-ECE Activity Plans – Post where available for review. Handwashing – Review handwashing procedures with children and watch that they are using paper towels to turn off. Because you only have one sink in the classroom, disinfect after being used for handwashing after toileting before being used for other handwashing. Additional Comments: Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - New child care rules require child care facilities to test for lead in drinking water, lead paint, and asbestos. Testing is required by 1/1/2025, but enrollment is required by 5/1/2024. Check out the FAQ in the updated Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids. Currently there is funding to pay for the testing and to mitigate lead paint or asbestos hazards. Depending on the age of your home or building and the information you provide in the enrollment process, testing for lead paint and asbestos may not be required. (Lead paint was not used in homes built after 1978. Asbestos was not used in homes after 1988.) Water testing will be required every three years. For more information go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ or contact your Environmental Health Specialist. I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids – required testing for lead in water, lead paint, asbestos – Enrollment due 5/1/24 2. Moodle Back Up and Running! 3. Rules Changes, effective 1/1/2024 – Review on Moodle! 4. Provider Access to the Background Check Management System 5. Free On-line Teacher Professional Development Memberships 6. Resources from Health and Safety Resource Center! 7. Environmental Health Rules Update 8. NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) Resources 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.