Northeast Elementary Preschool

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/28/2026 Number Present: 15 Completed Date: 4/28/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 110 Time In: 10:20 AM Time Out: 12:10 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this NC PreK facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during a routine unannounced visit. Kim Barnes, Child Care Consultant, assisted with today's visit. T. Wooten, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator, aware of my visit today. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group from the seven-point level as required in .2818(c) The last annual compliance visit was conducted on February 18, 2026. The sanitation inspection was completed on January 27, 2026, with a “Superior” classification “4” demerits. The fire inspection was completed on January 27, 2026, and the center was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Fifteen (15) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today; all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Upon arrival, the children were participating in free-play in centers, transitions, personal care routines, group time, and engaging in gross-motor play in the outdoor learning environment. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs of each of the children. The following were monitored: Supervision, Staff Child Ratio, First Aid, CPR, Special Training, CBC Qualification, Emergency Medical Care Plan, Storage of Hazardous Substances, Administration of Medication, Adequate/Approved Space, License Posted, Permit Restrictions, and Program Records. One (1) staff was reviewed today. Linda Barnes, a substitute in space 016. Ms. Barnes file was missing documentation of completing the training Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Maltreatment. Any violations of the child care requirements observed today were discussed with you and documented in the visit summary report and reviewed with you at the conclusion of the visit. The following violation was documented during today's visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Ms. Barnes began employment on August 18, 2025. Ms. Barnes has not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment. .1102(g) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before May 12, 2026, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit, your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSITANCE: RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO SUPICISIONS OF CHILD MALTREAMENT: L. Barnes, Substitute Teacher, stated she has worked at least 10 days of more this school year. Ms. Barnes began employment on August 18, 2025. Ms. Barnes has not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment. Please remember substitute teachers who work ten (10) days or more must complete within 90 days of employment the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment. REMINDERS: CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK (CBC) LETTER: T. Wooten, Lead Teacher, will need to renew her CBC letter prior to August 26, 2026. Please remember all CBC letters are valid for five (5) years and staff can begin the CBC renewal process up to six (6) months prior to the CBC letter expiration date. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIORNMENT: As we are approaching warmer months, please keep an eye on the length of the grass, ant hills, nesting insects under awnings, and grass growing in the mulch. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions about what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. CLEAN WATER FOR US KIDS: According to the Clean Water for Us Kids website you have completed your lead water testing on July 14, 2024. According to the Clean Water for Us website, RTI is in the process of reviewing your lead paint and asbestos surveys. CRMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK-AMBCMS PORTAL: You have completed the facility’s ABCMS roster. This information should be updated in ABCMS on an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The compliance of this rule will be monitored during your next visit. 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 1-800-859-0829 and someone will assist you. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .3009 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/18/2026 Number Present: 16 Completed Date: 2/18/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 100 Time In: 11:35 AM Time Out: 01:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. T. Wooten, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator, aware of my visit today. K. Mills, Curriculum Specialist, arrived after the visit began and assisted with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on March 13, 2025. The last sanitation inspection was completed on January 27, 2026, with a “Superior” classification “0” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on January 27, 2026, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Sixteen (16) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor and the outdoor learning environment and I found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children were participating in group-time, transitions, personal care routines, and rest time. Children were observed eating the following for lunch: cheese sandwich on wheat bread, French fries, strawberries, and milk. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are T. Wooten, lead teacher, and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for complete health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument and Circle to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was August 28, 2025. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. NC PRE-K MONITORING TOOL: The NC Pre-K Monitoring tool was not reviewed. The site visit has been completed; however, the site monitoring tool has not been received by the administrator. The monitoring tool will be reviewed during the next visit. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The mulch in front of the red slide and in front of the blue climbing stairs measured five inches. The critical height for this piece of climbing equipment is 3 feet 4 inches. The mulch was very compacted and was hard to measure. .0605(k)(1-4) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit, your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 100%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be very well organized and incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children’s files were monitored today and found to be very well organized and incompliance. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: The mulch in front of the red slide and in front of the blue climbing stairs measured five inches. The critical height for this piece of equipment is 3 feet 4 inches. The mulch was very compacted and was hard to measure. You may want to keep a rake available to fluff the mulch or possibly have someone from your maintenance department till the mulch. It’s good to fluff the mulch after lots of rain or in between deliveries of mulch. The fall zone surfacing must measure at least 6 inches of surfacing. QRIS PATHWAYS: We reviewed section 3200-Standards for Two through Five Star License. Your facility operates as a NC PreK program. We reviewed all three (3) pathways available to you. You have decided to pursue Pathway Two-Classroom and Instructional Quality. We reviewed the requirements for you to transition using Pathway Two. We reviewed the DCDEE Modernization Page, NCRLAP website, self-study form, the approved curriculum list, and DCDEE WORKS. You would like to transition to your new license in September 2026. I emailed you the following forms to help you prepare for Pathway Two: Application for Assessment for A Rated License for Centers, Facility Continuous Quality Improvement Plan, Family and Community Engagement Standards for Centers, Individual Continuous Quality Improvement Plan, and the Rated License Assessment Request Review. ENVIRONENT RATING SCALE: We discussed reaching out to request an outreach assessment through the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP). We plan to request the scale in June 2026. You stated you understand that NC PreK Programs must score a 5.0 or higher on an ECERS-3 edition. QRIS CONVERSATION TEMPLATE: During today’s visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template. You were given a copy of the form at the conclusion of today’s visit. CRMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK-AMBCMS PORTAL: You have completed the ABCMS portal and connected your staff to the ABCMS roster. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The compliance of this rule will be monitored during your next visit. 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 1-800-859-0829 and someone will assist you. CLEAN WATER FOR CAROLINA KIDS: We discussed the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program and what that means for you as a child care center. The Clean Water for Carolina Kids program is expanding to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program. You tested your water on July 14, 2024. You have begun enrollment in the lead paint and asbestos programs. Please complete the enrollment process for lead paint and asbestos as soon as possible. Please log into https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ to ensure you are meeting the requirements for Lead in Water / Paint/Asbestos testing. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/18/2026 Number Present: 16 Completed Date: 2/18/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 100 Time In: 11:35 AM Time Out: 01:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. T. Wooten, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator, aware of my visit today. K. Mills, Curriculum Specialist, arrived after the visit began and assisted with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on March 13, 2025. The last sanitation inspection was completed on January 27, 2026, with a “Superior” classification “0” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on January 27, 2026, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Sixteen (16) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor and the outdoor learning environment and I found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children were participating in group-time, transitions, personal care routines, and rest time. Children were observed eating the following for lunch: cheese sandwich on wheat bread, French fries, strawberries, and milk. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are T. Wooten, lead teacher, and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for complete health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument and Circle to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was August 28, 2025. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. NC PRE-K MONITORING TOOL: The NC Pre-K Monitoring tool was not reviewed. The site visit has been completed; however, the site monitoring tool has not been received by the administrator. The monitoring tool will be reviewed during the next visit. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The mulch in front of the red slide and in front of the blue climbing stairs measured five inches. The critical height for this piece of climbing equipment is 3 feet 4 inches. The mulch was very compacted and was hard to measure. .0605(k)(1-4) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit, your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 100%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be very well organized and incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children’s files were monitored today and found to be very well organized and incompliance. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: The mulch in front of the red slide and in front of the blue climbing stairs measured five inches. The critical height for this piece of equipment is 3 feet 4 inches. The mulch was very compacted and was hard to measure. You may want to keep a rake available to fluff the mulch or possibly have someone from your maintenance department till the mulch. It’s good to fluff the mulch after lots of rain or in between deliveries of mulch. The fall zone surfacing must measure at least 6 inches of surfacing. QRIS PATHWAYS: We reviewed section 3200-Standards for Two through Five Star License. Your facility operates as a NC PreK program. We reviewed all three (3) pathways available to you. You have decided to pursue Pathway Two-Classroom and Instructional Quality. We reviewed the requirements for you to transition using Pathway Two. We reviewed the DCDEE Modernization Page, NCRLAP website, self-study form, the approved curriculum list, and DCDEE WORKS. You would like to transition to your new license in September 2026. I emailed you the following forms to help you prepare for Pathway Two: Application for Assessment for A Rated License for Centers, Facility Continuous Quality Improvement Plan, Family and Community Engagement Standards for Centers, Individual Continuous Quality Improvement Plan, and the Rated License Assessment Request Review. ENVIRONENT RATING SCALE: We discussed reaching out to request an outreach assessment through the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP). We plan to request the scale in June 2026. You stated you understand that NC PreK Programs must score a 5.0 or higher on an ECERS-3 edition. QRIS CONVERSATION TEMPLATE: During today’s visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template. You were given a copy of the form at the conclusion of today’s visit. CRMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK-AMBCMS PORTAL: You have completed the ABCMS portal and connected your staff to the ABCMS roster. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The compliance of this rule will be monitored during your next visit. 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 1-800-859-0829 and someone will assist you. CLEAN WATER FOR CAROLINA KIDS: We discussed the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program and what that means for you as a child care center. The Clean Water for Carolina Kids program is expanding to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program. You tested your water on July 14, 2024. You have begun enrollment in the lead paint and asbestos programs. Please complete the enrollment process for lead paint and asbestos as soon as possible. Please log into https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ to ensure you are meeting the requirements for Lead in Water / Paint/Asbestos testing. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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 .0601 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/17/2024 Number Present: 17 Completed Date: 4/17/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 120 Time In: 09:45 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. G. Goff, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator aware of my visit today, but she was unable to attend today’s visit, due to prior engagements. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on September 12, 2023. The last sanitation inspection was completed on February 27, 2024, with a “Superior” classification “0” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on February 22, 2024, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Seventeen (17) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers and small group activities with the teachers. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are G. Goff, lead teacher and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was September 1, 2023. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. NC PRE-K MONITORING TOOL: The NC Pre-K Monitoring tool was reviewed. The NC Pre-K monitoring was completed on December 4, 2023. All requirements were met and there were no recommendations or plan for achieving compliance in place. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. Under the blue awning attached to the large piece of climbing equipment, there were two small wasp nests. One of the wasp nests was actively being built by a wasp. Across from the large climbing equipment along the fence closest to the side walk there is an active anthill. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before May 1, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Comments: COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 95%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be very well organized and incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children files were monitored today and found to be very well organized and incompliance. SAFETY AND HEALTH (OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT): Under the blue awning attached to the large piece of climbing equipment, there were two small wasp nests. One of the wasp nests was actively being built by a wasp. Please make sure the wasp nests are treated immediately, to prevent children from being harmed. Across from the large climbing equipment along the fence closest to the side walk there is an active anthill. Please have the anthill treated immediately. As we are entering the warmer months, please continue to check on the outdoor environment, ensuring there are no active ant hills on the playground, the grass remains cut and check under climbing equipment and any awnings to make sure there are not insect hives in these places. RESUMING STAR RATING (COHORT ONE): Please be aware that your facility is in Cohort one (1) for resuming the NC Start Rated License. Your preparation year will be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your reassessment year will be July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Please visit the NC Rated License Assessment Project https://ncrlap.org/ to help you and your staff prepare for the environment rating scales. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. CLEAN WATER FOR CAROLINA KIDS: We discussed the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program and what that means for you as a child care center. I also informed you that I sent an email to you on March 5, 2024, with the following information included. I also attached to that email three (3) flyers that discuss the process for testing, for lead in the water, lead in paint, and asbestos. You stated your school system is currently enrolling each of the schools and you will be given access to the portal for each of your NC Pre-K sites. The Clean Water for Carolina Kids program is expanding to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program. This is a legislatively mandated effort to address lead and asbestos hazards in North Carolina public schools, licensed child care centers, and licensed family child care homes. Participation allows facilities to meet all rule requirements for identified lead and asbestos hazards, as required by law. Rules 10A NCAC 41C .1001 through .1007 require all programs to be free of lead and asbestos hazards. RTI is coordinating all the lead in water, paint and asbestos testing and remediation. There are webinars that child care providers can watch to get instructions. Go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ for more information. Currently operating child care facilities are required to test for lead in paint and asbestos once unless the consultant notes a concern during a visit and refers the program to environmental health. All existing licensed programs must complete the application summary for their program regarding lead paint and asbestos by May 1, 2024. The application is on the https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ website. Rule 15A NCAC 18A .2816 requires currently operating child care centers to test water initially and every three years. Most of you have completed your initial testing and now it is time for your three-year retest. Please log into https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ to ensure you are meeting the requirements for Lead in Water / Paint/Asbestos testing. CHILD A CARE RULE CHANGES: The Child Care Commission adopted child care rule changes in January 2024. Changes relate to definitions; lead and asbestos for centers and family child care homes; building requirements for family child care homes; multi-unit child care centers; and criminal background checks. Consultants will assist as you begin to review and implement the changes, but please note, some of the rule changes may or may not impact your facility. An example is the rules in section .2600 for multi-unit child care center. These rules are specific to child care centers with multiple licensed centers within one building. Please ensure you are using the updated January 2024 rule book, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle (enroll if necessary). You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, use this link to get one: https://ncid.nc.gov. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and how to navigate, please visit: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Learning-Resources/How-to-Navigate-Moodle. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-9326. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .3009 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/17/2024 Number Present: 17 Completed Date: 4/17/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 120 Time In: 09:45 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. G. Goff, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator aware of my visit today, but she was unable to attend today’s visit, due to prior engagements. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on September 12, 2023. The last sanitation inspection was completed on February 27, 2024, with a “Superior” classification “0” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on February 22, 2024, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Seventeen (17) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers and small group activities with the teachers. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are G. Goff, lead teacher and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was September 1, 2023. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. NC PRE-K MONITORING TOOL: The NC Pre-K Monitoring tool was reviewed. The NC Pre-K monitoring was completed on December 4, 2023. All requirements were met and there were no recommendations or plan for achieving compliance in place. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. Under the blue awning attached to the large piece of climbing equipment, there were two small wasp nests. One of the wasp nests was actively being built by a wasp. Across from the large climbing equipment along the fence closest to the side walk there is an active anthill. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before May 1, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Comments: COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 95%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be very well organized and incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children files were monitored today and found to be very well organized and incompliance. SAFETY AND HEALTH (OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT): Under the blue awning attached to the large piece of climbing equipment, there were two small wasp nests. One of the wasp nests was actively being built by a wasp. Please make sure the wasp nests are treated immediately, to prevent children from being harmed. Across from the large climbing equipment along the fence closest to the side walk there is an active anthill. Please have the anthill treated immediately. As we are entering the warmer months, please continue to check on the outdoor environment, ensuring there are no active ant hills on the playground, the grass remains cut and check under climbing equipment and any awnings to make sure there are not insect hives in these places. RESUMING STAR RATING (COHORT ONE): Please be aware that your facility is in Cohort one (1) for resuming the NC Start Rated License. Your preparation year will be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your reassessment year will be July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Please visit the NC Rated License Assessment Project https://ncrlap.org/ to help you and your staff prepare for the environment rating scales. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. CLEAN WATER FOR CAROLINA KIDS: We discussed the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program and what that means for you as a child care center. I also informed you that I sent an email to you on March 5, 2024, with the following information included. I also attached to that email three (3) flyers that discuss the process for testing, for lead in the water, lead in paint, and asbestos. You stated your school system is currently enrolling each of the schools and you will be given access to the portal for each of your NC Pre-K sites. The Clean Water for Carolina Kids program is expanding to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program. This is a legislatively mandated effort to address lead and asbestos hazards in North Carolina public schools, licensed child care centers, and licensed family child care homes. Participation allows facilities to meet all rule requirements for identified lead and asbestos hazards, as required by law. Rules 10A NCAC 41C .1001 through .1007 require all programs to be free of lead and asbestos hazards. RTI is coordinating all the lead in water, paint and asbestos testing and remediation. There are webinars that child care providers can watch to get instructions. Go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ for more information. Currently operating child care facilities are required to test for lead in paint and asbestos once unless the consultant notes a concern during a visit and refers the program to environmental health. All existing licensed programs must complete the application summary for their program regarding lead paint and asbestos by May 1, 2024. The application is on the https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ website. Rule 15A NCAC 18A .2816 requires currently operating child care centers to test water initially and every three years. Most of you have completed your initial testing and now it is time for your three-year retest. Please log into https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ to ensure you are meeting the requirements for Lead in Water / Paint/Asbestos testing. CHILD A CARE RULE CHANGES: The Child Care Commission adopted child care rule changes in January 2024. Changes relate to definitions; lead and asbestos for centers and family child care homes; building requirements for family child care homes; multi-unit child care centers; and criminal background checks. Consultants will assist as you begin to review and implement the changes, but please note, some of the rule changes may or may not impact your facility. An example is the rules in section .2600 for multi-unit child care center. These rules are specific to child care centers with multiple licensed centers within one building. Please ensure you are using the updated January 2024 rule book, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle (enroll if necessary). You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, use this link to get one: https://ncid.nc.gov. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and how to navigate, please visit: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Learning-Resources/How-to-Navigate-Moodle. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-9326. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/17/2024 Number Present: 17 Completed Date: 4/17/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 120 Time In: 09:45 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. G. Goff, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator aware of my visit today, but she was unable to attend today’s visit, due to prior engagements. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on September 12, 2023. The last sanitation inspection was completed on February 27, 2024, with a “Superior” classification “0” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on February 22, 2024, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Seventeen (17) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers and small group activities with the teachers. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are G. Goff, lead teacher and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was September 1, 2023. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. NC PRE-K MONITORING TOOL: The NC Pre-K Monitoring tool was reviewed. The NC Pre-K monitoring was completed on December 4, 2023. All requirements were met and there were no recommendations or plan for achieving compliance in place. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. Under the blue awning attached to the large piece of climbing equipment, there were two small wasp nests. One of the wasp nests was actively being built by a wasp. Across from the large climbing equipment along the fence closest to the side walk there is an active anthill. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before May 1, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Comments: COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 95%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be very well organized and incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children files were monitored today and found to be very well organized and incompliance. SAFETY AND HEALTH (OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT): Under the blue awning attached to the large piece of climbing equipment, there were two small wasp nests. One of the wasp nests was actively being built by a wasp. Please make sure the wasp nests are treated immediately, to prevent children from being harmed. Across from the large climbing equipment along the fence closest to the side walk there is an active anthill. Please have the anthill treated immediately. As we are entering the warmer months, please continue to check on the outdoor environment, ensuring there are no active ant hills on the playground, the grass remains cut and check under climbing equipment and any awnings to make sure there are not insect hives in these places. RESUMING STAR RATING (COHORT ONE): Please be aware that your facility is in Cohort one (1) for resuming the NC Start Rated License. Your preparation year will be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your reassessment year will be July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Please visit the NC Rated License Assessment Project https://ncrlap.org/ to help you and your staff prepare for the environment rating scales. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. CLEAN WATER FOR CAROLINA KIDS: We discussed the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program and what that means for you as a child care center. I also informed you that I sent an email to you on March 5, 2024, with the following information included. I also attached to that email three (3) flyers that discuss the process for testing, for lead in the water, lead in paint, and asbestos. You stated your school system is currently enrolling each of the schools and you will be given access to the portal for each of your NC Pre-K sites. The Clean Water for Carolina Kids program is expanding to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program. This is a legislatively mandated effort to address lead and asbestos hazards in North Carolina public schools, licensed child care centers, and licensed family child care homes. Participation allows facilities to meet all rule requirements for identified lead and asbestos hazards, as required by law. Rules 10A NCAC 41C .1001 through .1007 require all programs to be free of lead and asbestos hazards. RTI is coordinating all the lead in water, paint and asbestos testing and remediation. There are webinars that child care providers can watch to get instructions. Go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ for more information. Currently operating child care facilities are required to test for lead in paint and asbestos once unless the consultant notes a concern during a visit and refers the program to environmental health. All existing licensed programs must complete the application summary for their program regarding lead paint and asbestos by May 1, 2024. The application is on the https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ website. Rule 15A NCAC 18A .2816 requires currently operating child care centers to test water initially and every three years. Most of you have completed your initial testing and now it is time for your three-year retest. Please log into https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ to ensure you are meeting the requirements for Lead in Water / Paint/Asbestos testing. CHILD A CARE RULE CHANGES: The Child Care Commission adopted child care rule changes in January 2024. Changes relate to definitions; lead and asbestos for centers and family child care homes; building requirements for family child care homes; multi-unit child care centers; and criminal background checks. Consultants will assist as you begin to review and implement the changes, but please note, some of the rule changes may or may not impact your facility. An example is the rules in section .2600 for multi-unit child care center. These rules are specific to child care centers with multiple licensed centers within one building. Please ensure you are using the updated January 2024 rule book, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle (enroll if necessary). You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, use this link to get one: https://ncid.nc.gov. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and how to navigate, please visit: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Learning-Resources/How-to-Navigate-Moodle. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-9326. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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 .0601 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/12/2023 Number Present: 16 Completed Date: 9/12/2023 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 145 Time In: 09:20 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. G. Goff, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator aware of my visit today, but she was unable to attend today’s visit, due to prior engagements. Ms. K. Mills, Curriculum Specialist, arrived and also assisted with today's visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on September 19, 2022. The last sanitation inspection was completed on April 20, 2023, with a “Superior” classification “2” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on April 28, 2023, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Sixteen (16) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The NC Pre-K plan has not yet been completed. The NC Pre-k plan will be reviewed at the next visit. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are G. Goff, lead teacher and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was September 1, 2023. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. There were four (4) ant hills located in the outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 808 The outdoor premises were not clean, drained and free of litter and hazardous materials grass and other vegetation in a manner which does not encourage vermin. The grass needs to be cut, the grass was covering up active ant hills. 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 844 Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler that was not stored in its original container with pharmaceutical label. .0803(2)(a) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before September 26, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Comments: COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. As a reminder you have 30 days from the child’s first day of enrollment for all health, eye, and dental exams to be completed and on file. September 1, 2023, was the first day of staggered enrollment, with September 5th, 2023, being the first full day of enrollment for all the children. MEDICATION: In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag that did not have its original packaging with the pharmaceutical label. All medications must be stored in their original packing with a pharmacy label on it. OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT: To ensure a safe outdoor environment, on-going maintenance should be happening on a regular basis. There were four (4) active ant hills present in the outdoor, fenced in area where the children play. One (1) ant hill was located in the climbing equipment area in the mulch next to the plastic boarder timbers. Three (3) other ant hills were located throughout the grass area. Also, the grass in the outdoor play area needs to be cut, the grass is covering up the ant hills and were difficult to see. You stated school maintenance has been treating the ant hills and you would let maintenance know the grass needs to be cut. All these items pose a threat to children. Please continue to use the Playground Inspection List, it will help you keep your playground free of hazards. RMINDERS: COHORT ONE (1): You had questions about what cohort you were in for the Star Rated License Renewal. We discussed the following items since your child care center is in cohort two (2). Your preparation year will be July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Your reassessment year will be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Updating DCDEE WORKS with any additional education you may have completed. To help your facility prepare for the environment rating scale, please review the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s (NCRLAP) website: https://ncrlap.org/ for videos and written resources to help prepare you for the environment rating scale (ERS). 2023-2024 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR NC PRE-K PROGRAMS: 4. Child Care Rule .3013 - NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant Education and Credentials DCDEE recognizes that the requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .3013 may have caused programs additional burden during a time when obtaining qualified staff has been challenging for everyone. In an effort to support NC Pre-K programs across the state, DCDEE will allow additional flexibilities to help educators and programs transition into rule .3013. These flexibilities apply to both new hires and existing staff. DCDEE strongly encourages NC Pre-K Teacher Assistants to make every effort to meet the requirements of rule .3013. as these specific flexibilities will expire June 2024. • Individuals who have received a qualifying letter from our Workforce Education Unit certifying them as a Lead Teacher, may qualify to serve as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant o If a Teacher Assistant has at least 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they will qualify as an NC Pre-K teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 program year o If a Teacher Assistant has less than 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they must enroll in approved EC courses and complete 9 EC credit hours by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. These courses must be completed by the spring of 2024 in order to count for the 2023-2024 program year. • If a Teacher Assistant does not meet the aforementioned flexibilities, nor do they currently hold a CDA nor hold or are working towards an associate degree, they must enroll in CDA courses immediately in order to qualify as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 school year. CDA must be completed by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. Teacher Assistants that do not meet the requirements of rule .3013 will not be approved to serve in the 2024-2025 school year. FIRE INSPECTIONS: As a reminder the following child care rule is a requirement, and a violation will be written when a fire inspection is not submitted to your child care consultant within the time period stated below: 10A NCAC 09 .0304 ON-GOING REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE (a)Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed trainings. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. RESOURCES: EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php RESOURCES: The NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is updating the list of degrees counted as degree in the field for both early childhood/child development and school age. Effective Monday, May 8, 2023, the DCDEE Workforce Education Unit’s determination of degree in the field will now include: For Early Childhood/Child Development • Elementary Education • Psychology • Sociology For School Age • Children and Nature • Outdoor Leadership • Trauma Informed Social Work in Children For NC Pre-K • These changes do not affect any lead NC Pre-K teacher. DCDEE must continue to follow DPI licensure requirements for lead teachers seeking licensure. • These changes do impact NC Pre-K teacher assistants in the NC Pre-K program. More detailed information will be shared as NC Pre-K updates program-related information to reflect this change. Evaluation of degrees will continue to be based on the position(s) requested, coursework completed, and the documented degree(s) awarded on official transcripts. More information will be distributed as the Workforce Education Unit moves towards implementation. Once fully implemented, documentation of the degree type and course of study will display in the individual’s DCDEE WORKS account and on their status letter. For general questions related to this change, please contact the Workforce Education Unit at 919-814-6350. EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php NEW SANITATION RULES: DCDEE and the Department of Public Health have received feedback from child care programs that additional guidance would be helpful in implementing the child care sanitation rules that the Public Health Commission readopted effective July 1, 2023. Please know that no demerits will be taken for new requirements of these rules until January 2024. Until then, DPH and DCDEE will work together to make sure NC child care centers have the necessary training, technical assistance, and operational support needed to meet the new requirements. Trainings specifically for child care center operators will be hosted in the coming months. Stay tuned! TRAINING MODULES AVAIALABLE IN DCDEE MOODLE: The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is excited to share information about the July 2023 child care rule changes. The Child Care Commission revised rules related to staff/child ratios for multi-age groups; cooperative arrangements; and enhanced space requirements. These rule changes may or may not impact your facility. The multi-age group staff/child ratio changes support a previous rule change submitted by Early Head Start and the new rule for defining cooperative arrangements provides clarification to a previous change in statute. Consultants will assist facilities impacted by the changes to the enhanced space requirements. A summary of the changes can be accessed here, but for specific details regarding these changes, please ensure you are using the updated July 1, 2023, rules, and enroll, if necessary, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle, learn how to navigate Moodle. To access Moodle, you will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, register for an individual NCID at https://ncid.nc.gov/ncidsspr/. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. DIVISION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY EDUCATION: The most current provider documents, forms, checklist, and the new child care rules effective July 1, 2023, can be found on the Division of Child Development and Early’s website at https://ncchildcarencdhhs.gov . MATERIALS PROVIDED: • Early Childhood Educators Flyer CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/12/2023 Number Present: 16 Completed Date: 9/12/2023 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 145 Time In: 09:20 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. G. Goff, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator aware of my visit today, but she was unable to attend today’s visit, due to prior engagements. Ms. K. Mills, Curriculum Specialist, arrived and also assisted with today's visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on September 19, 2022. The last sanitation inspection was completed on April 20, 2023, with a “Superior” classification “2” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on April 28, 2023, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Sixteen (16) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The NC Pre-K plan has not yet been completed. The NC Pre-k plan will be reviewed at the next visit. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are G. Goff, lead teacher and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was September 1, 2023. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. There were four (4) ant hills located in the outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 808 The outdoor premises were not clean, drained and free of litter and hazardous materials grass and other vegetation in a manner which does not encourage vermin. The grass needs to be cut, the grass was covering up active ant hills. 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 844 Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler that was not stored in its original container with pharmaceutical label. .0803(2)(a) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before September 26, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Comments: COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. As a reminder you have 30 days from the child’s first day of enrollment for all health, eye, and dental exams to be completed and on file. September 1, 2023, was the first day of staggered enrollment, with September 5th, 2023, being the first full day of enrollment for all the children. MEDICATION: In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag that did not have its original packaging with the pharmaceutical label. All medications must be stored in their original packing with a pharmacy label on it. OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT: To ensure a safe outdoor environment, on-going maintenance should be happening on a regular basis. There were four (4) active ant hills present in the outdoor, fenced in area where the children play. One (1) ant hill was located in the climbing equipment area in the mulch next to the plastic boarder timbers. Three (3) other ant hills were located throughout the grass area. Also, the grass in the outdoor play area needs to be cut, the grass is covering up the ant hills and were difficult to see. You stated school maintenance has been treating the ant hills and you would let maintenance know the grass needs to be cut. All these items pose a threat to children. Please continue to use the Playground Inspection List, it will help you keep your playground free of hazards. RMINDERS: COHORT ONE (1): You had questions about what cohort you were in for the Star Rated License Renewal. We discussed the following items since your child care center is in cohort two (2). Your preparation year will be July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Your reassessment year will be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Updating DCDEE WORKS with any additional education you may have completed. To help your facility prepare for the environment rating scale, please review the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s (NCRLAP) website: https://ncrlap.org/ for videos and written resources to help prepare you for the environment rating scale (ERS). 2023-2024 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR NC PRE-K PROGRAMS: 4. Child Care Rule .3013 - NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant Education and Credentials DCDEE recognizes that the requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .3013 may have caused programs additional burden during a time when obtaining qualified staff has been challenging for everyone. In an effort to support NC Pre-K programs across the state, DCDEE will allow additional flexibilities to help educators and programs transition into rule .3013. These flexibilities apply to both new hires and existing staff. DCDEE strongly encourages NC Pre-K Teacher Assistants to make every effort to meet the requirements of rule .3013. as these specific flexibilities will expire June 2024. • Individuals who have received a qualifying letter from our Workforce Education Unit certifying them as a Lead Teacher, may qualify to serve as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant o If a Teacher Assistant has at least 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they will qualify as an NC Pre-K teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 program year o If a Teacher Assistant has less than 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they must enroll in approved EC courses and complete 9 EC credit hours by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. These courses must be completed by the spring of 2024 in order to count for the 2023-2024 program year. • If a Teacher Assistant does not meet the aforementioned flexibilities, nor do they currently hold a CDA nor hold or are working towards an associate degree, they must enroll in CDA courses immediately in order to qualify as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 school year. CDA must be completed by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. Teacher Assistants that do not meet the requirements of rule .3013 will not be approved to serve in the 2024-2025 school year. FIRE INSPECTIONS: As a reminder the following child care rule is a requirement, and a violation will be written when a fire inspection is not submitted to your child care consultant within the time period stated below: 10A NCAC 09 .0304 ON-GOING REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE (a)Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed trainings. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. RESOURCES: EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php RESOURCES: The NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is updating the list of degrees counted as degree in the field for both early childhood/child development and school age. Effective Monday, May 8, 2023, the DCDEE Workforce Education Unit’s determination of degree in the field will now include: For Early Childhood/Child Development • Elementary Education • Psychology • Sociology For School Age • Children and Nature • Outdoor Leadership • Trauma Informed Social Work in Children For NC Pre-K • These changes do not affect any lead NC Pre-K teacher. DCDEE must continue to follow DPI licensure requirements for lead teachers seeking licensure. • These changes do impact NC Pre-K teacher assistants in the NC Pre-K program. More detailed information will be shared as NC Pre-K updates program-related information to reflect this change. Evaluation of degrees will continue to be based on the position(s) requested, coursework completed, and the documented degree(s) awarded on official transcripts. More information will be distributed as the Workforce Education Unit moves towards implementation. Once fully implemented, documentation of the degree type and course of study will display in the individual’s DCDEE WORKS account and on their status letter. For general questions related to this change, please contact the Workforce Education Unit at 919-814-6350. EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php NEW SANITATION RULES: DCDEE and the Department of Public Health have received feedback from child care programs that additional guidance would be helpful in implementing the child care sanitation rules that the Public Health Commission readopted effective July 1, 2023. Please know that no demerits will be taken for new requirements of these rules until January 2024. Until then, DPH and DCDEE will work together to make sure NC child care centers have the necessary training, technical assistance, and operational support needed to meet the new requirements. Trainings specifically for child care center operators will be hosted in the coming months. Stay tuned! TRAINING MODULES AVAIALABLE IN DCDEE MOODLE: The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is excited to share information about the July 2023 child care rule changes. The Child Care Commission revised rules related to staff/child ratios for multi-age groups; cooperative arrangements; and enhanced space requirements. These rule changes may or may not impact your facility. The multi-age group staff/child ratio changes support a previous rule change submitted by Early Head Start and the new rule for defining cooperative arrangements provides clarification to a previous change in statute. Consultants will assist facilities impacted by the changes to the enhanced space requirements. A summary of the changes can be accessed here, but for specific details regarding these changes, please ensure you are using the updated July 1, 2023, rules, and enroll, if necessary, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle, learn how to navigate Moodle. To access Moodle, you will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, register for an individual NCID at https://ncid.nc.gov/ncidsspr/. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. DIVISION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY EDUCATION: The most current provider documents, forms, checklist, and the new child care rules effective July 1, 2023, can be found on the Division of Child Development and Early’s website at https://ncchildcarencdhhs.gov . MATERIALS PROVIDED: • Early Childhood Educators Flyer CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .3009 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/12/2023 Number Present: 16 Completed Date: 9/12/2023 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 145 Time In: 09:20 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. G. Goff, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator aware of my visit today, but she was unable to attend today’s visit, due to prior engagements. Ms. K. Mills, Curriculum Specialist, arrived and also assisted with today's visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on September 19, 2022. The last sanitation inspection was completed on April 20, 2023, with a “Superior” classification “2” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on April 28, 2023, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Sixteen (16) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The NC Pre-K plan has not yet been completed. The NC Pre-k plan will be reviewed at the next visit. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are G. Goff, lead teacher and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was September 1, 2023. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. There were four (4) ant hills located in the outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 808 The outdoor premises were not clean, drained and free of litter and hazardous materials grass and other vegetation in a manner which does not encourage vermin. The grass needs to be cut, the grass was covering up active ant hills. 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 844 Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler that was not stored in its original container with pharmaceutical label. .0803(2)(a) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before September 26, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Comments: COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. As a reminder you have 30 days from the child’s first day of enrollment for all health, eye, and dental exams to be completed and on file. September 1, 2023, was the first day of staggered enrollment, with September 5th, 2023, being the first full day of enrollment for all the children. MEDICATION: In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag that did not have its original packaging with the pharmaceutical label. All medications must be stored in their original packing with a pharmacy label on it. OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT: To ensure a safe outdoor environment, on-going maintenance should be happening on a regular basis. There were four (4) active ant hills present in the outdoor, fenced in area where the children play. One (1) ant hill was located in the climbing equipment area in the mulch next to the plastic boarder timbers. Three (3) other ant hills were located throughout the grass area. Also, the grass in the outdoor play area needs to be cut, the grass is covering up the ant hills and were difficult to see. You stated school maintenance has been treating the ant hills and you would let maintenance know the grass needs to be cut. All these items pose a threat to children. Please continue to use the Playground Inspection List, it will help you keep your playground free of hazards. RMINDERS: COHORT ONE (1): You had questions about what cohort you were in for the Star Rated License Renewal. We discussed the following items since your child care center is in cohort two (2). Your preparation year will be July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Your reassessment year will be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Updating DCDEE WORKS with any additional education you may have completed. To help your facility prepare for the environment rating scale, please review the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s (NCRLAP) website: https://ncrlap.org/ for videos and written resources to help prepare you for the environment rating scale (ERS). 2023-2024 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR NC PRE-K PROGRAMS: 4. Child Care Rule .3013 - NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant Education and Credentials DCDEE recognizes that the requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .3013 may have caused programs additional burden during a time when obtaining qualified staff has been challenging for everyone. In an effort to support NC Pre-K programs across the state, DCDEE will allow additional flexibilities to help educators and programs transition into rule .3013. These flexibilities apply to both new hires and existing staff. DCDEE strongly encourages NC Pre-K Teacher Assistants to make every effort to meet the requirements of rule .3013. as these specific flexibilities will expire June 2024. • Individuals who have received a qualifying letter from our Workforce Education Unit certifying them as a Lead Teacher, may qualify to serve as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant o If a Teacher Assistant has at least 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they will qualify as an NC Pre-K teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 program year o If a Teacher Assistant has less than 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they must enroll in approved EC courses and complete 9 EC credit hours by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. These courses must be completed by the spring of 2024 in order to count for the 2023-2024 program year. • If a Teacher Assistant does not meet the aforementioned flexibilities, nor do they currently hold a CDA nor hold or are working towards an associate degree, they must enroll in CDA courses immediately in order to qualify as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 school year. CDA must be completed by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. Teacher Assistants that do not meet the requirements of rule .3013 will not be approved to serve in the 2024-2025 school year. FIRE INSPECTIONS: As a reminder the following child care rule is a requirement, and a violation will be written when a fire inspection is not submitted to your child care consultant within the time period stated below: 10A NCAC 09 .0304 ON-GOING REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE (a)Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed trainings. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. RESOURCES: EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php RESOURCES: The NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is updating the list of degrees counted as degree in the field for both early childhood/child development and school age. Effective Monday, May 8, 2023, the DCDEE Workforce Education Unit’s determination of degree in the field will now include: For Early Childhood/Child Development • Elementary Education • Psychology • Sociology For School Age • Children and Nature • Outdoor Leadership • Trauma Informed Social Work in Children For NC Pre-K • These changes do not affect any lead NC Pre-K teacher. DCDEE must continue to follow DPI licensure requirements for lead teachers seeking licensure. • These changes do impact NC Pre-K teacher assistants in the NC Pre-K program. More detailed information will be shared as NC Pre-K updates program-related information to reflect this change. Evaluation of degrees will continue to be based on the position(s) requested, coursework completed, and the documented degree(s) awarded on official transcripts. More information will be distributed as the Workforce Education Unit moves towards implementation. Once fully implemented, documentation of the degree type and course of study will display in the individual’s DCDEE WORKS account and on their status letter. For general questions related to this change, please contact the Workforce Education Unit at 919-814-6350. EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php NEW SANITATION RULES: DCDEE and the Department of Public Health have received feedback from child care programs that additional guidance would be helpful in implementing the child care sanitation rules that the Public Health Commission readopted effective July 1, 2023. Please know that no demerits will be taken for new requirements of these rules until January 2024. Until then, DPH and DCDEE will work together to make sure NC child care centers have the necessary training, technical assistance, and operational support needed to meet the new requirements. Trainings specifically for child care center operators will be hosted in the coming months. Stay tuned! TRAINING MODULES AVAIALABLE IN DCDEE MOODLE: The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is excited to share information about the July 2023 child care rule changes. The Child Care Commission revised rules related to staff/child ratios for multi-age groups; cooperative arrangements; and enhanced space requirements. These rule changes may or may not impact your facility. The multi-age group staff/child ratio changes support a previous rule change submitted by Early Head Start and the new rule for defining cooperative arrangements provides clarification to a previous change in statute. Consultants will assist facilities impacted by the changes to the enhanced space requirements. A summary of the changes can be accessed here, but for specific details regarding these changes, please ensure you are using the updated July 1, 2023, rules, and enroll, if necessary, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle, learn how to navigate Moodle. To access Moodle, you will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, register for an individual NCID at https://ncid.nc.gov/ncidsspr/. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. DIVISION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY EDUCATION: The most current provider documents, forms, checklist, and the new child care rules effective July 1, 2023, can be found on the Division of Child Development and Early’s website at https://ncchildcarencdhhs.gov . MATERIALS PROVIDED: • Early Childhood Educators Flyer CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 54000323 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/12/2023 Number Present: 16 Completed Date: 9/12/2023 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 145 Time In: 09:20 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in spaces #016, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. G. Goff, Lead Teacher, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator aware of my visit today, but she was unable to attend today’s visit, due to prior engagements. Ms. K. Mills, Curriculum Specialist, arrived and also assisted with today's visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on November 7, 2018, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having reduced staff/child ratios by one in each group. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on September 19, 2022. The last sanitation inspection was completed on April 20, 2023, with a “Superior” classification “2” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on April 28, 2023, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and restrictions were in compliance. Sixteen (16) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers. The teachers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The NC Pre-K plan has not yet been completed. The NC Pre-k plan will be reviewed at the next visit. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are G. Goff, lead teacher and N. Lee, assistant teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was September 1, 2023. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, daily folders are sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. There were four (4) ant hills located in the outdoor play area. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 808 The outdoor premises were not clean, drained and free of litter and hazardous materials grass and other vegetation in a manner which does not encourage vermin. The grass needs to be cut, the grass was covering up active ant hills. 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 844 Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler that was not stored in its original container with pharmaceutical label. .0803(2)(a) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before September 26, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Comments: COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. As a reminder you have 30 days from the child’s first day of enrollment for all health, eye, and dental exams to be completed and on file. September 1, 2023, was the first day of staggered enrollment, with September 5th, 2023, being the first full day of enrollment for all the children. MEDICATION: In space #016 there was an albuterol inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag that did not have its original packaging with the pharmaceutical label. All medications must be stored in their original packing with a pharmacy label on it. OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT: To ensure a safe outdoor environment, on-going maintenance should be happening on a regular basis. There were four (4) active ant hills present in the outdoor, fenced in area where the children play. One (1) ant hill was located in the climbing equipment area in the mulch next to the plastic boarder timbers. Three (3) other ant hills were located throughout the grass area. Also, the grass in the outdoor play area needs to be cut, the grass is covering up the ant hills and were difficult to see. You stated school maintenance has been treating the ant hills and you would let maintenance know the grass needs to be cut. All these items pose a threat to children. Please continue to use the Playground Inspection List, it will help you keep your playground free of hazards. RMINDERS: COHORT ONE (1): You had questions about what cohort you were in for the Star Rated License Renewal. We discussed the following items since your child care center is in cohort two (2). Your preparation year will be July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Your reassessment year will be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Updating DCDEE WORKS with any additional education you may have completed. To help your facility prepare for the environment rating scale, please review the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project’s (NCRLAP) website: https://ncrlap.org/ for videos and written resources to help prepare you for the environment rating scale (ERS). 2023-2024 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR NC PRE-K PROGRAMS: 4. Child Care Rule .3013 - NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant Education and Credentials DCDEE recognizes that the requirements outlined in Child Care Rule .3013 may have caused programs additional burden during a time when obtaining qualified staff has been challenging for everyone. In an effort to support NC Pre-K programs across the state, DCDEE will allow additional flexibilities to help educators and programs transition into rule .3013. These flexibilities apply to both new hires and existing staff. DCDEE strongly encourages NC Pre-K Teacher Assistants to make every effort to meet the requirements of rule .3013. as these specific flexibilities will expire June 2024. • Individuals who have received a qualifying letter from our Workforce Education Unit certifying them as a Lead Teacher, may qualify to serve as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant o If a Teacher Assistant has at least 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they will qualify as an NC Pre-K teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 program year o If a Teacher Assistant has less than 9 EC credit hours on their qualifying letter, they must enroll in approved EC courses and complete 9 EC credit hours by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. These courses must be completed by the spring of 2024 in order to count for the 2023-2024 program year. • If a Teacher Assistant does not meet the aforementioned flexibilities, nor do they currently hold a CDA nor hold or are working towards an associate degree, they must enroll in CDA courses immediately in order to qualify as an NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant for the 2023-2024 school year. CDA must be completed by the end of the 2023-2024 program year. Teacher Assistants that do not meet the requirements of rule .3013 will not be approved to serve in the 2024-2025 school year. FIRE INSPECTIONS: As a reminder the following child care rule is a requirement, and a violation will be written when a fire inspection is not submitted to your child care consultant within the time period stated below: 10A NCAC 09 .0304 ON-GOING REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE (a)Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed trainings. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. RESOURCES: EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php RESOURCES: The NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is updating the list of degrees counted as degree in the field for both early childhood/child development and school age. Effective Monday, May 8, 2023, the DCDEE Workforce Education Unit’s determination of degree in the field will now include: For Early Childhood/Child Development • Elementary Education • Psychology • Sociology For School Age • Children and Nature • Outdoor Leadership • Trauma Informed Social Work in Children For NC Pre-K • These changes do not affect any lead NC Pre-K teacher. DCDEE must continue to follow DPI licensure requirements for lead teachers seeking licensure. • These changes do impact NC Pre-K teacher assistants in the NC Pre-K program. More detailed information will be shared as NC Pre-K updates program-related information to reflect this change. Evaluation of degrees will continue to be based on the position(s) requested, coursework completed, and the documented degree(s) awarded on official transcripts. More information will be distributed as the Workforce Education Unit moves towards implementation. Once fully implemented, documentation of the degree type and course of study will display in the individual’s DCDEE WORKS account and on their status letter. For general questions related to this change, please contact the Workforce Education Unit at 919-814-6350. EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUIVALENCY EXAM NOW ON DCDEE MOODLE: The North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam is a new pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. Applicants who achieve a score of 80% or higher on the NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam earn the new North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and will qualify the individual to be a lead teacher in an early childhood classroom. To take the exam, go to DCDEE Moodle and select Early Childhood Professional Development/Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Exam: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/login/index.php NEW SANITATION RULES: DCDEE and the Department of Public Health have received feedback from child care programs that additional guidance would be helpful in implementing the child care sanitation rules that the Public Health Commission readopted effective July 1, 2023. Please know that no demerits will be taken for new requirements of these rules until January 2024. Until then, DPH and DCDEE will work together to make sure NC child care centers have the necessary training, technical assistance, and operational support needed to meet the new requirements. Trainings specifically for child care center operators will be hosted in the coming months. Stay tuned! TRAINING MODULES AVAIALABLE IN DCDEE MOODLE: The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is excited to share information about the July 2023 child care rule changes. The Child Care Commission revised rules related to staff/child ratios for multi-age groups; cooperative arrangements; and enhanced space requirements. These rule changes may or may not impact your facility. The multi-age group staff/child ratio changes support a previous rule change submitted by Early Head Start and the new rule for defining cooperative arrangements provides clarification to a previous change in statute. Consultants will assist facilities impacted by the changes to the enhanced space requirements. A summary of the changes can be accessed here, but for specific details regarding these changes, please ensure you are using the updated July 1, 2023, rules, and enroll, if necessary, and view information in the DCDEE Moodle. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle, learn how to navigate Moodle. To access Moodle, you will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, register for an individual NCID at https://ncid.nc.gov/ncidsspr/. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. DIVISION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY EDUCATION: The most current provider documents, forms, checklist, and the new child care rules effective July 1, 2023, can be found on the Division of Child Development and Early’s website at https://ncchildcarencdhhs.gov . MATERIALS PROVIDED: • Early Childhood Educators Flyer CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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