10A NCAC 09 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #4 Facility ID: 16000212 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/23/2025 Number Present: 54 Completed Date: 7/23/2025 Age: From 5 To 11 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance with applicable childcare requirements pertinent to an annual compliance visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 30, 2024. The sanitation inspection was completed February 18, 2025, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on September 30, 2024. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space, and minus 1 in each group. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-eight (98) percent as of July 23, 2025. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 23, 2025, and ELA KidsNet, LLC was listed as current-active. Administrator, Rebecca Smith, was present and available for consultation. Sixty-nine (69) children, between the ages of five (5) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and fifty-four (54) present today. There are six (6) approved indoor spaces and two (2) approved outdoor spaces. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in the classroom. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk-through of the facility was completed today; all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. All preschool and school age children were observed in the outdoor spaces. Outdoor activities included playing basketball, kicking and tossing balls, running, large legos, fishing, pushing dump trucks, riding tricycles, cooking, and sand play. All staff members were actively engaged with the children. Lunch today consisted of sausage biscuits, carrots, pineapples, and milk. Due to the NC Pre-K program being closed for the summer, NC Pre-K Monitoring will be conducted during the facility’s next routine unannounced visit. Health and safety trainings were monitored, and requirements were met. Pre-Service Administrator Form: During today’s visit, I verified education for your facility’s new administrator, Rebecca Smith. The required paperwork to add her as your new administrator was completed today and will be submitted with this Visit Summary. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. In outdoor space #2, the large wooden deck had a hole in one of the boards. Also, the large musical shaker equipment had rusted metal washers accessible to the children. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Wednesday, August 6, 2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Andrea Johnson, Child Care Consultant andrea.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov PO Box 904 Beaufort, NC 28516 252-732-0183 If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Checking playground for hazards daily: Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604 (p) SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS states that once a day, prior to initial use, the indoor and outdoor premises shall be checked for debris, vandalism, and broken equipment. Debris shall be removed and disposed of. The large wooden deck in outdoor space #2 has a hole in one of the boards, that could be a tripping hazardous. Before children enter the outdoor area each day, you must take time to observe the outdoor area and ensure there are no safety hazards or debris in the area. If there are any hazards, they must be addressed before children can enter the area. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids: Your facility’s status, according to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website, shows the following: • Water Testing-Completed on February 5, 2024. Water testing must be completed every three (3) years. • Lead-Based Paint-Exempt N/A • Asbestos-Exempt N/A Setting Up an Effective Classroom Environment: Tuesday, August 19 | 7-8 p.m. Meeting Link: https://ccrinc.zoom.us/j/3677997738 Meeting ID: 367 799 7738 Join us to talk about ideal ways to set up your classroom, daily schedules, how to organize centers, making rules, and job charts. Join us in the discussion of strategies to use in the new year. A free, talk-to-the-experts webinar, presented by Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline advisors! Summer 2025: Is it Medicine? We think you’ll enjoy the Summer 2025 edition of the NC Child Care Health and Safety E-Newsletter. It includes in-depth information about health and safety concerns in early care and education settings, as well as information for child care programs to share with families. Check it out! Remember! You can contact the NC Resource Center for information, resources, and referrals on topics related to child health and health and safety in child care. Anyone in the greater early care and education community is welcome to call 1(800) 367-2229 (choose 1 then 2). Reminders: Emergency Drills: Please set a reminder on your calendar to conduct a fire drill and a shelter in place or lockdown drill on or before July 31, 2025. Staff Qualifications: Staff member, E. Schaefer’s CPR and Frist Aid expires October 1, 2025. For the latest information on childcare rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed with you, emailed to you, copies printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the annual compliance visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, you have my contact information. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #4 Facility ID: 16000212 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/23/2025 Number Present: 54 Completed Date: 7/23/2025 Age: From 5 To 11 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance with applicable childcare requirements pertinent to an annual compliance visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 30, 2024. The sanitation inspection was completed February 18, 2025, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on September 30, 2024. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space, and minus 1 in each group. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-eight (98) percent as of July 23, 2025. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 23, 2025, and ELA KidsNet, LLC was listed as current-active. Administrator, Rebecca Smith, was present and available for consultation. Sixty-nine (69) children, between the ages of five (5) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and fifty-four (54) present today. There are six (6) approved indoor spaces and two (2) approved outdoor spaces. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in the classroom. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk-through of the facility was completed today; all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. All preschool and school age children were observed in the outdoor spaces. Outdoor activities included playing basketball, kicking and tossing balls, running, large legos, fishing, pushing dump trucks, riding tricycles, cooking, and sand play. All staff members were actively engaged with the children. Lunch today consisted of sausage biscuits, carrots, pineapples, and milk. Due to the NC Pre-K program being closed for the summer, NC Pre-K Monitoring will be conducted during the facility’s next routine unannounced visit. Health and safety trainings were monitored, and requirements were met. Pre-Service Administrator Form: During today’s visit, I verified education for your facility’s new administrator, Rebecca Smith. The required paperwork to add her as your new administrator was completed today and will be submitted with this Visit Summary. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. In outdoor space #2, the large wooden deck had a hole in one of the boards. Also, the large musical shaker equipment had rusted metal washers accessible to the children. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Wednesday, August 6, 2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Andrea Johnson, Child Care Consultant andrea.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov PO Box 904 Beaufort, NC 28516 252-732-0183 If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Checking playground for hazards daily: Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604 (p) SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS states that once a day, prior to initial use, the indoor and outdoor premises shall be checked for debris, vandalism, and broken equipment. Debris shall be removed and disposed of. The large wooden deck in outdoor space #2 has a hole in one of the boards, that could be a tripping hazardous. Before children enter the outdoor area each day, you must take time to observe the outdoor area and ensure there are no safety hazards or debris in the area. If there are any hazards, they must be addressed before children can enter the area. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids: Your facility’s status, according to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website, shows the following: • Water Testing-Completed on February 5, 2024. Water testing must be completed every three (3) years. • Lead-Based Paint-Exempt N/A • Asbestos-Exempt N/A Setting Up an Effective Classroom Environment: Tuesday, August 19 | 7-8 p.m. Meeting Link: https://ccrinc.zoom.us/j/3677997738 Meeting ID: 367 799 7738 Join us to talk about ideal ways to set up your classroom, daily schedules, how to organize centers, making rules, and job charts. Join us in the discussion of strategies to use in the new year. A free, talk-to-the-experts webinar, presented by Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline advisors! Summer 2025: Is it Medicine? We think you’ll enjoy the Summer 2025 edition of the NC Child Care Health and Safety E-Newsletter. It includes in-depth information about health and safety concerns in early care and education settings, as well as information for child care programs to share with families. Check it out! Remember! You can contact the NC Resource Center for information, resources, and referrals on topics related to child health and health and safety in child care. Anyone in the greater early care and education community is welcome to call 1(800) 367-2229 (choose 1 then 2). Reminders: Emergency Drills: Please set a reminder on your calendar to conduct a fire drill and a shelter in place or lockdown drill on or before July 31, 2025. Staff Qualifications: Staff member, E. Schaefer’s CPR and Frist Aid expires October 1, 2025. For the latest information on childcare rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed with you, emailed to you, copies printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the annual compliance visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, you have my contact information. 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: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #4 Facility ID: 16000212 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/23/2025 Number Present: 54 Completed Date: 7/23/2025 Age: From 5 To 11 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance with applicable childcare requirements pertinent to an annual compliance visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 30, 2024. The sanitation inspection was completed February 18, 2025, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on September 30, 2024. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space, and minus 1 in each group. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-eight (98) percent as of July 23, 2025. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 23, 2025, and ELA KidsNet, LLC was listed as current-active. Administrator, Rebecca Smith, was present and available for consultation. Sixty-nine (69) children, between the ages of five (5) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and fifty-four (54) present today. There are six (6) approved indoor spaces and two (2) approved outdoor spaces. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in the classroom. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk-through of the facility was completed today; all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. All preschool and school age children were observed in the outdoor spaces. Outdoor activities included playing basketball, kicking and tossing balls, running, large legos, fishing, pushing dump trucks, riding tricycles, cooking, and sand play. All staff members were actively engaged with the children. Lunch today consisted of sausage biscuits, carrots, pineapples, and milk. Due to the NC Pre-K program being closed for the summer, NC Pre-K Monitoring will be conducted during the facility’s next routine unannounced visit. Health and safety trainings were monitored, and requirements were met. Pre-Service Administrator Form: During today’s visit, I verified education for your facility’s new administrator, Rebecca Smith. The required paperwork to add her as your new administrator was completed today and will be submitted with this Visit Summary. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. In outdoor space #2, the large wooden deck had a hole in one of the boards. Also, the large musical shaker equipment had rusted metal washers accessible to the children. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Wednesday, August 6, 2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Andrea Johnson, Child Care Consultant andrea.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov PO Box 904 Beaufort, NC 28516 252-732-0183 If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Checking playground for hazards daily: Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604 (p) SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS states that once a day, prior to initial use, the indoor and outdoor premises shall be checked for debris, vandalism, and broken equipment. Debris shall be removed and disposed of. The large wooden deck in outdoor space #2 has a hole in one of the boards, that could be a tripping hazardous. Before children enter the outdoor area each day, you must take time to observe the outdoor area and ensure there are no safety hazards or debris in the area. If there are any hazards, they must be addressed before children can enter the area. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids: Your facility’s status, according to the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website, shows the following: • Water Testing-Completed on February 5, 2024. Water testing must be completed every three (3) years. • Lead-Based Paint-Exempt N/A • Asbestos-Exempt N/A Setting Up an Effective Classroom Environment: Tuesday, August 19 | 7-8 p.m. Meeting Link: https://ccrinc.zoom.us/j/3677997738 Meeting ID: 367 799 7738 Join us to talk about ideal ways to set up your classroom, daily schedules, how to organize centers, making rules, and job charts. Join us in the discussion of strategies to use in the new year. A free, talk-to-the-experts webinar, presented by Healthy Social Behaviors Helpline advisors! Summer 2025: Is it Medicine? We think you’ll enjoy the Summer 2025 edition of the NC Child Care Health and Safety E-Newsletter. It includes in-depth information about health and safety concerns in early care and education settings, as well as information for child care programs to share with families. Check it out! Remember! You can contact the NC Resource Center for information, resources, and referrals on topics related to child health and health and safety in child care. Anyone in the greater early care and education community is welcome to call 1(800) 367-2229 (choose 1 then 2). Reminders: Emergency Drills: Please set a reminder on your calendar to conduct a fire drill and a shelter in place or lockdown drill on or before July 31, 2025. Staff Qualifications: Staff member, E. Schaefer’s CPR and Frist Aid expires October 1, 2025. For the latest information on childcare rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed with you, emailed to you, copies printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the annual compliance visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, you have my contact information. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0901 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #4 Facility ID: 16000212 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/30/2024 Number Present: 31 Completed Date: 12/30/2024 Age: From 4 To 10 Total Minutes: 150 Time In: 10:15 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable childcare requirements for a routine unannounced visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license effective February 20, 2022. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-nine (99) percent as of December 31, 2024. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on December 31, 2024, and ELA KidsNet, Holdings, LLC was listed as current-active. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Assistant Director, Emily Schaefer, was available for consultation during the visit. There are six (6) approved indoor spaces and two (2) approved outdoor spaces. Ninety-seven (97) children, between the ages of four (4) and ten (10) years old are enrolled and thirty-one- (31) were present today. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in the classroom. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk-through of the facility was completed today. All indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. Current activity plans were observed posted in all classrooms. Upon entering your facility preschool and school age children were engaged in a variety of free play activities in the outdoor space. Activities included paying basketball, throwing footballs, riding scooters and tricycles, cooking for baby dolls, walking on age-appropriate stilts, and playing a red light green light game. Staff members actively supervised the children. Water was available for the children in the outdoor space. All children transitioned to the indoor space for lunch which consisted of hamburgers on buns, tator tots, mandarin oranges, pineapples, and milk. Routine toileting, handwashing, and food service procedures were monitored, and requirements were met. The outdoor spaces had a variety of gross motor equipment including a variety of balls, large basketball goal, balance beams, tricycles, baseball bats, and hop-scotch tiles. Other outdoor activities included large legos, driving cones, small and large musical pipes, covered dramatic play areas, and a large abacus. Health and Safety trainings, the Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma Policy, and new staff files were monitored today and found to be in compliance. Violation Number Comment Rule 1792 Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care. A staff member in the outdoor space had a Starbucks coffee drink in the presence of children in care. .0901(i) 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 documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Thursday, January 9, 2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violation was corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Andrea Johnson, Child Care Consultant PO Box 904 Beaufort, NC 28516 Andrea.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 NC Pre-K Monitoring: Due to the school holiday schedule, NC Pre-K classes assigned to indoor spaces #1, #2, and #6 were closed today., NC Pre-K requirements were monitored; however, staff child interactions will be monitored during the next facility visit. The NC Pre-Kindergarten Program (NC Pre-K) Site Monitoring Tool for the 2024-2025 school year, dated October 23, 2024, has been completed and was reviewed today. The program follows the Carteret County school calendar. The length of the day, 7:30am until 2:00pm, meets the instructional day requirement of 6.5-10 hours. Child Assessment and Required Screenings: The assessment tool, GOLD, Teaching Strategies 2010-2011, is in place. Portfolios for each child are maintained in both indoor spaces and electronically on Teacher Strategies Gold online application. The facility uses the developmental screening tool, DIAL-4 and Brigance for pre-screening and ongoing assessments. Documentation of health assessments, vision, hearing, dental screenings, and DIAL-4 pre-screenings were on file for each child. Curriculum: The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, 6th Edition, Teaching Strategies, 2016 has been implemented and the classroom has the required resources available for use. Materials to support the current activity plan were displayed throughout the classroom. Family Engagement: Parent involvement included open house, home visits, monthly newsletters, all about us books, and family gingerbread house decorating. Staff Requirements: All staff met NC Pre-K requirements. Technical Assistance: Staff Nutrition Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0901(j) GENERAL NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS states that staff shall role model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming only food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in this Rule in the presence of children in care. Fast Food or coffee drinks that staff might consume do not follow these requirements and should not be consumed in the classroom or in the presence of children. Annual Immunization Report: The reporting period for childcare immunizations is now open. Reporting for 2024-2025 has been extended due to Hurricane Helene. Children have a grace period from requirements until November 30, 2024, and reports will be accepted until January 15, 2025. QRIS Update: Starting on February 1, 2025, the ECERS-3, ITERS-3, and FCCERS-3—also known as the "3s"—will be used for DCDEE environment rating scale assessments. The DCDEE and the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) are collaboratively working on preparations for the transition to the third editions. These third editions come with a spiral binding at the top, replacing the current revised editions. Visit the NCRLAP’s website for more information about updated resources, credit hour trainings, and outreach assessment opportunities to help you become familiar with these tools. For official environment rating scale assessments for a NC Star Rated License, the NCRLAP will use the Revised editions until February 1, 2025. Reminders: Program Requirements: A shelter in place/lockdown drill needs to be conducted on or before January 31, 2024. A monthly playground inspection needs to be completed on or before December 31, 2024. Vehicle insurances will expire on January 1, 2025. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed with you, emailed to you, copies printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the routine unannounced visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, you have my contact information. You may also contact my supervisor, Lynette Robbins Lynette.Robbins@dhhs.nc.gov Office: 910-824-0235 If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #4 Facility ID: 16000212 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/30/2024 Number Present: 31 Completed Date: 12/30/2024 Age: From 4 To 10 Total Minutes: 150 Time In: 10:15 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable childcare requirements for a routine unannounced visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license effective February 20, 2022. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-nine (99) percent as of December 31, 2024. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on December 31, 2024, and ELA KidsNet, Holdings, LLC was listed as current-active. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Assistant Director, Emily Schaefer, was available for consultation during the visit. There are six (6) approved indoor spaces and two (2) approved outdoor spaces. Ninety-seven (97) children, between the ages of four (4) and ten (10) years old are enrolled and thirty-one- (31) were present today. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in the classroom. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk-through of the facility was completed today. All indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. Current activity plans were observed posted in all classrooms. Upon entering your facility preschool and school age children were engaged in a variety of free play activities in the outdoor space. Activities included paying basketball, throwing footballs, riding scooters and tricycles, cooking for baby dolls, walking on age-appropriate stilts, and playing a red light green light game. Staff members actively supervised the children. Water was available for the children in the outdoor space. All children transitioned to the indoor space for lunch which consisted of hamburgers on buns, tator tots, mandarin oranges, pineapples, and milk. Routine toileting, handwashing, and food service procedures were monitored, and requirements were met. The outdoor spaces had a variety of gross motor equipment including a variety of balls, large basketball goal, balance beams, tricycles, baseball bats, and hop-scotch tiles. Other outdoor activities included large legos, driving cones, small and large musical pipes, covered dramatic play areas, and a large abacus. Health and Safety trainings, the Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma Policy, and new staff files were monitored today and found to be in compliance. Violation Number Comment Rule 1792 Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care. A staff member in the outdoor space had a Starbucks coffee drink in the presence of children in care. .0901(i) 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 documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Thursday, January 9, 2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violation was corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Andrea Johnson, Child Care Consultant PO Box 904 Beaufort, NC 28516 Andrea.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 NC Pre-K Monitoring: Due to the school holiday schedule, NC Pre-K classes assigned to indoor spaces #1, #2, and #6 were closed today., NC Pre-K requirements were monitored; however, staff child interactions will be monitored during the next facility visit. The NC Pre-Kindergarten Program (NC Pre-K) Site Monitoring Tool for the 2024-2025 school year, dated October 23, 2024, has been completed and was reviewed today. The program follows the Carteret County school calendar. The length of the day, 7:30am until 2:00pm, meets the instructional day requirement of 6.5-10 hours. Child Assessment and Required Screenings: The assessment tool, GOLD, Teaching Strategies 2010-2011, is in place. Portfolios for each child are maintained in both indoor spaces and electronically on Teacher Strategies Gold online application. The facility uses the developmental screening tool, DIAL-4 and Brigance for pre-screening and ongoing assessments. Documentation of health assessments, vision, hearing, dental screenings, and DIAL-4 pre-screenings were on file for each child. Curriculum: The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, 6th Edition, Teaching Strategies, 2016 has been implemented and the classroom has the required resources available for use. Materials to support the current activity plan were displayed throughout the classroom. Family Engagement: Parent involvement included open house, home visits, monthly newsletters, all about us books, and family gingerbread house decorating. Staff Requirements: All staff met NC Pre-K requirements. Technical Assistance: Staff Nutrition Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0901(j) GENERAL NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS states that staff shall role model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming only food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in this Rule in the presence of children in care. Fast Food or coffee drinks that staff might consume do not follow these requirements and should not be consumed in the classroom or in the presence of children. Annual Immunization Report: The reporting period for childcare immunizations is now open. Reporting for 2024-2025 has been extended due to Hurricane Helene. Children have a grace period from requirements until November 30, 2024, and reports will be accepted until January 15, 2025. QRIS Update: Starting on February 1, 2025, the ECERS-3, ITERS-3, and FCCERS-3—also known as the "3s"—will be used for DCDEE environment rating scale assessments. The DCDEE and the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) are collaboratively working on preparations for the transition to the third editions. These third editions come with a spiral binding at the top, replacing the current revised editions. Visit the NCRLAP’s website for more information about updated resources, credit hour trainings, and outreach assessment opportunities to help you become familiar with these tools. For official environment rating scale assessments for a NC Star Rated License, the NCRLAP will use the Revised editions until February 1, 2025. Reminders: Program Requirements: A shelter in place/lockdown drill needs to be conducted on or before January 31, 2024. A monthly playground inspection needs to be completed on or before December 31, 2024. Vehicle insurances will expire on January 1, 2025. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed with you, emailed to you, copies printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the routine unannounced visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, you have my contact information. You may also contact my supervisor, Lynette Robbins Lynette.Robbins@dhhs.nc.gov Office: 910-824-0235 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: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #4 Facility ID: 16000212 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/30/2024 Number Present: 48 Completed Date: 7/30/2024 Age: From 4 To 10 Total Minutes: 202 Time In: 08:53 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance with applicable childcare requirements pertinent to an annual compliance visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on August 3, 2023. The sanitation inspection was completed January 25, 2024, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on October 5, 2023. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, the facility meets enhanced ratios, enhanced space, and minus 1 in each group. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred (100) percent. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 30, 2024, and ELA KidsNet Holdings, LLC. was listed as current-active. Fifty-four (54) children, between the ages of four (4) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and forty-eight (48) children, were present today. There are six (6) approved indoor spaces and two (2) approved outdoor spaces. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in the classroom. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. Indoor spaces #1 and #2 were closed today. School age children assigned to indoor spaces #3 and #4 were observed in both the indoor and outdoor spaces. While in the outdoor spaces, the children were running and climbing. In the indoor spaces, they participated in group discussions about different types of sharks. After group discussions, the children transitioned to free play activities. Preschool children assigned to indoor spaces #5 and #6 were engaged in a variety of free play activities which included cutting, gluing, colored magnetic shapes, dressing baby dolls, doctor and nurse dress up, water color painting, and sand play. Handwashing and toileting routines were monitored, and requirements were met. The outdoor space had a variety of gross motor equipment including a variety of balls, large basketball goal, balance beams, tricycles, baseball bats, and hop-scotch tiles. Other outdoor activities included large legos, driving cones, small and large musical pipes, covered dramatic play areas, and a large abacus. Due to the NC Pre-K Program being closed for the summer, NC Pre-K requirements will be monitored at your facility's next routine unannounced visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1034 All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. One (1) staff member did not complete an annual health questionnaire following the initial medical statement. .0701(a) 1899 Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One (1) staff members did not complete one (1) health and safety training course within five (5) years of completing the previous health and safety training topic. .1103(b) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. Violations documented today were corrected during the visit; therefore, a compliance letter is not required. Technical Assistance: Rated License: The “hold harmless” state of rated license reassessments has been extended until the new Quality Rating Improvement System standards are put in place. This means that you will not be required to have a reassessment according to the timelines discussed previously, however you may request one voluntarily. Today I encouraged you to review information about the new standards as it becomes available and to plan on training your staff on new assessment tools if you are still interested in Environment Rating Scales assessments. The new tools are the “3” versions, and I will share more information about training opportunities when I am able. Reminders: Upcoming Staff Requirements: Staff member, B. Gagnon, must complete a new health questionnaire and emergency information form on or before August2, 2024. Staff member, B. Willis, must complete a new health questionnaire and emergency information form on or before July 31, 2024. Vehicle Annual Inspections: Your vehicle inspections for your facility vehicles used to transport children will expire in August 2024. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed with you, emailed to you, copies were printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the annual compliance visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, my contact information is below. Andrea Johnson andrea.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov PO Box 904 Beaufort, NC 28516 (252)732-0183 You may also contact my supervisor, Lynette Robbins Lynette.Robbins@dhhs.nc.gov Office: 910-824-0235 If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.