Excel Learning Centers #1

10A NCAC 09 .0605 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/22/2026 Number Present: 91 Completed Date: 4/22/2026 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 330 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp w/Rated Lic Assess Announced/Unannounced: Announced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance with applicable childcare requirements pertinent to an annual compliance rated license visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 7, 2025. The sanitation inspection was completed March 30, 2026, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on October 30, 2025. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, and the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-eight (98) percent as of April 22, 2026. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on April 22, 2026, and ELA KidsNet, LLC was listed as current-active. Peggy Martin, administrator, was present and available for consultation during the visit. One hundred twenty-four (124) children, between the ages of zero (0) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and ninety-one (91) were present today. There are nine (9) approved indoor spaces and four (4) 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. Permit restrictions, adequate supervision, and staff child ratios were in compliance. Infants assigned to indoor space #1 were observed during music time. All infants were awake. One infant was lying on their back on the carpet, five infants were seated in activity centers, and one infant was being held by a staff member. One staff member was shaking bells and beating a drum as she sang fingerplay songs. Safe sleep checks, diaper creams, infant bottles, and medication permission slips were monitored and found to be in compliance. Toddlers assigned to indoor space #2 were engaged in a variety of free play activities which included large legos, farm animals, manipulatives, large puzzles, trucks, and soft blocks. Younger preschool children were observed in the outdoor spaces singing songs, throwing balls, running, riding tricycles, and riding cars. Older preschool children were observed eating lunch which consisted of ham and cheese sandwiches, mandarin oranges, green beans, and milk. Routine handwashing, toileting, and food service procedures were monitored, and requirements were met. The outdoor spaces had a variety of gross motor equipment including wagons, picnic tables, small slides, push toys, riding push cars, lawn mowers, riding toys, basketball goals, soccer goals, balance beams, tricycles, bike trails, covered areas, bird houses, a large acrobat climber, and a weather board. Health and safety trainings were monitored, and requirements were met. Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. The walls in indoor spaces #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, and #9 have chipped paint areas that need to be repaired. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch in older preschool children’s outdoor space under the large climbing structure was not nine (9) inches. .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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Wednesday, May 6, 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 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 Choosing a Pathway to the Stars: Your facility has chosen to apply for Pathway #1, Program Assessment, and you have requested to have the ERS completed. Pathway 1 – Program Assessment: You are eligible for this pathway, which allows your program to demonstrate quality through best practices using the Environment Rating scale. This includes completing a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan, meeting Family and Community Engagement Standards, implementing a Curriculum for 4 years olds in 4 and 5-Star programs, and Enhanced Staff/Child Ratios. Family and Community Engagement: The facility has completed the Family and Community Engagement Standards Worksheet selecting the applicable items. Items selected must be verifiable. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI): A CQI plan has been completed for the facility and each staff member. The CQI Plan includes the following: Identification of goal(s), necessary resources, supports and actions needed to accomplish the goal(s), documentation of the reason for the goal(s). A review of efforts toward completion of the goal(s) will be conducted annually. Staff Education: Ms. Martin has submitted Staff Education Worksheets and WORKS Status letters for all staff members. Once all your staff’s education has been evaluated, your facility will earn their Star Rated License based on the following: 50% of Lead Teachers and 50% of other educators. (“Educator” means all classroom teaching staff and administrative positions, including education coordinators, curriculum specialists and any staff who have responsibility for planning, caregiving, mentoring or training. To count as an educator meeting 50% of the education standards, an individual must meet the requirements of a position and work on-site, full-time.) Environmental Rating Scales: An assessment was requested on Friday, February 27, 2026. The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) has given you a 4-week window from June 1, 2026, to June 26, 2026, in which your assessment will be conducted. Once the official results are received from NCRLAP, I will contact you to discuss results and next steps to process your new license. Once the star level has been determined for the Program Assessment and for Staff Education, the overall Star level will be issued. Technical Assistance: Importance of Resilient Surfacing Nationally, nearly 70% of playground related injuries are from falls. Fall injuries are the result of two things: 1) The height a child falls from and 2) The material/surface the child falls upon. Provide “soft” resilient surfacing under and around stationary playground equipment. Refer to 10A NCAC 09 .0605(h)(i). Challenging Behaviors Helpline: The Healthy Social Behaviors Project offers coaching for child care providers who would like support managing challenging classroom behaviors. The goal is to empower teachers to create learning environments that promote pro-social skills, like self-control and problem solving. Support is available by phone (888-600-1685). Early Learning Instruction for Teachers: Early Childhood Training Group Memberships Annual Packages Starting at $299 Purchase Anytime! Valid 1 year form date of purchase All courses approved by NCDCDEE Unlimited training for multiple educators for one low price Visit SWCDCINC.ORG 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 March 20, 2024. Water testing must be completed every three (3) years. • Lead-Based Paint-Section Complete/ No Hazards Identified • Asbestos- Section Complete/ No Hazards Identified Reminders: 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, printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the annual compliance rated license visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, you have my contact information. You may also contact my supervisor at kim.sherry@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: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/22/2026 Number Present: 91 Completed Date: 4/22/2026 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 330 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp w/Rated Lic Assess Announced/Unannounced: Announced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance with applicable childcare requirements pertinent to an annual compliance rated license visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 7, 2025. The sanitation inspection was completed March 30, 2026, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on October 30, 2025. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, and the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-eight (98) percent as of April 22, 2026. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on April 22, 2026, and ELA KidsNet, LLC was listed as current-active. Peggy Martin, administrator, was present and available for consultation during the visit. One hundred twenty-four (124) children, between the ages of zero (0) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and ninety-one (91) were present today. There are nine (9) approved indoor spaces and four (4) 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. Permit restrictions, adequate supervision, and staff child ratios were in compliance. Infants assigned to indoor space #1 were observed during music time. All infants were awake. One infant was lying on their back on the carpet, five infants were seated in activity centers, and one infant was being held by a staff member. One staff member was shaking bells and beating a drum as she sang fingerplay songs. Safe sleep checks, diaper creams, infant bottles, and medication permission slips were monitored and found to be in compliance. Toddlers assigned to indoor space #2 were engaged in a variety of free play activities which included large legos, farm animals, manipulatives, large puzzles, trucks, and soft blocks. Younger preschool children were observed in the outdoor spaces singing songs, throwing balls, running, riding tricycles, and riding cars. Older preschool children were observed eating lunch which consisted of ham and cheese sandwiches, mandarin oranges, green beans, and milk. Routine handwashing, toileting, and food service procedures were monitored, and requirements were met. The outdoor spaces had a variety of gross motor equipment including wagons, picnic tables, small slides, push toys, riding push cars, lawn mowers, riding toys, basketball goals, soccer goals, balance beams, tricycles, bike trails, covered areas, bird houses, a large acrobat climber, and a weather board. Health and safety trainings were monitored, and requirements were met. Violation Number Comment Rule 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. The walls in indoor spaces #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, and #9 have chipped paint areas that need to be repaired. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch in older preschool children’s outdoor space under the large climbing structure was not nine (9) inches. .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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Wednesday, May 6, 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 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 Choosing a Pathway to the Stars: Your facility has chosen to apply for Pathway #1, Program Assessment, and you have requested to have the ERS completed. Pathway 1 – Program Assessment: You are eligible for this pathway, which allows your program to demonstrate quality through best practices using the Environment Rating scale. This includes completing a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan, meeting Family and Community Engagement Standards, implementing a Curriculum for 4 years olds in 4 and 5-Star programs, and Enhanced Staff/Child Ratios. Family and Community Engagement: The facility has completed the Family and Community Engagement Standards Worksheet selecting the applicable items. Items selected must be verifiable. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI): A CQI plan has been completed for the facility and each staff member. The CQI Plan includes the following: Identification of goal(s), necessary resources, supports and actions needed to accomplish the goal(s), documentation of the reason for the goal(s). A review of efforts toward completion of the goal(s) will be conducted annually. Staff Education: Ms. Martin has submitted Staff Education Worksheets and WORKS Status letters for all staff members. Once all your staff’s education has been evaluated, your facility will earn their Star Rated License based on the following: 50% of Lead Teachers and 50% of other educators. (“Educator” means all classroom teaching staff and administrative positions, including education coordinators, curriculum specialists and any staff who have responsibility for planning, caregiving, mentoring or training. To count as an educator meeting 50% of the education standards, an individual must meet the requirements of a position and work on-site, full-time.) Environmental Rating Scales: An assessment was requested on Friday, February 27, 2026. The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) has given you a 4-week window from June 1, 2026, to June 26, 2026, in which your assessment will be conducted. Once the official results are received from NCRLAP, I will contact you to discuss results and next steps to process your new license. Once the star level has been determined for the Program Assessment and for Staff Education, the overall Star level will be issued. Technical Assistance: Importance of Resilient Surfacing Nationally, nearly 70% of playground related injuries are from falls. Fall injuries are the result of two things: 1) The height a child falls from and 2) The material/surface the child falls upon. Provide “soft” resilient surfacing under and around stationary playground equipment. Refer to 10A NCAC 09 .0605(h)(i). Challenging Behaviors Helpline: The Healthy Social Behaviors Project offers coaching for child care providers who would like support managing challenging classroom behaviors. The goal is to empower teachers to create learning environments that promote pro-social skills, like self-control and problem solving. Support is available by phone (888-600-1685). Early Learning Instruction for Teachers: Early Childhood Training Group Memberships Annual Packages Starting at $299 Purchase Anytime! Valid 1 year form date of purchase All courses approved by NCDCDEE Unlimited training for multiple educators for one low price Visit SWCDCINC.ORG 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 March 20, 2024. Water testing must be completed every three (3) years. • Lead-Based Paint-Section Complete/ No Hazards Identified • Asbestos- Section Complete/ No Hazards Identified Reminders: 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, printed and signed. As we discussed, this computer-generated visit summary serves as completion of the annual compliance rated license visit. If you have any questions and/or concerns, you have my contact information. You may also contact my supervisor at kim.sherry@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

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/7/2025 Number Present: 92 Completed Date: 7/7/2025 Age: From 0 To 11 Total Minutes: 203 Time In: 09:07 AM Time Out: 12:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor 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 15, 2024. The sanitation inspection was completed April 23, 2025, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on December 15, 2024. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care and the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-eight (98) percent as of July 7, 2025. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 7, 2025, and ELA KidsNet, LLC was listed as current-active. One hundred and seventeen (117) children, between the ages of zero (0) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and ninety-two (92) were present today. There are nine (9) approved indoor spaces and four (4) 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. Infants assigned to indoors space #1 received routine care based on their individual needs. Toddlers assigned to indoor spaces #2 and #3 were engaged in free play activities which included large soft blocks, dramatic food , cars, trucks, large legos, baby dolls, and transitioning from morning snack which included French toast sticks, oranges, and milk. Younger preschool children assigned to indoor space #4 were observed in the outdoor space. Outdoor activities included pushing toys and riding in cars. School aged children assigned to indoor space #6 were engaged in free play activities which included card games, sand play, puppets, dress up, small legos, nuts and bolts, and magnetic shapes. Older preschool children assigned to indoor spaces #7, #8, and #9 were engaged in free play activities which included reading books, animal cooking, coloring with markers, shells, easel painting, play dough, and bean bag toss. Lunch today consisted of chicken nuggets, green beans, diced peaches, and milk. Routine toileting, handwashing, diaper changing, and food service were monitored, and requirements were met. Health and safety trainings were monitored. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. There was a hole in the wall and chipped paint on the walls in indoor space #6. Indoor space #7 had chipped paint on the walls and a wall display in the science area with broken wood and chipped paint. 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 Monday, July 21, 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: Fall Zones with weeds: As discussed, fall zones should be weeded regularly and loose parts including pine cones, gumballs and sticks should be collected daily to ensure fall zones are kept free of hazards. For the safety of the children, you must ensure weeds and debris are removed and sand/mulch is tilled or added to the appropriate depth to avoid potential injuries to children. I also urged you again to create a regular weed removal and tilling schedule for the sand. 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 March 20, 2024. Water testing must be completed every three (3) years. • Lead-Based Paint-Exempt • Asbestos-Exempt/No Asbestos Hazards Identified Moodle Helpful Hints: 1. When on the Moodle homepage, scroll down past the three-square boxes to find directions to self-register for various training opportunities. 2. If you do not access a training opportunity for 150 days, the training will be suspended. To regain access, email a request to set status to “active” including the name of the training course to dcdee_moodle_support@dhhs.nc.gov. Send any questions about DCDEE Moodle trainings to dcdee_moodle_support@dhhs.nc.gov. Tips for MY NCID Users: Did you know that if you do not log in to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Reminders: EPR Plan: Please complete the annual updating on your facility’s EPR Plan on or before July 15, 2025. Staff Qualifications: Staff member, T. Nobles, needs to update her Criminal Background Check Qualifying Letter on or before August 4, 2025. She also needs to complete her 5-year requirement for health and safety training course, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment, on or before November 19, 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 #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/7/2025 Number Present: 92 Completed Date: 7/7/2025 Age: From 0 To 11 Total Minutes: 203 Time In: 09:07 AM Time Out: 12:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor 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 15, 2024. The sanitation inspection was completed April 23, 2025, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on December 15, 2024. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care and the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-eight (98) percent as of July 7, 2025. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 7, 2025, and ELA KidsNet, LLC was listed as current-active. One hundred and seventeen (117) children, between the ages of zero (0) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and ninety-two (92) were present today. There are nine (9) approved indoor spaces and four (4) 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. Infants assigned to indoors space #1 received routine care based on their individual needs. Toddlers assigned to indoor spaces #2 and #3 were engaged in free play activities which included large soft blocks, dramatic food , cars, trucks, large legos, baby dolls, and transitioning from morning snack which included French toast sticks, oranges, and milk. Younger preschool children assigned to indoor space #4 were observed in the outdoor space. Outdoor activities included pushing toys and riding in cars. School aged children assigned to indoor space #6 were engaged in free play activities which included card games, sand play, puppets, dress up, small legos, nuts and bolts, and magnetic shapes. Older preschool children assigned to indoor spaces #7, #8, and #9 were engaged in free play activities which included reading books, animal cooking, coloring with markers, shells, easel painting, play dough, and bean bag toss. Lunch today consisted of chicken nuggets, green beans, diced peaches, and milk. Routine toileting, handwashing, diaper changing, and food service were monitored, and requirements were met. Health and safety trainings were monitored. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. There was a hole in the wall and chipped paint on the walls in indoor space #6. Indoor space #7 had chipped paint on the walls and a wall display in the science area with broken wood and chipped paint. 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 Monday, July 21, 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: Fall Zones with weeds: As discussed, fall zones should be weeded regularly and loose parts including pine cones, gumballs and sticks should be collected daily to ensure fall zones are kept free of hazards. For the safety of the children, you must ensure weeds and debris are removed and sand/mulch is tilled or added to the appropriate depth to avoid potential injuries to children. I also urged you again to create a regular weed removal and tilling schedule for the sand. 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 March 20, 2024. Water testing must be completed every three (3) years. • Lead-Based Paint-Exempt • Asbestos-Exempt/No Asbestos Hazards Identified Moodle Helpful Hints: 1. When on the Moodle homepage, scroll down past the three-square boxes to find directions to self-register for various training opportunities. 2. If you do not access a training opportunity for 150 days, the training will be suspended. To regain access, email a request to set status to “active” including the name of the training course to dcdee_moodle_support@dhhs.nc.gov. Send any questions about DCDEE Moodle trainings to dcdee_moodle_support@dhhs.nc.gov. Tips for MY NCID Users: Did you know that if you do not log in to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Reminders: EPR Plan: Please complete the annual updating on your facility’s EPR Plan on or before July 15, 2025. Staff Qualifications: Staff member, T. Nobles, needs to update her Criminal Background Check Qualifying Letter on or before August 4, 2025. She also needs to complete her 5-year requirement for health and safety training course, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment, on or before November 19, 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

GS110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/15/2024 Number Present: 76 Completed Date: 7/15/2024 Age: From 0 To 11 Total Minutes: 272 Time In: 08:58 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor 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 18, 2023. The sanitation inspection was completed March 18, 2024, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on October 16, 2023. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-two (92) percent. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 15, 2024, and ELA KidsNet Holdings, LLC. was listed as current-active. Ninety (90) children, between the ages of zero (0) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and seventy-six (76) children were present today. There are nine (9) approved indoor spaces and four (4) 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. Three (3) infants assigned to indoor space #1 were asleep in their individual cribs. A staff member read a book to two (2) infants. Toddlers assigned to indoor space #2 were engaged in free play activities which included balls animal, large people, and letter bean bags. Younger preschool children assigned to indoor spaces #3 and #4 played with books, large screws and bolts, drums, and stuffed animals. School aged children assigned to indoor space #6 were stringing beads to make jewelry, dressing up in a variety of adult clothes, cooking, and building with magnetic colored shapes. Older preschool children assigned to indoor spaces # 7, #8, and #9 were engaged in free play activities which included finger painting, coloring, gluing, block building, water play, sand play, counting dinosaurs, easel painting, shape sorting, and playing musical instruments. Diapering, toileting, and handwashing routines were monitored and found to be in compliance. All staff members were actively involved with the children. The outdoor space had a variety of gross motor equipment including infant swings, wagons, picnic tables, small slides, push toys, riding push cars, lawn mowers, riding toys, basketball goals, soccer goals, balance beams, tricycles, bike trails, covered areas, bird houses, and a weather board. Health and safety trainings, safe sleep policies, and safe sleep checks were monitored, and requirements were met. The following violations were cited. Violation Number Comment Rule 601 Refrigerator(s) did not maintain a temperature of 45 degrees F. or below. A thermometer was not in the refrigerator in space #1; therefore, a temperature of 45 degrees F. or below could not be verified. 15A NCAC 18A .2806(j)(2) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. Three (3) out of nine (9) children’s records reviewed did not have a medical exam or health as on file before or within to days after admission. GS110-91(1) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch in outdoor spaces # 3 and #4 under the large climbing structure was not nine (9) inches. .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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Friday, July 26, 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 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 Technical Assistance: Children Records The health and safety of individual children requires that information regarding each child in care be kept and available when needed. Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Maintaining accurate documentation at the childcare center to determine compliance with the childcare rules and to ensure the health and safety of each child. As we discussed today, verify that all required children documents are completed and have been received before filing a child’s folder with completed files. Fall Zones with Weeds: As discussed, fall zones should be weeded regularly and loose parts including pine cones, gumballs and sticks should be collected daily to ensure fall zones are kept free of hazards. For the safety of the children, you must ensure weeds and debris are removed and mulch is tilled or added to the appropriate depth to avoid potential injuries to children. I also urged you again to create a regular weeding and tilling schedule for the mulch. Reminders: Incident Report Log: You are maintaining your incident reports electronically and you have not submitted any incident reports to me this year; however, please print an incident log from the Provider Documents tab on the DCDEE website. This incident log should be available for me to review. Please record on this log, any incidents where a child received medical care. Vehicle Inspection Renewals: Your facility vehicles are due for inspections 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, 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 #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/15/2024 Number Present: 76 Completed Date: 7/15/2024 Age: From 0 To 11 Total Minutes: 272 Time In: 08:58 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor 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 18, 2023. The sanitation inspection was completed March 18, 2024, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on October 16, 2023. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, the facility meets enhanced ratios and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-two (92) percent. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 15, 2024, and ELA KidsNet Holdings, LLC. was listed as current-active. Ninety (90) children, between the ages of zero (0) and eleven (11) years old are enrolled and seventy-six (76) children were present today. There are nine (9) approved indoor spaces and four (4) 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. Three (3) infants assigned to indoor space #1 were asleep in their individual cribs. A staff member read a book to two (2) infants. Toddlers assigned to indoor space #2 were engaged in free play activities which included balls animal, large people, and letter bean bags. Younger preschool children assigned to indoor spaces #3 and #4 played with books, large screws and bolts, drums, and stuffed animals. School aged children assigned to indoor space #6 were stringing beads to make jewelry, dressing up in a variety of adult clothes, cooking, and building with magnetic colored shapes. Older preschool children assigned to indoor spaces # 7, #8, and #9 were engaged in free play activities which included finger painting, coloring, gluing, block building, water play, sand play, counting dinosaurs, easel painting, shape sorting, and playing musical instruments. Diapering, toileting, and handwashing routines were monitored and found to be in compliance. All staff members were actively involved with the children. The outdoor space had a variety of gross motor equipment including infant swings, wagons, picnic tables, small slides, push toys, riding push cars, lawn mowers, riding toys, basketball goals, soccer goals, balance beams, tricycles, bike trails, covered areas, bird houses, and a weather board. Health and safety trainings, safe sleep policies, and safe sleep checks were monitored, and requirements were met. The following violations were cited. Violation Number Comment Rule 601 Refrigerator(s) did not maintain a temperature of 45 degrees F. or below. A thermometer was not in the refrigerator in space #1; therefore, a temperature of 45 degrees F. or below could not be verified. 15A NCAC 18A .2806(j)(2) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. Three (3) out of nine (9) children’s records reviewed did not have a medical exam or health as on file before or within to days after admission. GS110-91(1) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch in outdoor spaces # 3 and #4 under the large climbing structure was not nine (9) inches. .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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before Friday, July 26, 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 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 Technical Assistance: Children Records The health and safety of individual children requires that information regarding each child in care be kept and available when needed. Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Maintaining accurate documentation at the childcare center to determine compliance with the childcare rules and to ensure the health and safety of each child. As we discussed today, verify that all required children documents are completed and have been received before filing a child’s folder with completed files. Fall Zones with Weeds: As discussed, fall zones should be weeded regularly and loose parts including pine cones, gumballs and sticks should be collected daily to ensure fall zones are kept free of hazards. For the safety of the children, you must ensure weeds and debris are removed and mulch is tilled or added to the appropriate depth to avoid potential injuries to children. I also urged you again to create a regular weeding and tilling schedule for the mulch. Reminders: Incident Report Log: You are maintaining your incident reports electronically and you have not submitted any incident reports to me this year; however, please print an incident log from the Provider Documents tab on the DCDEE website. This incident log should be available for me to review. Please record on this log, any incidents where a child received medical care. Vehicle Inspection Renewals: Your facility vehicles are due for inspections 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, 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

10A NCAC 09 .0605 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/18/2023 Number Present: 101 Completed Date: 7/18/2023 Age: From 0 To 12 Total Minutes: 330 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 02:15 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 your annual compliance visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 27, 2022. The sanitation inspection was completed February 20, 2023, with an “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted October 3, 2022. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, enhanced ratios, and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-three (93%). The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 18, 2023, and ELA KidsNet Holdings, LLC was listed as current-active. One hundred-fourteen (114) children between the ages of zero (0) and twelve (12) are enrolled and one hundred-one (101) were present today. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in all. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk through was conducted for all indoor and outdoor spaces. Four (4) infants were observed playing with soft toys on the floor, one (1) infant was asleep on their back in a crib, and one staff member was holding an infant. All infants received routine care based on their individual needs. Safe sleep checks were monitored, and requirements were met. Toddlers were observed engaged in a variety of activities including soft blocks, animals, pots and pans, and puppets. Younger preschool children were observed dancing to music, playing with scarves, bells, rattles, reading books, waffle blocks, connecting tubes, and puzzles. Older preschool children were engaged in activities including sand play, coloring, legos, colored pencil drawings, easel painting, brick building, screws, and bolts, and connecting tracks. School age children were building with wooden blocks, magnetic blocks, playdough, toss games, and connect four. All staff members were actively engaged with the children. All outdoor spaces had a variety of gross motor equipment including infant swings, wagons, picnic tables, small slides, push toys, riding push cars, lawn mowers, riding toys, basketball goals, soccer goals, balance beams, tricycles, bike trails, covered areas, bird houses, and wind chimes. Violation Number Comment Rule 705 Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. In outdoor space four (4) the climbing ropes on the large stationary climbing equipment had one (1) broken rope and the plastic covering a rope was broken. .0601(c) 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. The small stationary manipulative toys in outdoor space one (1) had visible mold and rust on them. The voice projector in outdoor space two (1) had visible mold. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch in outdoor spaces three (3) and four (4) under the large climbing structures were not nine (9) inches. .0605(k)(1-4) 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Seven (7) out of eight (8) medication permission slips in indoor space two (2), did not have an expiration date for the medication. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. Violation number 1882 was corrected during the visit: therefore, it does not require a compliance letter. On or before Friday, July 28, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when 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: Importance of Resilient Surfacing: Nationally, nearly 70% of playground related injuries are from falls. Fall injuries are the result of two things: 1) The height a child falls from and 2) The material/surface the child falls upon. Provide “soft” resilient surfacing under and around stationary playground equipment. Refer to 10A NCAC 09 .0605(h)(i).Today we discussed, the surfacing in the preschool and school age playgrounds. We discussed adding more mulch to the areas to ensure that the depth of the mulch is a resilient nine inches. We also discussed tilling or fluffing the mulch in areas where the mulch is compacted. Diaper Cream: As we discussed today, when diaper cream forms are filled out, you should check that all required information is completed on the medication permission slip. Expansion and Access Grants: The application for Expansion and Access Grants closed on June 12. Applications are no longer being accepted. Round 1 Applicants: to see if you were awarded a grant, check the application portal, or check your inbox for an email from COVID19ChildCareAssistance@dhhs.nc.gov. Round 1 payments are expected to be issued mid-July. If you applied in Round 1 but did not receive a grant award, your application was rolled into Round 2 for consideration. Round 2 Applications are currently under review. Please be patient. The Division expects to award Round 2 grants at the end of July with payment probably going out in August. We’ll let you know via this newsletter when the status of Round 2 applications is updated. Re-Adopted Child Care Sanitation Rules: NCDHHS Children’s Environmental Health will be conducting a series of virtual trainings on the recently re-adopted Child Care Sanitation Rules, effective July 1, 2023. The rules have been approved but have not yet been updated in the Administrative Code. Once updated, notification will be sent out via listserv. See the training agenda, new rules, and other resources at: https://ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/hhccehb/cehu/ccs/children.htm. Please note that there will be future trainings for those that are not able to attend. Registration is not required. July 19, 2023 9:00am to 4:00pm Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 241 497 360 216 Passcode: MpQXma Download Teams | Join on the web Contact Children’s Environmental Health at 919-707-5951 with any questions about this training or the new rules. Building Bright Futures: Gov. Cooper announced the Building Bright Futures (BBF) early childhood education pre-apprenticeship-to-apprenticeship program. This program is a partnership between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the NCDHHS' Division of Child Development and Early Education to pilot new pathways to entering the early childhood profession. BBF creates supportive pathways for high school and postsecondary students to earn credentials, while also obtaining hands-on, work-based learning experiences in the early childhood education field. BBF offers a variety of benefits to participating early child care providers and students including mentorship, professional development, career awareness, and other enrichment activities. Further, the program provides monetary support for transportation, books and materials, a 50 percent wage match reimbursement to providers for work-based learning hours, and other items and services. Learn more about the Building Bright Futures program and how it can support you. 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, signed, emailed to you, and copies were printed. 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. You may also contact my supervisor, Lynette Robbins Lynette.Robbins@dhhs.nc.gov PMB 361 Office: 910-824-0235 3600 S. College Road, Suite E Wilmington, NC 28412 If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: EXCEL LEARNING CENTERS #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/18/2023 Number Present: 101 Completed Date: 7/18/2023 Age: From 0 To 12 Total Minutes: 330 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 02:15 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 your annual compliance visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 27, 2022. The sanitation inspection was completed February 20, 2023, with an “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted October 3, 2022. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, enhanced ratios, and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-three (93%). The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 18, 2023, and ELA KidsNet Holdings, LLC was listed as current-active. One hundred-fourteen (114) children between the ages of zero (0) and twelve (12) are enrolled and one hundred-one (101) were present today. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in all. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk through was conducted for all indoor and outdoor spaces. Four (4) infants were observed playing with soft toys on the floor, one (1) infant was asleep on their back in a crib, and one staff member was holding an infant. All infants received routine care based on their individual needs. Safe sleep checks were monitored, and requirements were met. Toddlers were observed engaged in a variety of activities including soft blocks, animals, pots and pans, and puppets. Younger preschool children were observed dancing to music, playing with scarves, bells, rattles, reading books, waffle blocks, connecting tubes, and puzzles. Older preschool children were engaged in activities including sand play, coloring, legos, colored pencil drawings, easel painting, brick building, screws, and bolts, and connecting tracks. School age children were building with wooden blocks, magnetic blocks, playdough, toss games, and connect four. All staff members were actively engaged with the children. All outdoor spaces had a variety of gross motor equipment including infant swings, wagons, picnic tables, small slides, push toys, riding push cars, lawn mowers, riding toys, basketball goals, soccer goals, balance beams, tricycles, bike trails, covered areas, bird houses, and wind chimes. Violation Number Comment Rule 705 Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. In outdoor space four (4) the climbing ropes on the large stationary climbing equipment had one (1) broken rope and the plastic covering a rope was broken. .0601(c) 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. The small stationary manipulative toys in outdoor space one (1) had visible mold and rust on them. The voice projector in outdoor space two (1) had visible mold. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch in outdoor spaces three (3) and four (4) under the large climbing structures were not nine (9) inches. .0605(k)(1-4) 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Seven (7) out of eight (8) medication permission slips in indoor space two (2), did not have an expiration date for the medication. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. Violation number 1882 was corrected during the visit: therefore, it does not require a compliance letter. On or before Friday, July 28, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when 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: Importance of Resilient Surfacing: Nationally, nearly 70% of playground related injuries are from falls. Fall injuries are the result of two things: 1) The height a child falls from and 2) The material/surface the child falls upon. Provide “soft” resilient surfacing under and around stationary playground equipment. Refer to 10A NCAC 09 .0605(h)(i).Today we discussed, the surfacing in the preschool and school age playgrounds. We discussed adding more mulch to the areas to ensure that the depth of the mulch is a resilient nine inches. We also discussed tilling or fluffing the mulch in areas where the mulch is compacted. Diaper Cream: As we discussed today, when diaper cream forms are filled out, you should check that all required information is completed on the medication permission slip. Expansion and Access Grants: The application for Expansion and Access Grants closed on June 12. Applications are no longer being accepted. Round 1 Applicants: to see if you were awarded a grant, check the application portal, or check your inbox for an email from COVID19ChildCareAssistance@dhhs.nc.gov. Round 1 payments are expected to be issued mid-July. If you applied in Round 1 but did not receive a grant award, your application was rolled into Round 2 for consideration. Round 2 Applications are currently under review. Please be patient. The Division expects to award Round 2 grants at the end of July with payment probably going out in August. We’ll let you know via this newsletter when the status of Round 2 applications is updated. Re-Adopted Child Care Sanitation Rules: NCDHHS Children’s Environmental Health will be conducting a series of virtual trainings on the recently re-adopted Child Care Sanitation Rules, effective July 1, 2023. The rules have been approved but have not yet been updated in the Administrative Code. Once updated, notification will be sent out via listserv. See the training agenda, new rules, and other resources at: https://ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/hhccehb/cehu/ccs/children.htm. Please note that there will be future trainings for those that are not able to attend. Registration is not required. July 19, 2023 9:00am to 4:00pm Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 241 497 360 216 Passcode: MpQXma Download Teams | Join on the web Contact Children’s Environmental Health at 919-707-5951 with any questions about this training or the new rules. Building Bright Futures: Gov. Cooper announced the Building Bright Futures (BBF) early childhood education pre-apprenticeship-to-apprenticeship program. This program is a partnership between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the NCDHHS' Division of Child Development and Early Education to pilot new pathways to entering the early childhood profession. BBF creates supportive pathways for high school and postsecondary students to earn credentials, while also obtaining hands-on, work-based learning experiences in the early childhood education field. BBF offers a variety of benefits to participating early child care providers and students including mentorship, professional development, career awareness, and other enrichment activities. Further, the program provides monetary support for transportation, books and materials, a 50 percent wage match reimbursement to providers for work-based learning hours, and other items and services. Learn more about the Building Bright Futures program and how it can support you. 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, signed, emailed to you, and copies were printed. 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. You may also contact my supervisor, Lynette Robbins Lynette.Robbins@dhhs.nc.gov PMB 361 Office: 910-824-0235 3600 S. College Road, Suite E Wilmington, NC 28412 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 #1 Facility ID: 25000602 Consultant: ANDREA JOHNSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/18/2023 Number Present: 101 Completed Date: 7/18/2023 Age: From 0 To 12 Total Minutes: 330 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 02:15 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 your annual compliance visit. Your program currently operates with a 5-Star license issued February 20, 2022. The last annual compliance was conducted on July 27, 2022. The sanitation inspection was completed February 20, 2023, with an “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted October 3, 2022. Your facility was approved for 1st shift care, enhanced ratios, and enhanced space. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-three (93%). The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on July 18, 2023, and ELA KidsNet Holdings, LLC was listed as current-active. One hundred-fourteen (114) children between the ages of zero (0) and twelve (12) are enrolled and one hundred-one (101) were present today. At least five (5) activity areas including language, blocks, manipulatives, dramatic play, and art were available in all. Age-appropriate materials and activities were provided for all children. A walk through was conducted for all indoor and outdoor spaces. Four (4) infants were observed playing with soft toys on the floor, one (1) infant was asleep on their back in a crib, and one staff member was holding an infant. All infants received routine care based on their individual needs. Safe sleep checks were monitored, and requirements were met. Toddlers were observed engaged in a variety of activities including soft blocks, animals, pots and pans, and puppets. Younger preschool children were observed dancing to music, playing with scarves, bells, rattles, reading books, waffle blocks, connecting tubes, and puzzles. Older preschool children were engaged in activities including sand play, coloring, legos, colored pencil drawings, easel painting, brick building, screws, and bolts, and connecting tracks. School age children were building with wooden blocks, magnetic blocks, playdough, toss games, and connect four. All staff members were actively engaged with the children. All outdoor spaces had a variety of gross motor equipment including infant swings, wagons, picnic tables, small slides, push toys, riding push cars, lawn mowers, riding toys, basketball goals, soccer goals, balance beams, tricycles, bike trails, covered areas, bird houses, and wind chimes. Violation Number Comment Rule 705 Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. In outdoor space four (4) the climbing ropes on the large stationary climbing equipment had one (1) broken rope and the plastic covering a rope was broken. .0601(c) 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. The small stationary manipulative toys in outdoor space one (1) had visible mold and rust on them. The voice projector in outdoor space two (1) had visible mold. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch in outdoor spaces three (3) and four (4) under the large climbing structures were not nine (9) inches. .0605(k)(1-4) 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Seven (7) out of eight (8) medication permission slips in indoor space two (2), did not have an expiration date for the medication. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violations documented must be corrected immediately. Violation number 1882 was corrected during the visit: therefore, it does not require a compliance letter. On or before Friday, July 28, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when 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: Importance of Resilient Surfacing: Nationally, nearly 70% of playground related injuries are from falls. Fall injuries are the result of two things: 1) The height a child falls from and 2) The material/surface the child falls upon. Provide “soft” resilient surfacing under and around stationary playground equipment. Refer to 10A NCAC 09 .0605(h)(i).Today we discussed, the surfacing in the preschool and school age playgrounds. We discussed adding more mulch to the areas to ensure that the depth of the mulch is a resilient nine inches. We also discussed tilling or fluffing the mulch in areas where the mulch is compacted. Diaper Cream: As we discussed today, when diaper cream forms are filled out, you should check that all required information is completed on the medication permission slip. Expansion and Access Grants: The application for Expansion and Access Grants closed on June 12. Applications are no longer being accepted. Round 1 Applicants: to see if you were awarded a grant, check the application portal, or check your inbox for an email from COVID19ChildCareAssistance@dhhs.nc.gov. Round 1 payments are expected to be issued mid-July. If you applied in Round 1 but did not receive a grant award, your application was rolled into Round 2 for consideration. Round 2 Applications are currently under review. Please be patient. The Division expects to award Round 2 grants at the end of July with payment probably going out in August. We’ll let you know via this newsletter when the status of Round 2 applications is updated. Re-Adopted Child Care Sanitation Rules: NCDHHS Children’s Environmental Health will be conducting a series of virtual trainings on the recently re-adopted Child Care Sanitation Rules, effective July 1, 2023. The rules have been approved but have not yet been updated in the Administrative Code. Once updated, notification will be sent out via listserv. See the training agenda, new rules, and other resources at: https://ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/hhccehb/cehu/ccs/children.htm. Please note that there will be future trainings for those that are not able to attend. Registration is not required. July 19, 2023 9:00am to 4:00pm Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 241 497 360 216 Passcode: MpQXma Download Teams | Join on the web Contact Children’s Environmental Health at 919-707-5951 with any questions about this training or the new rules. Building Bright Futures: Gov. Cooper announced the Building Bright Futures (BBF) early childhood education pre-apprenticeship-to-apprenticeship program. This program is a partnership between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the NCDHHS' Division of Child Development and Early Education to pilot new pathways to entering the early childhood profession. BBF creates supportive pathways for high school and postsecondary students to earn credentials, while also obtaining hands-on, work-based learning experiences in the early childhood education field. BBF offers a variety of benefits to participating early child care providers and students including mentorship, professional development, career awareness, and other enrichment activities. Further, the program provides monetary support for transportation, books and materials, a 50 percent wage match reimbursement to providers for work-based learning hours, and other items and services. Learn more about the Building Bright Futures program and how it can support you. 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, signed, emailed to you, and copies were printed. 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. You may also contact my supervisor, Lynette Robbins Lynette.Robbins@dhhs.nc.gov PMB 361 Office: 910-824-0235 3600 S. College Road, Suite E Wilmington, NC 28412 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