Discovery Learning Center and Child Care

AAC R9-5-603.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the following is provided and maintained within the fall zones of swings and climbing equipment in an outdoor activity area: 1. A shock-absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for such use in outdoor activity areas; or 2. A minimum depth of 6 inches of a non-hazardous, resilient material such as fine loose sand or wood chips.

“Based on an observation, the sand was observed hard packed and measured 1-3 inches in depth in the fall zones of the climbing equipment and slides.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.1. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 1. Supervises each enrolled child at all times;

“Findings: Per allegation and the Compliance Officers observation, there were two staff members on the outdoor activity area sitting at a picnic table on 4/10/25. Children were observed climbing, hanging upside down, and doing flips on a hand rail that was above a concrete walkway and stairs. Staff did not redirect, stop, or interact with the children during this time. On 4/4/2025, a child on the outdoor activity area tripped going up steps on climbing equipment and fell, injuring their eye. The injury required medical attention. On 4/10/25, children were also playing with roaches on the outdoor activity area without staff intervention.”

AAC R9-5-514. G. G. If an enrolled child’s parent informs a staff member at the facility that the enrolled child’s parent obtained medical treatment from a health care provider for an accident, injury, or emergency the enrolled child had while attending the facility, a licensee shall ensure that a staff member:1. Documents any information about the enrolled child’s accident, injury, or emergency received from the enrolled child’s parent; and 2. Maintains documentation required in subsection (G)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the child’s disenrollment.

“Findings: Staff stated complete documentation of an injury to a child that required medical attention was not available on facility premises.”

AAC R9-5-514. F.2. F. If while attending a facility an enrolled child has an accident, injury, or emergency that, based on an evaluation by a staff member, requires medical treatment by a health care provider, a licensee shall ensure that a staff member:2. Documents: a. A description of the accident, injury, or emergency, including the date, time, and location of the accident, injury, or emergency; b. The method used to notify the enrolled child’s parent; and c. The time the enrolled child’s parent was notified; and

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed and staff stated that staff did not completely document an injury that required medical attention with a complete description of the accident - date/time,/location - method used to notify the parent, and the time the parent was notified. The parent was notified twice through ProCare and telephone calls about the injury.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that:1. In addition to complying with the requirements in this Chapter, the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child is not placed at risk of harm;

“Findings: The Compliance Officers observed that there were many dead and dying roaches in the hallway, kitchen, back classroom, and outdoor activity area. A child was observed holding and playing with a live roach on the outdoor activity area. Staff stated the facility had a monthly spray by an exterminator the day before.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.12. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 12. The facility premises, including the buildings, are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that there were nails exposed through some wood that were accessible to enrolled children on the outdoor activity area.”

AAC R9-5-512.A. A. A licensee shall maintain facility premises free of insects and vermin.

“Findings: The Compliance Officers observed that there were dead and dying roaches in the hallway, kitchen, and back room. Live roaches were observed on the outdoor activity area.”

AAC R9-5-301.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member submits, on or before the starting date of employment or volunteer services, one of the following as evidence of freedom from infectious active tuberculosis: 1. Documentation of a negative Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administered within 12 months before the starting date of employment or volunteer service, that includes the date and the type of tuberculosis screening test; or 2. If the staff member has had a positive Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test, a written statement that the staff member is free from infectious active tuberculosis that is signed and dated by a health care provider within six months before the starting date of employment or volunteer service.

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that staff 1’s tb test was competed in 2019 and staff 1 was rehired in 2025.; Maria d Brito tb done in 2019.”

AAC R9-5-304.B. B. Except as required in A.R.S. § 36-3009, before an enrolled child receives child care services, a licensee shall require the enrolled child’s parent to complete a Department-provided Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card that is signed by the enrolled child’s parent containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, city, state, zip code, home telephone number, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of each parent of the child; 4. The name and contact telephone number of at least two individuals authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the facility in case of emergency, or if the child’s parent cannot be contacted; 5. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s health care provider; 6. The written authorization for emergency medical care of the enrolled child when the parent cannot be contacted at the time of the emergency; 7. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; 8. The written instructions of a child’s parent or health care provider for nutritional and dietary needs of the child including, if applicable, the request in R9-5-509(C)(9); and 9. A written record completed by the child’s parent or health care provider noting the child’s susceptibility to illness, physical conditions of which a staff member should be aware, and any individual requirements for health maintenance.

“Findings: The Compliance Officer reviewed children’s Record cards. The Record card for child 1 lacked the name and contact number for the child’s health care provider and the Record card for child 2 lacked the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness.; M. Dimas - who to call, s.robles -health care provider”

AAC R9-5-404.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that at least the following staff-to-children ratios are maintained at all times when providing child care services to enrolled children: Age Group/Staff: Children - Infants/1:5 or 2:11; 1-year-old children/1:6 or 2:13; 2-year-old children/1:8; 3-year-old children/1:13; 4-year-old children/1:15; 5-year-old children not school-age/1:20; School-age children/1:20

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that there were 7 one year old children with one staff member in the 1’s room.; 1’s room had a ratio of 1:7.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.5. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member:5. Except as provided in subsection (D), prepares and posts a dated lesson plan in each indoor activity area for each calendar week, which is maintained on facility premises for 12 months after the lesson plan date and provides opportunities for each child to: a. Gain a positive self-concept; b. Develop and practice social skills; c. Think, reason, question, and experiment; d. Acquire language skills; e. Develop physical coordination skills; f. Participate in structured large muscle physical activity; g. Develop habits that meet health, safety, and nutritional needs; h. Express creativity; i. Learn to respect cultural diversity of children and staff; j. Learn self-help skills; and k. Develop a sense of responsibility and independence;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that the lesson plans in the classrooms lacked activities to provide opportunities to express creativity, acquire language skills, and engage in other developmental appropriate activities. The lesson plan in the 1’s room had pajama day listed for a whole day on their lesson plans.; 1’s. Classroom lesson plan - just pajama day on lap”

AAC R9-5-503.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:1. A nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that is: a. Seamless and smooth, and b. Kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that a backpack was placed on top of a cabinet between the diaper changing surface and the diaper changing handwashing sink.; Backpack on top of shelves next to sink”

AAC R9-5-503.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:2. A hand-washing sink next to the diaper changing surface for staff use when changing diapers and for washing an enrolled child during or after diapering that provides: a. Running water between 86° F and 110° F, b. Soap from a dispenser, and c. Single-use paper hand towels from a dispenser;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that the diaper changing surface was separated from the diaper changing hand washing sink by a cabinet containing the soiled diaper container.; Diaper changing surface not adjacent to sink”

AAC R9-5-510.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 2. Teaches, models, and encourages orderly conduct, personal control, and age-appropriate behavior;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that a one year old child was placed in a crib while the other children in the class were playing at a table. The staff said the child was biting and was then put in the crib.”

AAC R9-5-510.B.4. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member does not use or permit:4. Discipline associated with: a. Eating, napping, sleeping, or toileting; b. Medication; or c. Mechanical restraint; or

“Child in crib in 1 room for biting”

AAC R9-5-512.C. C. A licensee shall ensure that floor coverings are:1. Clean; and 2. Free from: a. Dampness, b. Odors, and c. Hazards.

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that there was a space between the tile and the wall in the 3's and 4's toilet room where the grout was missing. The other grout around the seam in the toilet room was discolored and had built up dirt. The Compliance Officer also observed that sections of tile were missing around and behind the toilet in the school age toilet room.; Bathroom flooring”

AAC R9-5-501.C.5. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member:5. Except as provided in subsection (D), prepares and posts a dated lesson plan in each indoor activity area for each calendar week, which is maintained on facility premises for 12 months after the lesson plan date and provides opportunities for each child to: a. Gain a positive self-concept; b. Develop and practice social skills; c. Think, reason, question, and experiment; d. Acquire language skills; e. Develop physical coordination skills; f. Participate in structured large muscle physical activity; g. Develop habits that meet health, safety, and nutritional needs; h. Express creativity; i. Learn to respect cultural diversity of children and staff; j. Learn self-help skills; and k. Develop a sense of responsibility and independence;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that the lesson plans in the activity areas were not specific and had whole days with "free play" listed as the only activity. Screen times were also not included on lesson plans.”

AAC R9-5-512.C. C. A licensee shall ensure that floor coverings are:1. Clean; and 2. Free from: a. Dampness, b. Odors, and c. Hazards.

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that the bathroom floor in the preschool/school age classroom had a section of cracked tile with a spongy floor underneath the tile.”