Expanding Minds Early Learning Center

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“There were six(6) staff who were no longer employed or who had changed their role and the program did not remove them from the associated parties list or request that licensing update their title(role) in BFIS.The program was notified the day of the visit(01/23/2026) that they needed to remove staff no longer working at the program. At the time this report was generated staff members identified by the director as no longer employed were still on the associated parties list. Corrective Action: Please go into BFIS and remove any staff no longer employed by the program. Confirm that this has been done and all staff currently listed have the correct title. In communication with the director after the visit, she stated that she would work with licensee to ensure compliance with this regulation. Please email Sarah.Crosier@vermont.gov and explain with more detail what that communication will look like and explain any steps that will be taken to ensure future compliance with this regulation.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 24, 2026

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“Staff A was hired on 02/27/2025, the Child Development Division has not received fingerprint results and at the time this report was completed had not found a fingerprint receipt. Staff B was hired on 07/18/2025 director stated they had not yet submitted the required paperwork and Staff B would need to set up a fingerprinting appointment. Staff C was hired on 03/24/2025 the Child Development Division has not received fingerprint results. This is a repeat violation last cited on 01/24/2025 Corrective Action: Please send new record check authorization forms in for Staff A and C as it has been almost a year since we processed the record check authorization form when they were hired. Send copies of Staff A, B and C's fingerprint receipt's to Sarah.Crosier@vermont.gov. This is a repeat violation and a program improvement plan is required. Create a plan that will identify who will ensure staff schedule a fingeprint appointment, submit out of state paperwork when required and will monitor BFIS for clearance letters. When new staff are hired the program will utilize a tracking system to record the date they received the fingerprint authorization letter from CDD, the date they completed fingerprinting and the date they received the clearance letter from CDD approving or not approving the staff member to be left alone with children. Please collect fingerprint receipts from staff and keep them in one location.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 10, 2026

Regulation 5.1.4: The licensee shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“The required annual immunization survey was not submitted to Vermont Department of Health by midnight on 12/31/25. Initial notification of this requirement was sent the beginning of November, with reminders provided weekly, then daily, closer to the due date. Corrective Action: You must submit the past due 2025 annual immunization survey to Vermont Department of Health by midnight on 1/14/26. Failure to submit this survey will result in further regulatory action. Additionally, submit a statement to Kristy.Haapala@vermont.gov indicating who will be responsible for submitting this survey in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 8, 2026

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Upon reivew of staff BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts and documents submitted electronically following the visit, it was identified that six (6) staff members were missing reflection of at least one (1) qualification or professional development document in BFIS. All six (6) staff had been employed at the program for longer than six (6) months. Corrective Action: Ensure that all documents not yet reflected in BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts are submitted to Northern Lights by 02/24/2025. Copy Licensor [name] on the submissione email(s). Develop a system to ensure that documentation, verification of qualifications, and all professional development activities be reflected in staff BFIS account within six (6) months of initial date of employment moving forward. In the corrective action email, provide details of the system developed to ensure compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 28, 2025

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“Upon program submission of a Record Check Authorization form for Staff A on 01/08/2025, it was identified that the start date for the individual was in October 2023. A Record Check Authorization form had not been previously submitted for this individual. Corrective Action: Develop a system to ensure that a Record Check Authorization form is submitted to the Division for all new staff and Auxiliary Staff prior to their working with children. In the corrective action email include details of the system devleloped to ensure compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 27, 2025

Regulation 6.2.4.3: The program director shall ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation.

“Upon review of Staff Qualifications submitted following the visit, it was identified that only two (2) staff employed at the program, including the DIrector, meet minimum qualifications of Teacher Associate. During the visit four (4) classrooms were observed operating with separate groups of children. Corrective Action: Submit a plan identifying how the program will come into compliance with this rule. Should the program continue to operate four (4) classrooms, provide details of hiring and marketing plans to obtain qualified staff for each classroom. Provide staff schedules in specific classrooms to ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a Teacher Associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 23, 2025

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“There are three staff members who have worked at the program for more than three months and have not completed an approved First Aid and CPR training. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have these three staff members complete First Aid and CPR training. Email the certificates to Northern Lights@CCV and include this licensor. Please also email a description of a system that will be used track when staff need to initially complete the training and when they need to renew their certification.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 23, 2024

Regulation 3.4.5.1: A licensee shall maintain a complete and up-to-date personnel file for staff working at the CBCCPP. A complete file shall contain, at minimum, the following information: Name, date of birth, home address and telephone number; Copies of current first aid and CPR certification; Signed statement verifying understanding of legal requirement to report suspected child abuse and neglect; Documentation of a current Records Check Authorization form; Documentation of having read and having ready access to a current copy of applicable child care licensing regulations; Administration of Medication training certification (if applicable); Signed statement verifying current job title and supervisor's name; Application for employment including references or reference checks; Employment start date; Documentation of completed orientation Training; Employment end date; IPDP (Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt); and Written annual performance reviews (Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt).

“There are eight staff and two substitutes employed at the program. None of the staff files are complete. Three files only contained a copy of the record check authorization form. The remaining seven files were missing at least four or more of the thirteen documents bullet pointed in this regulation. This regulation was reviewed with the program as noted on the site visit report from 07/19/2023. Corrective Action: Please review all of the staff files and add the missing documents. Please email this licensor and describe how you will ensure staff files are complete and documents are added or updated as required.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 23, 2024

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Four staff members have not completed an approved orientation training. Three of the staff members have been at the program for almost six months and one staff member has been at the program for one month.This regualtion was reviewed with the program as noted on the site visit reports from 08/01/2023 and 08/24/2023. Corrective Action: Have staff complete the training and to reach out to Northern Lights at CCV for further guidance if necessary, in registering or obtaining completion certificates Please review this regulation and ensure that staff complete this training prior to working alone with children. Please identify the who will work with staff to ensure this training is completed and will assure staff who have not completed it are not left alone with children.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 23, 2024

Regulation 6.2.6.6: The program director shall ensure that no person be left alone with children without approval from the Division based on the results of a background check that includes fingerprinting; with the exception of a parent may be left alone with his/her own child(ren).

“Staff A was working alone with children during this licensing visit, and the Child Development Development Division has not received results from a fingerprint supported background clearance. On 01/02/2024 the Child Development Division sent a letter stating that Staff A needed to complete fingerprinting and could not be left alone until the Child Development Division received the results. A conversation with the Director indicated she was not aware of Staff A's clearance to be alone with children and assumed Staff A had completed fingerprinting. This regulation was reviewed with the program as noted on the site visit report from 07/19/2023. Corrective Action: After the visit the Licensee stated that Staff A has a fingerprinting appointment on 02/07/2024. Please email a copy of the fingerprint receipt to this licensor. Also include a description of the steps that will be taken to ensure that staff who have not been fingerprinted and cleared by the Child Development Division are not left alone with children. Please identify who at the program will oversee communication with staff about scheduling fingerprinting appointments and checking for the notification from the Child Development Division that they are cleared to work alone with children”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 23, 2024