First Step Learning Academy

Rule .25(11) - Flooring (Recite-Not Met): (11) Flooring. Floor coverings shall be tight, smooth, free of odors and washable or cleanable.

Rule .21(2)(r) - Policies & Procedures - Shaken Baby Syndrome & Abusive Head Trauma (Recite-Not Met): (r) A description of the practices followed by the Center to prevent shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma in children up to five years of age that includes the following information: how to recognize, respond to, and report the signs and symptoms of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma; strategies to assist staff members in understanding how to care for infants and how to cope with a crying, fussing, or distraught child; strategies to ensure staff members understand the brain development of children up to five years of age; and a list of prohibited behaviors when dealing with children.

Rule .18(7) - Storage Areas, containers (Recite-Not Met): (7) Storage Areas. Each Center shall have a designated space for storage of food and kitchen items. The area shall be kept clean and free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles and grease deposits.

Rule .15(5) - Menu requirements (Recite-Not Met): (5) Menus. The Center shall provide a menu listing all meals and snacks to be served during the current week except for School-age Centers where the food may be provided by the Parent(s) by agreement between the School-age Center and the Parents. Substitutions shall be recorded on the posted menu. Menus shall be retained at the Center for six (6) months.

Rule .08(6) - Arrival and Departure Records (Recite-Not Met): (6) Arrival and Departure Records. Records of a child’s daily arrival and departure for the twelve (12) preceding months shall be maintained but need not be filed in each child’s record. The Parent or person(s) authorized by the Parent to drop off and pick up the child will document, in written or electronic format, each time the Parent or authorized person drops off and picks up the child. The documentation shall include at least the following information: the date, the child’s name, the arrival and departure times, and the signature or initials of the Parent or authorized person at the time of arrival and departure. These records shall be made available to the Department in printed or written form upon request.

Rule .26(9) - Playground-Safe/Clean: (9) Safety and Upkeep of Playground. Playgrounds shall be kept clean, free from litter and free of hazards, such as but not limited to rocks, exposed tree roots and exposed sharp edges of concrete.

Rule .26(8) - Fall Zones and Surfacing (Recite-Not Met): (8) Fall Zones and Surfacing. Climbing and swinging equipment shall have a resilient surface beneath the equipment and the fall zone from such equipment must be adequately maintained by the Center to assure continuing resiliency.

Rule .25(8) - Outlets (Recite-Not Met): (8) Electrical Outlets. Except in School-age Centers, all unused electrical outlets within reach of children shall have protective caps specifically designed to prohibit children from placing anything in the receptacle. Electrical outlets in use which the children can reach shall be made inaccessible to the children.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair (Recite-Not Met): (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards (Recite-Not Met): (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .25(11) - Flooring (Recite-Not Met): (11) Flooring. Floor coverings shall be tight, smooth, free of odors and washable or cleanable.

Rule .24(1) - Personnel Records: (1) A Center must maintain a personnel file on the Director, all Employees, Provisional Employees, Personnel, Staff, Students-in-Training, Volunteers, Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other Support Staff for the duration of the term of employment plus one calendar year, and it shall contain the following: identifying information to include: name, date of birth, social security number, current address and current telephone number; employment history; as applicable to the position held: evidence of education and qualifying work experience; evidence of all training required by these rules which shall include: title of training, date of training, trainer's signature, location of training and number of clock hours obtained; a statement completed by the staff member that the information provided is true and accurate; any other records required by these rules; and, as applicable to the position held, evidence of required orientation including date and signature of person providing the orientation;

Rule .21(3) - Fire/Tornado Drills (Recite-Not Met): (3) The Center shall conduct drills for fire, tornado and other emergency situations. The fire drills will be conducted monthly and tornado and other emergency situation drills will be conducted every six months. The Center shall maintain documentation of the dates and times of these drills for two years.

Rule .21(2)(r) - Policies & Procedures - Shaken Baby Syndrome & Abusive Head Trauma (Recite-Not Met): (r) A description of the practices followed by the Center to prevent shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma in children up to five years of age that includes the following information: how to recognize, respond to, and report the signs and symptoms of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma; strategies to assist staff members in understanding how to care for infants and how to cope with a crying, fussing, or distraught child; strategies to ensure staff members understand the brain development of children up to five years of age; and a list of prohibited behaviors when dealing with children.

Rule .18(7) - Storage Areas, containers (Recite-Not Met): (7) Storage Areas. Each Center shall have a designated space for storage of food and kitchen items. The area shall be kept clean and free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles and grease deposits.

Rule .18(5) - Refrigeration: (5) Refrigeration. All perishable and potentially hazardous foods shall be refrigerated at a temperature of forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit or below and served promptly after cooking. Freezer temperature shall be maintained at zero (0) degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Rule .15(5) - Menu requirements: (5) Menus. The Center shall provide a menu listing all meals and snacks to be served during the current week except for School-age Centers where the food may be provided by the Parent(s) by agreement between the School-age Center and the Parents. Substitutions shall be recorded on the posted menu. Menus shall be retained at the Center for six (6) months.

Rule .15(1) - USDA Guidelines: (1) Compliance with USDA Nutritional Guidelines. Meals and snacks with serving sizes dependent upon the age of the child shall meet nutritional guidelines as established by the United States Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals and snacks shall be varied daily, and additional servings of nutritious food shall be offered to children over and above the required daily minimum, if not contraindicated by special diets.

Rule .14(2)(d) - Director First Aid/CPR Trained: (c) During any field trip or transportation of children, there must always be a staff member present who has current evidence of the successful completion of pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and pediatric first aid.

Rule .14(2)(b) - First Aid/CPR trained Staff in each classroom: (b) There must always be one staff person present in each classroom where children are present that has current and valid pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and pediatric first aid training.

Rule .14(2)(a) - New - First Aid & CPR 50% Trained: (a) When any child is present on the premises, at least fifty percent (50%) of the caregiver staff present shall be trained in pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and pediatric first aid.

Rule .08(6) - Arrival and Departure Records (Recite-Not Met): (6) Arrival and Departure Records. Records of a child’s daily arrival and departure for the twelve (12) preceding months shall be maintained but need not be filed in each child’s record. The Parent or person(s) authorized by the Parent to drop off and pick up the child will document, in written or electronic format, each time the Parent or authorized person drops off and picks up the child. The documentation shall include at least the following information: the date, the child’s name, the arrival and departure times, and the signature or initials of the Parent or authorized person at the time of arrival and departure. These records shall be made available to the Department in printed or written form upon request.

Rule .08(1) - Childrens Enrollment Application: (1) A Center must maintain a file for each child while such child is in care at the Center and for a period of one (1) year after such child is no longer in care at the Center. In order for the file to be complete, the file shall contain the following: identifying information about the child to include: name, date of birth, sex, address, living arrangement if not with both Parents, name of school, if applicable; identifying information about the Parent(s) to include: names of both Parents, if applicable, home and work addresses, and home and work telephone numbers; name(s) and addresses of the person(s) to whom the child may be released. Such information shall contain the authorized person’s address, telephone numbers, relationship to child and to Parent(s), and other identifying information; identifying information about the person(s) to contact in emergencies when the Parent cannot be reached to include name(s) and telephone number(s); identifying information about the child's primary source of health care to include physician's or clinic's name and telephone number; and a statement regarding known allergies or other physical problems, mental health disorders, intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities which would limit the child's participation in the Center's program and activities.

Rule .06(6) - Bathrooms supplies: (6) Supplies. Bathrooms shall be within easy reach of children and equipped with soap, toilet tissue and single-use towels or cloth towels used only once between launderings.

Rule .26(8) - Fall Zones and Surfacing: (8) Fall Zones and Surfacing. Climbing and swinging equipment shall have a resilient surface beneath the equipment and the fall zone from such equipment must be adequately maintained by the Center to assure continuing resiliency.

Rule .25(8) - Outlets: (8) Electrical Outlets. Except in School-age Centers, all unused electrical outlets within reach of children shall have protective caps specifically designed to prohibit children from placing anything in the receptacle. Electrical outlets in use which the children can reach shall be made inaccessible to the children.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair (Recite-Not Met): (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards (Recite-Not Met): (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .25(11) - Flooring: (11) Flooring. Floor coverings shall be tight, smooth, free of odors and washable or cleanable.

Rule .21(3) - Fire/Tornado Drills: (3) The Center shall conduct drills for fire, tornado and other emergency situations. The fire drills will be conducted monthly and tornado and other emergency situation drills will be conducted every six months. The Center shall maintain documentation of the dates and times of these drills for two years.

Rule .21(2)(r) - Policies & Procedures - Shaken Baby Syndrome & Abusive Head Trauma: (r) A description of the practices followed by the Center to prevent shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma in children up to five years of age that includes the following information: how to recognize, respond to, and report the signs and symptoms of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma; strategies to assist staff members in understanding how to care for infants and how to cope with a crying, fussing, or distraught child; strategies to ensure staff members understand the brain development of children up to five years of age; and a list of prohibited behaviors when dealing with children.

Rule .18(7) - Storage Areas, containers: (7) Storage Areas. Each Center shall have a designated space for storage of food and kitchen items. The area shall be kept clean and free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles and grease deposits.

Rule .08(6) - Arrival and Departure Records (Recite-Not Met): (6) Arrival and Departure Records. Records of a child’s daily arrival and departure for the twelve (12) preceding months shall be maintained but need not be filed in each child’s record. The Parent or person(s) authorized by the Parent to drop off and pick up the child will document, in written or electronic format, each time the Parent or authorized person drops off and picks up the child. The documentation shall include at least the following information: the date, the child’s name, the arrival and departure times, and the signature or initials of the Parent or authorized person at the time of arrival and departure. These records shall be made available to the Department in printed or written form upon request.

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials: (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .36(7)(d)2. - Responsible Person checked vehicle - 2nd Check: 2. The second designated Staff person shall conduct a check of the vehicle immediately upon the completion of the first check of the vehicle. The responsible person shall physically walk through the entire vehicle; visually inspect all seat surfaces, under all seats and in all compartments or recesses in the vehicle's interior; and sign the passenger transportation checklist(s), indicating all of the children have exited the vehicle. There shall be continuous watchful oversight of the vehicle between the first check and second check.

Rule .36(7)(d)1. - Responsible Person checked vehicle - 1st Check: 1. The first check shall be conducted immediately upon unloading the last child at any location including, but not limited to, a field trip destination, arrival at the Center, and the last stop during transportation to home or school. The responsible person on the vehicle shall: physically walk through the entire vehicle; visually inspect all seat surfaces, under all seats and in all compartments or recesses in the vehicle’s interior; sign the passenger transportation checklist (s), indicating all of the children have exited the vehicle; and give the passenger transportation checklist(s) to the second designated Staff person.

Rule .36(7)(c)3. - Departure/arrival dates/times: 3. The driver or other designated Staff person shall also document in writing the dates and the departure/arrival times for all types of transportation on the passenger transportation checklist as follows: School Transportation - each time the vehicle departs from the Center, is loaded or unloaded at each school and when the vehicle returns to the Center; Home Transportation - each time the vehicle departs from the Center, arrives at the location where any child is picked up or dropped off and when the vehicle returns to the Center; and Field Trip Transportation- each time the vehicle leaves the Center, arrives at a field trip destination, leaves a field trip destination, and returns to the Center.

Rule .25(8) - Outlets: (8) Electrical Outlets. Except in School-age Centers, all unused electrical outlets within reach of children shall have protective caps specifically designed to prohibit children from placing anything in the receptacle. Electrical outlets in use which the children can reach shall be made inaccessible to the children.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair: (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards: (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .08(6) - Arrival and Departure Records: (6) Arrival and Departure Records. Records of a child’s daily arrival and departure for the twelve (12) preceding months shall be maintained but need not be filed in each child’s record. The Parent or person(s) authorized by the Parent to drop off and pick up the child will document, in written or electronic format, each time the Parent or authorized person drops off and picks up the child. The documentation shall include at least the following information: the date, the child’s name, the arrival and departure times, and the signature or initials of the Parent or authorized person at the time of arrival and departure. These records shall be made available to the Department in printed or written form upon request.

Rule .32(3) - Mixed-age groups/cap. of 18 or less: (3) Mixed-Age Groups for Centers with a licensed capacity of 18 or fewer children. The Staff: child ratios for a mixed-age group shall be based on the following: the age of the youngest child under three (3) years of age shall determine the Staff: child ratio for the group in which the child(ren) under three (3) are cared for; and where all of the children in any one group are three years of age or older, the age of the majority of the children in the group shall determine the Staff: child ratios.

Rule .21(3) - Fire/Tornado Drills: (3) The Center shall conduct drills for fire, tornado and other emergency situations. The fire drills will be conducted monthly and tornado and other emergency situation drills will be conducted every six months. The Center shall maintain documentation of the dates and times of these drills for two years.

Rule .17(8) - Handwashing-Staff: (8) Handwashing, Staff. Personnel shall wash their hands with liquid soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for the day, when moving from one child care group to another, and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after diapering each child, dispensing medication, applying topical medications, ointments, creams or lotions, handling and preparing food, eating, drinking, preparing bottles, feeding each child, and assisting children with eating and drinking; after toileting or assisting children with toileting, using tobacco products, handling garbage and organic waste, touching animals or pets, and handling bodily fluids, such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood; and after contamination by any other means.

Rule .29(4) - Required Reporting-Criminal records: (4) Criminal Record. Within twenty-four (24) hours or on the next work day that the Center knows or reasonably should know that there has been an arrest or change in the Comprehensive Records Check Determination of any Director or Employee or the Fingerprint Records Check Determination for any Provisional Employee, the Director or designated person -in-charge shall report or cause to be reported to the Department the incident and the name of any such Director, Employee or Provisional Employee.