Foundations Early Education Academy

AAC R9-5-605.B.10. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 10. Toilet rooms are ventilated to the outside of the building, either by a screened window open to the outside air or by an exhaust fan and duct system that is operated when the toilet room is in use;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the hallway bathroom, the exhaust fan was inoperable.”

AAC R9-5-309.C. C. A licensee shall maintain on facility premises: 1. A current fire inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the fire inspection report; and 2. If there are gas pipes that run from a gas meter to an appliance or location on the facility premises, a current gas inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the gas inspection report.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, the Licensee lacked a current fire inspection.”

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: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation in Room 2, there was chipped paint located under the window and at the edge of the wall with exposed drywall.”

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: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in Room #1,#2, and #3, the rugs were not maintained in a clean condition, there were multiple areas of dark buildup on the rugs.”

AAC R9-5-301.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that a facility director: 1. Designates, in writing, an individual who meets the requirements of R9-5-401(2) to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility; 2. Supervises or assigns a teacher-caregiver to supervise each staff member who does not meet the qualifications of R9-5-401(3); 3. Prepares a dated attendance record for each day and ensures that each staff member documents on the attendance record the time of each arrival and departure of the staff member; and 4. Maintains on the facility premises, the dated attendance record required in subsection (B)(3) for 12 months after the date on the attendance record.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officers' observation, Staff #1 was alone, unsupervised (in the 2's classroom), and was not qualified because the staff file lacked documentation of 6 months of childcare experience.”

AAC R9-5-401.3. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility:3. A teacher-caregiver is 18 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Six months of child care experience and: i. A high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma; or ii. At least 12 credit hours from an accredited college or university, including at least six credit hours in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; b. Associate or bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; or c. N.A.C., C.D.A., or C.C.P. credential;

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officers' observation, Staff #1 was a teacher caregiver in the 2's classroom but was not qualified because the staff file lacked documentation of 6 months of childcare experience.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.8. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 8. Clean clothing is available to an enrolled child when the enrolled child needs a change of clothing;

“Findings: Based on staff statements and the Compliance Officers' observation, it was determined that clean clothing was not available to an enrolled child when needed (soiled). Staff #2 stated the enrolled child ran out of clean clothing and the facility does not provide extra clothing.”

AAC R9-5-306.A. A. A licensee shall maintain a dated attendance form containing an enrolled child’s name with the time of each admission and release of the enrolled child. 1. Except as provided in subsection (A)(2), a licensee shall ensure that the attendance form is signed with at least a first initial of an individual’s first name and the individual’s last name by each enrolled child’s parent or individual designated by the enrolled child’s parent, each time the enrolled child is admitted or released. 2. An electronic fingerprint verification or an electronic signature may be used in place of a signature of the enrolled child’s parent or designated individual to admit or release the enrolled child. 3. If an electronic signature is used to admit or release the enrolled child, the licensee shall adopt policies and procedures to ensure that the individual whose signature the electronic or digital method of identification represents is accountable for the use of the electronic or digital method; 4. A licensee shall develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that the identity of an individual is known to the staff member or is verified with picture identification before releasing an enrolled child to the individual. 5. A licensee shall not release the enrolled child to an individual other than the enrolled child’s parent or other individual designated in writing by the enrolled child’s parent except when the enrolled child’s parent is unable to collect the enrolled child and authorizes the licensee by telephone to release the enrolled child to an individual not so designated. a. The licensee shall verify the telephone authorization using a means of verification that has been agreed upon between the licensee and the enrolled child’s parent at the time of enrollment. b. The licensee shall document the means of verification in subsection (A)(5)(a) on the enrolled child’s Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card. 6. A licensee shall not permit the self-admission or self-release of an enrolled child unless the enrolled child is of school age and the licensee has obtained and verified written permission from the enrolled child’s parent. 7. A licensee shall maintain the attendance form on facility premises for 12 months after the date of attendance.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #1's observation, it was determined that 4 children's attendance forms reviewed lacked the following information: Child #1: A release signature for the 12/1/2023-12/16/2023. ( First name and last name initial only). Child #2, Child #3, and Child #4: An admission and a release signature for 12/1/2023,12/4/2023, 12/6/2023-12/8/2023, and 12/11/2023-12/15/2023. (First name only)”

AAC R9-5-306.B. B. A licensee shall: 1. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that a staff member maintains daily documentation of the presence of an enrolled child in an activity area that includes a method to account for any temporary absences of the enrolled child from the activity area, and 2. Maintain the documentation of the presence of enrolled children in an activity area required in subsection (B)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the documentation.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer # 2's observation, it was determined that there was no roster in the Outdoor Activity Area while the enrolled children were present. The staff stated the roster was left in the classroom.”

AAC R9-5-203.G G. If required by A.R.S. § 8-804, before an individual’s starting date of employment or volunteer service, a licensee shall comply with the submission requirements in A.R.S. § 8-804(C) for the individual.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that the files for Staff #1 and Staff #2 lacked documentation of a submitted DCS registry form.”

AAC R9-5-401.4. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility: 4. An assistant teacher-caregiver is 16 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Current and continuous enrollment in high school or a high school equivalency class; b. High school or high school equivalency diploma; c. Enrollment in vocational rehabilitation, as defined in A.R.S. § 23-501; d. Employment as a teacher-caregiver aide for 12 months; or e. Service as a volunteer in a child care facility for 12 months;

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that Staff #1 was an assistant teacher-caregiver in the infant room. Staff #1 was not qualified as an assistant teacher-caregiver because the staff file lacked documentation of a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma.”

AAC R9-5-402.A. A. A licensee shall maintain a file for each staff member containing: 1. The staff member’s name, date of birth, home address, and telephone number; 2. The staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service; 3. The staff member’s ending date of employment or volunteer service, if applicable; 4. The name and telephone number of an individual to be notified in case of an emergency; 5. The staff member’s written statement attesting to current immunity against measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps, and pertussis; 6. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(C); 7. Documents required by R9-5-203; 8. Documents required by R9-5-301; 9. Documents required by R9-5-401, if applicable; 10. If applicable: a. The form required in A.R.S. § 8-804(I), b. Documentation of the submission required in A.R.S. § 8-804 and the information received as a result of the submission, and c. Documentation of training provided by a licensee as required by R9-5-403, if applicable; 11. A copy of any current license or certification required by A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1. or this Chapter; and 12. Documentation of the requirements in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(D).

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #2 lacked documentation of the following: *The name and telephone number of an individual to be notified in case of an emergency. *Staff member's written statement attesting to current immunity against measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps, and pertussis.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.8.a. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: a. Has bars or openings spaced no more than 2-3/8 inches apart and a crib mattress measured to fit not more than 1/2 inch from the crib side;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the Infant room, there were gaps on each side of the crib mattress measuring more than 1/2 inch from the crib side. (the mattress was too small for the crib).”

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings: 1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, the following were not maintained in a clean condition: Room 2: * There was a stack of cots located in the toilet room shower. *There was a dust build-up located on the vent. *There was a dark build-up located on the step stool. Hallway Toilet Room: *There was a dust build up located on the vent. *There was a dark build up located on the step stool.”

ARS § 36-883.02.C. C. Applicants, licensees and child care personnel shall attest on forms that are provided by the department that: 1. They are not awaiting trial on or have never been convicted of or admitted in open court or pursuant to a plea agreement committing any of the offenses listed in section 41-1758.07, subsection B in this state or similar offenses in another state or jurisdiction. 2. They are not parents or guardians of a child adjudicated to be a dependent child as defined in section 8-201. 3. They have not been denied or had revoked a certificate to operate a child care group home or a license to operate a child care facility in this or any other state or that they have not been denied or had revoked a certification to work in a child care facility or child care group home.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #1 (Date of employment-8/28/2023) lacked documentation of a Criminal History Affidavit.”

AAC R9-5-303.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that the licensed capacity of each indoor activity area or room is posted in that activity area or room.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, Room 3 and Room 2, lacked a posted licensed capacity for each activity area.”

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: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, throughout the facility, there were multiple cords accessible to enrolled children.”