Grace Fellowship Preschool & Child Care

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

“Per allegation findings: Based on staff statements and facility documentation, the staff-to-children ratio was 0:1 when a child was left alone in the Preschool Room for about 10 minutes.”

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;

“Per allegation findings: Based on staff statements and the facility documentation, on 01.15.26, a child was left alone in the classroom when the staff and the rest of the children transitioned to the Outdoor Activity area. Ten minutes later, a child from another class heard the child crying and notified their teacher.”

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

“Per allegation findings: Based on staff statements and review of the facility documentation, staff failed to supervise enrolled children at all times. A child was left alone and unsupervised in the Preschool Room. Staff stated the child was left alone before a child from another class heard them crying and notified their teacher.”

AAC R9-5-209.2. A licensee shall: Notify the Department within 24 hours, prior to the next business day, of business closure; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, the complaint inspection could not be conducted on 02.17.26 due to a temporary facility closure. The licensee did not notify the Department about the closure.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.21. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 21. A refrigerator at the child care facility maintains a temperature of 41° F or below and a freezer maintains a temperature of 0° F or below, as shown by a thermometer kept in the refrigerator and in the freezer at all times;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the freezer and refrigerator in the B-6 Room lacked a thermometer.”

AAC R9-5-501.B.5. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 5. For enrolled children 12-months and older, except as provided in subsection (C), prepares, posts, and implements in each indoor activity area, a current schedule of children’s age-appropriate activities, including the times the following are provided: a. Meals and snacks; b. Naps; c. Indoor activities; d. If weather and air quality permit, outdoor or large muscle development activities; e. Quiet and active activities; f. Teacher-directed activities; g. Self-directed activities; h. Activities for individuals, groups of five or fewer children, and groups of six or more children; and i. Activities that develop small muscles;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations and the review of the facility documentation, the daily schedule in Room B-6 was posted outside of the classroom.”

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.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the following fall zones lacked the six inches required of resilient material: *Swings: Lacked three to five inches of resilient material. *Pink Slide: Lacked five inches of resilient surface. *Coil Spring Horse: Lacked four inches of resilient surface. *Zig Zag Balance Beam: Lacked four inches of resilient surface. *Blue Slide: Lacked six inches of resilient surface. *Climbing Structure: Lacked three inches of resilient surface.”

AAC R9-5-501.B.6. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 6. For enrolled children five-years or younger, and except as provided in subsection (C), prepares, posts, and implements 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: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the Lesson plan in the B-6 and B-7 Rooms was posted outside of the classroom.”

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: Per allegation, based on Staff statements and the CO's observation, the health, safety, and welfare of an enrolled child was placed at risk of harm when a sleeping child was alone in the classroom. Written Staff statements documented that a child had fallen asleep late and was given extra time to sleep. Two teachers took all of the children outside to the playground and when a third teacher arrived at the playground they noticed a child was missing. The third teacher returned to the classroom to find the child alone and awake.”

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, based on Staff statements and the CO's observation, Staff did not supervise enrolled children at all times. Written Staff statements document that two teachers were on the playground with a group of children. One child approached a teacher and told them that a child was naked inside the tunnel. The teacher walked to the tunnel and looked inside to find a child had removed all of their clothes.”

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: Per allegation, based on Staff statements and the CO's observation, the ratio was 0:1 instead of the required 1:1 for 5- year-old children, when a sleeping child was alone in the classroom. Written Staff statements documented that two teachers took children outside to the playground and when a third teacher arrived at the playground they noticed a child was missing. The third teacher returned to the classroom to find the child alone.”

AAC R9-5-208.B. B. At least 30 calendar days before the date of an intended change in a facility’s service classification, space utilization, or licensed capacity, a licensee shall submit a written request for approval of the intended change to the Department that includes:1. The licensee’s name; 2. The facility’s name, street address, city, state, zip code, mailing address, and telephone number; 3. The name, telephone number, and fax number of a point of contact for the request; 4. The facility’s license number; 5. The type of change intended: a. Service classification, b. Space utilization, or c. Licensed capacity; 6. A narrative description of the intended change; and 7. The following additional information, as applicable: a. If the intended change affects individual rooms, the following information about each affected activity area, as applicable: i. Identification of the activity area, ii. Current and intended square footage, iii. Current and intended operating hours, iv. Current and intended service classification, v. Current and intended licensed capacity, and vi. Whether the activity area has or will have a diaper changing area; b. If the intended change is to increase licensed capacity, the square footage of the outdoor activity area; and c. If the intended change includes an alteration or addition to the physical plant of a licensed facility, the following, as applicable: i. If the facility is not located in a public school or if providing child care services to infants, one-year-old children, or two-year-old children in a facility located in a public school, the information required in R9-5-201(A)(5)(g) and (A)(5)(h) showing the intended change; or ii. If the facility is located in a public school and provides child care only for three-year-old, four-year-old, or five-year-old, or school-age children, a set of final construction drawings or a school map, including the information required in R9-5-201(5)(j) showing the intended change.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation, Staff statement, and the Compliance Officer's (CO's) observation, classroom C2 was occupied by enrolled children on 02/12/2025. Classroom C2 is not licensed. Staff stated that enrolled children slept in classroom C2 on 02/12/2025.”

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, based on Staff statements and the CO's observation, Staff did not supervise an enrolled child at all times. Staff stated that an enrolled child was alone and unsupervised in a classroom when the teachers took other children outside to the playground. Staff stated that the child was unsupervised in the classroom.”

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 C4 and room C5 lacked a posted capacity.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.19. A. A licensee shall ensure that:19. Except as provided in subsection (A)(20), the following are stored separate from food storage areas and are inaccessible to an enrolled child: a. All materials and chemicals labeled as a toxic or flammable substance; b. All substances that have a child warning label and may be a hazard to a child; and c. Lawn mowers, ladders, toilet brushes, plungers, and other facility equipment that may be a hazard to a child;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in Room C4's toilet room, there was a toilet brush next to the toilet and accessible to enrolled children.”

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: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2’s observation, it was determined that 2 out of 7 enrolled children's Emergency, Information and Immunization Record cards reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #1: The contact telephone number of the second individual 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. Child #2: The child's healthcare provider's telephone number and the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child.”

ARS § 36-883.02.A. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, child care personnel, including volunteers, shall submit the form prescribed in subsection C of this section to the employer and shall have valid fingerprint clearance cards issued pursuant to section 41-1758.07 before starting employment or volunteer work.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #1 (DOE-07/30/23, application submitted to DPS 12/14/2023) lacked documentation of a valid fingerprint clearance card. The status of the card was in process at the time of the inspection.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.6. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 6. Except for a room used only for an enrolled school-age child, each unused electrical outlet is covered with a safety plug cover or insert;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the 3/4's classroom lacked a safety plug in 4 unused electrical outlets on the wall under the whiteboard.”

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: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observations, it was determined that the 3/4's classroom and 4/5's classroom lacked documentation of a lesson plan. There were no lesson plans posted.”

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 Officer’s observation, it was determined that Staff #4 was a teacher-caregiver in the 3's classroom. Staff #4 was not qualified as a teacher-caregiver, the file for Staff #4 lacked documentation of 2 months of experience.”

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, it was determined that the Licensee lacked documentation of a current violation-free fire inspection report as required. Exp 03/09/2023”

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 Officer’s observations, it was determined that Staff #4 was a teacher-caregiver in the 3's classroom at the time of the inspection. Staff #4 was not qualified as a teacher-caregiver and was not supervised by a qualified staff member. Staff #1 was an assistant teacher-caregiver in the 3's classroom at the time of the inspection. Staff #1 was not supervised by a qualified staff member.”

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 the Compliance Officers' observations, the file for Staff #1 (DOE-7/30/23, Signed 11/15/23) and Staff #4 (DOE-08/07/2023, Signed 08/31/23) lacked documentation of the submitted DCS Registry form prior to the starting date of employment.”

AAC R9-5-203.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member completes, signs, dates, and submits to the licensee, before the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service: 1. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(C); and 2. If required by A.R.S. § 8-804, the form in A.R.S. § 8-804(I).

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observations, it was determined that the file for Staff #1 (DOE 7/30/23, Signed 11/15/23) and Staff #4 (DOE 8/7/23, Signed 8/31/23) lacked documentation of the Criminal History Affidavit signed prior to the start date of employment.”

AAC R9-5-203.E. E. If a staff member possesses a fingerprint clearance card that was issued before the staff member became a staff member at the facility, a licensee shall: 1. Contact the Department of Public Safety before the individual becomes a staff member to determine whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid; and 2. Document this determination, including the name of the staff member, the date of contact with the Department of Public Safety, and whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, it was determined that the file for Staff #2, Staff #3, and Staff #4 lacked documentation of a validated fingerprint clearance card. The Compliance Officer verified validation at the time of the inspection.”