Great Hearts Academies - Cicero

AAC R9-5-733.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 Officer's observations, on the Playground, there was discarded trash on the ground and near the picnic tables.”

AAC R9-5-733.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that toilet bowls, lavatory fixtures, and floors in toilet rooms and kitchens are cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to maintain them in a clean and sanitized condition or at least once every 24 hours.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, the following toilet rooms were not maintained in a clean and sanitized condition: Girls’ upstairs toilet room: There were wadded paper towels in 2 sinks. Boys’ upstairs toilet room: *There were discarded paper towels on the floor. * The 1st & 2nd sinks had cracked caulking, making it unsanitizable. Downstairs Girls’ toilet room: There were 2 unflushed toilets. Downstairs Boys’ toilet room: *There were discarded paper towels on the floor. *There was a puddle of liquid on the floor in front of the left urinal.”

AAC R9-5-733.F.4.5. F. A licensee shall ensure that: 4. Except for a cup or receptacle used only for water, food waste is stored in a covered container and the container is clean and lined with a plastic bag; 5. Food waste and other refuse is removed from the facility building at least once every 24 hours or more often as necessary to maintain a clean condition and avoid odors;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, on the Playground, there was discarded food waste in a brown trash container that lacked a lid.”

AAC R9-5-733.F.8.9. F. A licensee shall ensure that: 8. Plumbing fixtures are maintained in a clean and working condition; and 9. Chipped or cracked sinks and toilets are replaced or repaired.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, plumbing fixtures were not maintained in a clean and working condition in the following areas: Girls’ upstairs toilet room: *The 2nd sink was not operable; the sink would not stay on when the nozzle was pressed. Boys' upstairs toilet room: The right sink was missing the left side knob. Downstairs Boys' toilet room: The 3rd sink was missing the right side knob.”

AAC R9-5-742.B. B. Except as provided in subsection (D) a licensee shall ensure that an outdoor activity area: 1. Is enclosed by a fence: a. A minimum of 4 feet high; b. Secured to the ground; and c. With either vertical or horizontal open spaces on the fence or gate that do not exceed 4.0 inches; 2. Is maintained free from hazards, such as exposed concrete footings and broken toys; and 3. Has gates that are kept closed while an enrolled child is in the outdoor activity area

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, on the Playground, there was a 6” by 4” patch of lifted rubberized surfacing below a green swing, posing a tripping hazard.”

AAC R9-5-715.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 the Compliance Officers' observations, Rooms 210 and 202 lacked a posted capacity.”

AAC R9-5-723.3. 3. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility: 3. A child educator is 18 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Three months of child care experience if working with school-aged children; 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, the Compliance Officers' observations and staff statement, Staff #1's (DOE: 8/22/25) file lacked documentation of their homeschool transcripts. Staff stated Staff #1 is a child educator.”

AAC R9-5-727.A.8. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 8. The facility premises, including the buildings, are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers’ observations, in the Boys’ upstairs toilet room, the 2nd sink was loose and was not secured to the wall.”

AAC R9-5-727.A.12. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 12. Except as provided in subsection (A)(14), 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 the Compliance Officers' observations, in Room 210, there were 3 Expo board cleaners on a black cart, accessible to enrolled children.”

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 based on statements, Staff #1 failed to supervise enrolled children at all times. The following statements were made: *Staff #1 wasn't really watching (the children) when (Staff #1) was texting. *I would catch Staff #1 on their phone when the kids were outside. *The phone would be on Staff #1's knee and (Staff #1) had their ear buds in.”

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: Per allegation and based on statements and documentation related to the allegations, Staff #1 failed to teach, model, and encourage orderly conduct, personal control, and age-appropriate behavior. The following statements were made: *Staff #1 showed their bra and underwear to a group of enrolled children. *I heard (Staff #1) talking about how many alcoholic drinks (Staff #1) drinks a night with the group of children. (Staff #1) then told the children the type of alcohol (Staff #1) drinks is wine. *I heard the children ask (Staff #1) to take a picture of (Staff #1) and their (significant other) kissing and Staff #1 started laughing and replied "maybe". *Staff #1 told a group of children where (Staff #1) was going on a date and the time of the date. *Staff #1 told (us) (Staff #1) "kissed someone" when (Staff #1) was in 1st grade and (Staff #1) "kissed their partner on the lips". *Staff #1 allowed a school-age child to climb on their lap and did not request the child to move from their lap. *Staff #1 talks about "anything and everything", and sang the kissing song with (a group of enrolled children). *Staff #1 showed a picture of their significant other to the kids. *Staff #1 told the kids the day, location and time (Staff #1) was going on a date.”

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: Based on a review of facility documentation and statements by staff and children, Staff #1 failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of enrolled children was not placed at risk of harm. The following was determined: *Staff #1 showed their bra and underwear to a group of enrolled children. *Staff #1 allowed a school-age child to sit on their lap. *Staff #1 took a video of enrolled children dancing and Staff #1 told the children the video was going to be sent to a male friend. Statements include the following: *I saw Staff #1 pull their shirt off their shoulder to show 4 children the color of their bra. *I saw Staff #1 push their shorts down to show 4 children the color of their underwear. *Staff #1 showed us their underwear. *Staff #1 took videos of us and sent them to (Staff #1's) significant other. *A school-age child sat on Staff #1's lap.”

AAC R9-5-516.B.3. B. If prescription or nonprescription medications are administered, a licensee shall ensure that:3. A facility director, or a staff member designated in writing by the facility director, does not administer a medication to an enrolled child unless the facility receives written authorization signed by the enrolled child’s parent or health care provider that includes the: a. Name of the enrolled child; b. Type of the medication; c. Prescription number, if any; d. Instructions for administration specifying the: i. Dosage and route of administration; ii. If indicated, starting and ending dates of the dosage period; and iii. Times and frequency of administration; e. Reason for the medication; and f. Date of authorization; and

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO and COS’s observations, the medication authorization form for Child #2 lacked the type of medication to be administered.”

AAC R9-5-512.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that toilet bowls, lavatory fixtures, and floors in toilet rooms and kitchens are cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to maintain them in a clean and sanitized condition or at least once every 24 hours.

“Findings: Based on the CO and COS’s observations, the MPR’s boys’ restroom was not maintained in a clean condition. There was a yellow substance inside of the toilet bowl, a yellow crusty substance behind the toilet seat, and yellow droplets on the toilet seat.”

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 CO and COS’s observations, in Room 100 and Room 101’s connected restroom, the exhaust vent was inoperable.”

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 the Compliance Officer (CO) and Compliance Officer Supervisor's (COS) observations, 2 of 15 reviewed Emergency, Information, and Immunization record cards lacked the following required information: *Child #3- The child’s date of enrollment and home telephone number. *Child #4- The child’s date of enrollment.”

AAC R9-5-516.B.4. B. If prescription or nonprescription medications are administered, a licensee shall ensure that:4. A staff member : a. Administers a prescription medication provided by a parent only from a container dispensed by a pharmacy; b. Administers a nonprescription medication provided by a parent for an enrolled child only from a container prepackaged and labeled for use by the manufacturer and labeled with the enrolled child’s name; c. Does not administer any medication that has been transferred from one container to another; and d. Does not administer a nonprescription medication to an enrolled child inconsistent with the instructions on the nonprescription medication’s label, unless the facility receives written authorization from the enrolled child’s health care provider.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO and COS’s observations, Child #1's over-the-counter medication lacked a written authorization from the child's healthcare provider.”

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 the Compliance Officer's review of 20 children’s attendance records, 9 of the records were signed with the parent’s initials rather than the first initial of the parent’s first name and the full last name.”