A Step Ahead Preschool & Montessori
4221 East Chandler Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ
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Inspire Kids Montessori is a licensed child care center in Phoenix, Arizona. It is licensed by the state, for up to 154 children.
Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing made 5 visits in the last 3 years and cited 37 rules across 5 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.
Hours
Programs
| Licensed capacity | 154 childrenFrom the state license |
|---|
Cost
Inspire Kids Montessori has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Maricopa County has a median price of $270 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).
State record
5 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit May 26, 2026: 7 rules cited
Rules cited on 5 of 5 visits · 37 rules in all
For comparison: 96% of Arizona daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 12.
A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record
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 observations, in the 2/3s Room, there was a surge protector with three uncovered outlets. In the 3/4/5/6s Room, there was an uncovered outlet.”
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 observations, in the restroom shared by the 3/4/5s Room and the 3/4/5/6s Room, the exhaust fan was inoperable.”
AAC R9-5-603.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 observations, the following hazards were present in the outdoor activity areas: *The shade awning had become unbolted from the wall, leaving a large screw exposed; *The bottoms of the interior fence posts had rusted; *There was a wooden beam on the play structure that had a large, splintering crack running down the middle; *There was a wooden post that had a large piece of wood removed, leaving the post splintered and with sharp edges; *There were two palm trees with spiky protrusions at the base; *There were two splintering wooden stakes; *There were three tricycles that were part of a multi-rider tricycle that were missing one pedal.”
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 the Compliance Officer's observations, Child #1 and Child #2 both lacked the start and end dates of the dosage period.”
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 Compliance Officer's observations, in the restroom shared by the 3/4/5s Room and the 3/4/5/6s Room, the caulking on the base of the toilet was missing, leaving the area unsanitizable.”
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 the Compliance Officer's observations, the facility lacked a current, violation-free fire inspection report.”
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 observations, in the 1s Room, there was an unmounted shelf stacked on top of another shelf, posing a risk if it were to fall or be pulled on by an enrolled child. In the 3/4/5s Room, there was an outlet that had burned and black residue was present.”
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 Officers' observations, there were three infants in the infant room that were sleeping on cots instead of cribs.”
AAC R9-5-605.B.9. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 9. Fans are mounted and inaccessible to an enrolled child;
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, there were oscillating fans that were not mounted and accessible to enrolled children in both 2's and the 3/4/5's classrooms.”
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 Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, 5 of 20 Emergency Information and Immunization record cards reviewed lacked the following documentation: Child #1: Health care provider's contact phone number. Child #2: Emergency contact's information. Child #3: Parent/Guardian's contact information; Emergency contact's information. Child #4: Emergency contact's information. Child #5: Health care provider's contact information.”
AAC R9-5-501.A.18. A. A licensee shall ensure that:18. Each enrolled child’s pacifier is labeled with an identifier that is specific to the enrolled child and maintained in a clean condition;
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, there was an infant in the Infant room that had a pacifier that lacked an identifier specific to the enrolled child.”
AAC R9-5-603.C. C. 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 Compliance Officers' observations, the following hazards were observed on the facility playground: *Paint droppings and chipped paint shavings along the walkway adjacent to the building. *Sharp metal rods on a cart in the Infant playground”
AAC R9-5-605.B.5. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 5. Electrical extension cords are not used;
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, there was a green extension cord running along the wall of the 3/4/5's classroom, to power the television set.”
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 Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation,, the ................ medications for both Child #6 and Child #7 lacked the full dosage of the medication listed on the medication's label.”
AAC R9-5-605.B.9. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 9. Fans are mounted and inaccessible to an enrolled child;
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, there was a fan atop the refrigerator in the Infant room that was not mounted.”
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 Compliance Officers' observations, there were 2 electrical outlets beneath the electrical panel in the 1's classroom that lacked safety covers.”
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 Compliance Officer #2's observation, Staff #1's (start date 3/25/2024) fingerprint clearance card was issued on 4/10/2024, after their starting date of employment.”
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: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, the staff-to-child ratio in the Cardinals room (2's) was 1:12 with 2-year-old children present. A second staff member was needed to maintain the required ratio of 2:12.”
AAC R9-5-502.A.8.c. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: c. Is furnished with clean, sanitized, crib-size bedding, including a fitted sheet and top sheet or a blanket;
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, there was 1 crib sheet with brown spots and 1 crib sheet was loose in the Infant room.”
AAC R9-5-501.A.21. A. A licensee shall ensure that:21. Except when used as part of an activity, the following are stored in an area inaccessible to an enrolled child: a. Garden tools, such as a rake, trowel, and shovel; and b. Cleaning equipment and supplies, such as a mop and mop bucket.
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, there was a green broom, a dust pan, and a flat sweeper next to the exit door in the Owl's room (3's-6’s) accessible to enrolled children.”
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, the following hazards were observed: * Large Playground: There was a deceased bird accessible to enrolled children. * Hummingbird Room (1's): The cabinet door used to store soiled diapers and soiled clothing was broken, and unable to fully close.”
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, the criminal history affidavits for Staff #1 (3/25/24), Staff #2 (start date 2/12/24), Staff #3 (start date 6/12/24), and Staff #4 (start date 3/13/23) lacked the proper facility address.”
AAC R9-5-503.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:2. A hand-washing sink next to the diaper changing surface for staff use when changing diapers and for washing an enrolled child during or after diapering that provides: a. Running water between 86° F and 110° F, b. Soap from a dispenser, and c. Single-use paper hand towels from a dispenser;
“Findings; Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, the running water temperature in diaper changing sink was 116 degrees in the Infant room.”
AAC R9-5-501.C.9. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member:9. Does the following when a parent permits or asks a staff member to apply personal products on an enrolled child, such as petroleum jelly, diaper rash ointments, sun screen or sun block preparations, toothpaste, and baby diapering preparations: a. Obtains the enrolled child’s personal products from the enrolled child’s parent or, if the licensee provides the personal products for use by the enrolled child, obtains written approval for use of the products from the enrolled child’s parent; b. Labels the personal products with the enrolled child’s name; and c. Keeps the personal products inaccessible to enrolled children;
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, there were 9 personal products that lacked enrolled child's full name in the Humming Birds room (1’s).”
AAC R9-5-503.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:1. A nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that is: a. Seamless and smooth, and b. Kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, there was buildup of debris under the paper roll dispenser on the diaper changing table.”
AAC R9-5-502.A.8.b. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: b. Has a commercially waterproofed mattress; and
“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observations, there was 1 crib mattress ripped at the corners that was no longer commercially waterproof in the Infant room.”
AAC R9-5-303.A. A. A licensee shall post in a place that can be conspicuously viewed by individuals entering or leaving the facility or activity area, the: 1. Facility’s license; 2. Name of the facility director; 3. Name of the individual designated to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility, as prescribed by R9-5-301(B)(1); 4. Schedule of child care services fees and policy for refunding fees as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-882(P); 5. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack menus for each calendar week at the beginning of the calendar week; 6. Notice of the presence of any communicable disease or infestation listed in 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 2, Table 2, from the date of discovery through the incubation period of the communicable disease or infestation; 7. Notice of the Department’s intent to deny, revoke, or suspend as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-888 at the expiration of time in the notice for the licensee to respond; 8. Notice of an intermediate sanction imposed as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-891.01 within 10 calendar days after the licensee received notice of the intermediate sanction; 9. Notice of a legal injunction imposed as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-886.01 when the licensee receives the legal injunction; and 10. Notice of the availability of facility inspection reports for public viewing at the facility premises.
“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the main posting board lacked the name of the facility director. The name posted does not reflect the current director.”
AAC R9-5-301.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the following individuals are allowed immediate access to facility premises during hours of operation: 1. A parent of an enrolled child or an individual designated in writing by the parent of an enrolled child; or 2. A representative of: a. The Department, b. The local health department, c. Arizona Department of Child Safety, or d. The local fire department or State Fire Marshal.
“Findings: Based on staff statement and the Compliance Officer's observations, the parents are not allowed access to the activity areas where their child receives child care services. The parents drop their children off outside the facility and the staff bring the children to the classroom. The staff stated they only let the parents in on special occasions.”
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 the Compliance Officer's observations, the licensee failed to notify the department of a space utilization change when one fence was added to the toddler playground creating two playgrounds. In addition, a fence was added to the preschool playground creating two playgrounds.”
ARS § 36-882.M. M. The licensee shall notify the department in writing within ten days of any change in the child care facility's director.
“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the licensee failed to notify the department in writing within ten days of any change in the child care facility director.”
AAC R9-5-503.E. E. A licensee shall ensure that the written diaper changing procedure in subsection (D) states that an enrolled child’s diaper is changed as soon as it is soiled, and that a staff member, when diapering: 1. Uses a separate washcloth and towel only once for each enrolled child; 2. Washes and dries the enrolled child using the enrolled child’s individual personal products labeled with the enrolled child’s name; 3. Uses single-use non-porous gloves; 4. Washes the staff member’s own hands with soap and running water between 86° F and 110° F before and after each diaper change; 5. Washes each enrolled child’s hands with soap and running water between 86° F and 110° F after each diaper change; 6. Cleans, sanitizes, and dries the diaper changing surface following each diaper change; and 7. Uses single-use paper towels from a dispenser to dry the diaper changing surface or the hands of the enrolled child or staff member.
“Findings: Based on staff statement and the Compliance Officer's observation, the Pre-Primary B (2's) room lacked a soapy and bleach bottle. Staff stated they mixed the soap and bleach into one bottle.”
AAC R9-5-503.A.2.a. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 2. A hand-washing sink next to the diaper changing surface for staff use when changing diapers and for washing an enrolled child during or after diapering that provides: a. Running water between 86° F and 110° F, b. Soap from a dispenser, and c. Single-use paper hand towels from a dispenser;
“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Infant room, the diaper changing sink temperature was 60°F, rather than 86°F-100°F as required.”
AAC R9-5-503.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 1. A nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that is: a. Seamless and smooth, and b. Kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;
“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the infant room, there was a sticker on the back ledge of the diaper changing table and there were two 1-inch holes on the ledge between the diaper table and sink. In the Infant, Pre-Primary A (1's) and Pre-Primary B (2's) rooms, there was a build up of debris and brown substance behind the faucets of the diaper changing sink.”
AAC R9-5-502.A.8.c. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: c. Is furnished with clean, sanitized, crib-size bedding, including a fitted sheet and top sheet or a blanket;
“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the Infant room, 5 of 12 crib sheets were loose causing the sheets to bundle up.”
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 observation, in the Primary C (3's) room, the posted lesson was dated for August.”
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 the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Pre-Primary B (3's) bathroom, there was plug in air fresher accessible to the enrolled children.”
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 observations, in the Pre-Primary A (1's) and Pre-Primary B (3's) rooms, there was 1 blue table in each room that was chipped with exposed raw wood on the edges.”
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FAQ
Yes. Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing lists it as licensed and operating.
Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing lists the most recent visit on May 26, 2026, with 7 rules cited. It lists 5 visits in the last 3 years.
Yes. Inspectors cited 37 rules across 5 of 5 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 96% of Arizona daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 12. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
154, the licensed capacity on the state record.
Its hours are not listed. Call (480) 659-9402 to confirm.
It has not listed its tuition. Call (480) 659-9402 to ask.
(480) 659-9402.
4025 East Chandler Boulevard - Suite 11, Phoenix, AZ 85048. The nearest other daycare we list is Learn N' Play, 0.1 miles away.