K.U.S.D.#20 - Little Explorers Early Learning Center

AAC R9-5-511.A.1.2.3.4.5. A. A licensee shall provide each enrolled child who naps or sleeps at the facility with a separate cot or mat or a crib that meets the requirements of R9-5-502(A)(8) and ensure that: 1. A cot, mat, or crib used by the enrolled child accommodates the enrolled child’s height and weight; 2. A staff member covers each cot, or mat with a clean sheet that is laundered when soiled, or at least once every seven days and before use by a different enrolled child; 3. A clean blanket or sheet is available for each enrolled child; 4. A rug, carpet, blanket, or towel is not used as a mat; 5. Each cot, mat, or crib is maintained in a clean and repaired condition;

“Findings: Per the allegation and based on staff statements and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that enrolled children have been allowed to sleep on the carpet or on library pillows, and lacked a cot, or mat that accommodated the height and weight of the children. Staff Statements: "(Child's name) was going to sleep; we moved them to the big pillows in the library." "Sometimes they will fall asleep on the carpet." "Safer to put them on the pillows" "(Child's Name) falls asleep on the rug" "Move the child from floor to pillows" "(Child's name) was asleep on pillows"”

AAC R9-5-510.B.1. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member does not use or permit: 1. The use of physical punishment including: a. Hitting, spanking, shaking, slapping, twisting, pulling, squeezing, or biting; b. Demanding excessive physical excercise or excessive rest; and c. Forcing a child to eat or consume soap, food, or foreign substances;

“Findings: Per the allegation and based on staff statements and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that staff used a physical form of discipline with enrolled children: Staff Statements: "Staff picked up the child and shook them aggressively to try and wake them" "Staff held a child down to restrain them from getting up at naptime" "A child smacked a staff member and that staff smacked the child back" "Staff patted backs hard while saying, 'You need to go to sleep' " "Staff grabbed a child to sit them down"”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Infant Classroom, the health, safety, and welfare of an infant was placed at risk of harm when: *The infant was asleep in the round vinyl ball pit filled with stuffed animals and covered with a fleece blanket. The CO was unable to see the infant until the staff member removed the blanket from the top portion of the sleeping infant.”

AAC R9-5-601.4. A licensee shall comply with the following physical plant requirements, as applicable: 4. Except as provided in subsection (5), when providing child care services for infants or children who require diapering, a diaper changing area that meets the requirements in R9-5-503 is available in each infant room or indoor activity area used by an enrolled infant or child who wears diapers or disposable training pants;

“Findings: Based on staff statements and the Compliance Officer's observations, it was determined that there were enrolled children with disposable training pants in Classroom 41 (Preschool), and this classroom is not Department-approved for diapering. The enrolled children were being walked to the 2's classroom to be changed. Staff Statements: "There are 3 children in here that wear pull-ups" "They are changed in 2's classroom or nurses' office"”

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 Officers' observations, it was determined that the files for Staff #1 (DOE-02/02/2026), Staff #2 (DOE-07/21/2025) lacked documentation of validation through DPS for the Fingerprint Clearance Cards. The fingerprint clearance cards were validated at the time of the inspection.”

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 an Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record that is no more than a two-page written notice, and is signed by the enrolled child’s parent containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, email address, and 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 the nutritional and dietary needs of the child including, if applicable, the request in R9-5-509(C)(14); 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’s observation, it was determined that 17 out of 30 enrolled children's Emergency, Information, and Immunization Records reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #1, Child #2, Child #3, Child #4, Child #5, and Child #6: The date of the child's enrollment. Child #7: The date of the child's enrollment and the contact telephone number of the child's health care provider. Child #8: The date of the child's enrollment and the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child. Child #9: The home address, city, state, and zip code of the child. Child #10: The date of the child's enrollment and 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. Child #11, Child #12, Child #17: The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of the 2nd parent/guardian. Child #13:The name and contact telephone number of a 2nd 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 #14: The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child. Child #15: The date of the child's enrollment, the home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of the 2nd child of the parent, the name and contact telephone number of a 2nd 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 and the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child. Child #16: The name and contact telephone of the child's health care provider.”

AAC R9-5-503.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member does not: 1. Permit a bottle, formula, food, eating utensil, or food preparation in a diaper changing area; 2. Draw water for human consumption from a diaper changing area sink; or 3. Change diapers until food preparation duties have been completed for the day.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observation, in the Infant Classroom, there were bottles, plastic bowls, plastic tupperwear, bottle nipples, pacifiers, chewies, and a bottle warmer next to the diaper changing sink.”

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 observation, in the Infant classroom, the temperature in the refrigerator was at 48° F rather than 41 degrees or below as required. The freezer lacked a thermometer.”

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 observation, the outdoor activity area lacked the following resilient surfacing: Large Playground: *5 of the required 6 inches of sand in the fall zones of the slides, rope climber, green rock climber, bar, ABC climber, and green slide rock. *4 of the required 6 inches of sand in the fall zones of the swings and the yellow double slide. Toddler Playground: *5 of the required 6 inches of sand under the climber.”

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 facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observation, it was determined that the Preschool Classrooms 35, 36, 41, and 48 lacked documentation of a lesson plan.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.lk. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: k. Obtains written, current, and dated dietary instructions from a parent or health care provider regarding the method of feeding and types of foods to be prepared or fed to an infant at the facility;

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the written dietary instructions for 5 infants lacked the following information: Child #18, Child #19, Child #20, Child #21, and Child #22: The amount, frequency, and types of food to be fed to the infant.”

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 observation, the following diaper changing surfaces were not maintained clear of items unrelated to diaper-changing: Infant Classroom: *There were diaper creams, lotions, blue fabric, and sanitizer on the diaper changing surface. T2 Classroom *There was a large amount of loose sand along the edges and in the corners of the diaper changing surface. Nurses Office: *There were 2 black straps connected to the diaper changing surface.”

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 Officer’s observation, in the Hallway toilet rooms, the countertop of the sinks had exposed raw wood and chips in the tile. The caulking around the sinks was lacking and had a build-up of yellow substance.”

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 Classroom 49, the baseboard was missing, exposing a glue substance.”

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 the State Compliance Officer’s observations. The attendance roster for the preschool was not with the staff while in the outdoor activity area.”

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: The Compliance Officers observed that there were sections of the south fence and gates on the large outdoor activity area that had openings that exceeded 4 inches.”

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

“Findings: The Compliance Officers observed that a child that was playing outside in the courtyard went inside the building unsupervised from an area that could not be observed by staff members in the courtyard and then came back out. This was not seen by the staff in the courtyard and they needed to be informed of the child’s presence in that area.”

AAC R9-5-511.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that storage space is provided in the facility for cots, mats, sheets, and blankets, that is:1. Accessible to an area used for naptime or sleeping; and 2. Separate from food service and preparation areas, toilet rooms, and laundry rooms.

“Findings: The Compliance Officers observed observed that there were 2 cots stored in a children’s toilet room.”

AAC R9-5-603.E. E. 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: The Compliance Officers observed that there was less than 6 inches of resilient material in the fall zones of some of the climbing equipment and swings on the large outdoor activity area.”

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: The Compliance Officers observed that the diaper changing handwashing sinks were not next to the diapering surfaces in several classrooms.”

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: The Compliance Officer observed that there was one staff with 15 children, ages 3-5 , when the second staff left the classroom briefly.”

AAC R9-5-510.B.4. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member does not use or permit:4. Discipline associated with: a. Eating, napping, sleeping, or toileting; b. Medication; or c. Mechanical restraint; or

“Findings: Per allegation and based on oral and written staff statements and a review of video of the incident, when a child would not lay on their cot during naptime, a staff member carried a child across a room under their arm, wrapped a child up in a blanket and then placed their legs over the child to keep the child from moving.”

AAC R9-5-510.B.1. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member does not use or permit: 1. A method of discipline that could cause harm to the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child;

“Findings: Per allegation, staff written and oral statements, and a review of a video of the incident, a staff member used a method of discipline that could cause harm to a child by wrapping up a child in a blanket and then put their legs over the child on a cot to prevent the child from moving during naptime.”

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 and based on staff written and oral statements and a video of the incident, the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child was placed at risk of harm when a staff member wrapped a child up in a blanket and then put their legs over the child to keep the child from moving on a cot during naptime.”

AAC R9-5-510.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 1. Defines and maintains consistent and reasonable guidelines and limitations for an enrolled child’s behavior;

“Findings: Per allegation and based on staff written and oral statements and a video of the incident, a staff member failed to define and maintain reasonable guidelines when a child did not want to lay down for naptime. The staff picked up the child under their arm and carried the child to a cot. When the child wasn't laying still on the cot, the staff wrapped up the child in a blanket and then placed their legs over the child to keep the child from moving around.”

AAC R9-5-603.E. E. 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: The Compliance Officer observed that the fall zones at the base of the tall metal slide and under the swings on the large west outdoor activity area lacked the required 6 inches of resilient material and the fall zone of the small slide/climbing structure on the toddlers playground lacked the required 6 inches of resilient material.”

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: The Compliance Officer observed that there was a child's chair in the preschool bathroom and it was removed from the bathroom and put under a table where children were eating lunch.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.5.b. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall:5. Develop, document, and implement tummy time policies and procedures that: b. Ensure a staff member who is supervising a non-crawling infant while the infant is flat on their stomach and on the floor: i. Is within reach of the infant; ii. Does not perform any other duties while supervising the infant; iii. Does not allow the use of pillows, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, or other soft products in the same floor space as the infant; and iv. Does not allow any product specified in subsection (A)(5)(b)(iii) to be within reach of the infant;

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that there was a non crawling infant on their stomach in the infant room that was having a difficult time keeping their head up off a blanket and a staff member was not on the floor within reach of the infant.”

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: The Compliance Officer reviewed children's attendance forms. The Compliance Officer observed that several children in the preschool room were signed in and out using initials, a first name and last initial only, and “Nana" instead of using at least a first initial and full last name.”

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: The Compliance Officer observed that the last gas inspection was conducted 6/2/23 and the fire inspection had 2 violations and lacked documentation of the corrections.”

AAC R9-5-503.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member does not:1. Permit a bottle, formula, food, eating utensil, or food preparation in a diaper changing area; 2. Draw water for human consumption from a diaper changing area sink; or 3. Except as provided in subsection (C), if responsible for food preparation, change diapers until food preparation duties have been completed for the day.

“Findings: The Compliance Officer observed that there were bottles, cups, and other food items next to the diaper changing handwashing sink and next to the soiled diaper container that was also on the counter next to the sink in the infant room.”