Little Geniuses Childcare Center

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 Officers' observations, on the Toddler Playground, 2 slide structures lacked resilient surfacing under the fall zones. The slides were on hard grass surfacing.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.17. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 17. A staff member: a. Prepares a weekly menu at least one week in advance, b. Includes on the menu the specific foods to be served on each day, c. Dates each menu, d. Posts each menu at least one day before the first meal on the menu will be served, and e. Writes food substitutions on a posted menu no later than the morning of the day of meal service;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, the posted menu lacked specific foods to be served. The menu stated: mixed vegetables, meat/meat alternatives.”

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 2s Room, there was a sharp edge on the bottom of the wall near the exit door.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observations, on the 3-4s playground, there was 1 staff member with 9 enrolled children present outside without a roster.”

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 a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officers' observations, Staff #1's (DOH 03-08-2025) file lacked a completed Criminal History Affidavit. All of the questions were blank.”

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

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, staff in the School-Age Room did not supervise children at all times, when two children were play-fighting and roughhousing, and the staff did not attempt to stop the behavior.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.1. B. A licensee shall ensure that:1. All designated exits, corridors, and passageways that provide escape from the building are unobstructed and unlocked during hours of operation;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and the Compliance Officer Supervisor's observations, there was a curtain blocking an emergency exit in the 2's Room.”

AAC R9-5-602.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that the facility meets the following square footage requirements for indoor activity areas based on the child care services classifications:1. At least 35 square feet of indoor activity space for each infant and 1-year-old child; 2. At least 25 square feet of indoor activity space for each child who is not an infant or 1-year-old child; and 3. When 1-year-old children are grouped together with children older than 1-year-old children in the same activity area, at least 35 square feet of indoor activity space for each child.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Officer Supervisor's observations, care was provided for 1-year-old children in the 2's Room. The 2's Room is not evaluated at 35 square feet per child for 1-year-old children and is not approved for use by 1-year-old children.”

AAC R9-5-504.5.b. A licensee providing child care services for 1-year-old and 2-year-old children shall:5. Ensure that: b A staff member serves food to an enrolled child in a feeding chair or at a table with a chair that allows the enrolled child to reach the food while sitting;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and the Compliance Officer Supervisor's observations, a child was served a sippy cup of milk while lying on a cot for nap, rather than at a table or feeding chair.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.4.h. C. A licensee shall ensure that:4. When feeding an infant, a staff member: h. If an infant is no longer being held for feeding, seats the infant in a feeding chair or at a table with a chair that allows the infant to reach the food while sitting.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Officer Supervisor's observations, an infant was placed for feeding in a bouncer chair rather than a feeding chair or table.”

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 and the Compliance Officer Supervisor's observations, the health, safety, and welfare of children in the Infant Room was placed at risk of harm. A portable Air Conditioning unit with a wheeled base was placed on two haphazardly stacked shelves. The unit was not mounted, and the tower of equipment was unstable, causing a risk of the items toppling over.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.3.a. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 3. When preparing, using, or caring for an infant's feeding bottles, a staff member: a. Labels each bottle received from the parent with the infant's name;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Officer Supervisor's observations, an infant feeding bottle was labeled with a only a first name and last initial.”

AAC R9-5-301.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member submits, on or before the starting date of employment or volunteer services, one of the following as evidence of freedom from infectious active tuberculosis: 1. Documentation of a negative Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administered within 12 months before the starting date of employment or volunteer service, that includes the date and the type of tuberculosis screening test; or 2. If the staff member has had a positive Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test, a written statement that the staff member is free from infectious active tuberculosis that is signed and dated by a health care provider within six months before the starting date of employment or volunteer service.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that Staff #2 and one volunteer lacked documentation of a negative TB test.”

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: Per Allegation, based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that background checks were not completed on all staff members. The files for Staff #1 and Staff #2 lacked documentation of a DSC Central Registry Background check.”

AAC R9-5-403.A. A. Within 10 calendar days of the starting date of employment or volunteer service, a licensee shall provide, and each staff member who provides child care services shall complete, training for new staff members that includes all of the following:1. Facility philosophy and goals; 2. Names and ages of and developmental expectations for enrolled children for whom the staff member will provide child care services; 3. Health needs, nutritional requirements, any known allergies, and information about adaptive devices of enrolled children for whom the staff member will provide child care services; 4. Lesson plans; 5. Child guidance and methods of discipline; 6. Hand washing techniques; 7. Diapering techniques and toileting, if assigned to diaper changing duties; 8. Food preparation, service, sanitation, and storage, if assigned to food preparation; 9. If a staff member is assigned to feeding infants, the preparation, handling, and storage of infant formula and breast milk; 10. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; 11. Child abuse or neglect detection, prevention, and reporting; 12. Accident and emergency procedures; 13. Staff responsibilities as required by A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1 and this Chapter; 14. Sun safety policies and procedures; 15. Safety in outdoor activity areas; 16. Transportation procedures, if applicable; and 17. Field trip procedures, if applicable.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #4 (Start date-11/4/2024) and Staff #6 (Start date- 11/2/2024) lacked documentation of 10-day orientation for new staff members.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, the file for Staff #4 and Staff #6, lacked a Criminal History Affidavit.”

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: Per allegations; based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that staff did not qualify as a teacher/caregiver. The following staff lacked documentation of qualifications: Staff #4 and Staff #5: lacked documentation of a high school diploma or high school equivalent. Staff #2 and Staff #6: lacked documentation of 6 months of child care experience.”

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 Compliance Officer's observation, upon entering the Twos classroom, the roster indicated 15 children, but there were 13 children present in the room. Upon entering the Pre-K classroom, the roster indicated 4 children, but there were 9 children present in the room.”

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 the following classrooms lacked a current lesson plan: The Ones classroom's posted lesson plans were dated 10/30/2023-11/03/2023, 01/08/2024-01/12/2024, and 02/25/2024-03/02/2024. The Twos classroom's posted lesson plan was dated 02/25/2024-03/02/2024. The Pre-K classroom's posted lesson plan was dated 01/08/2024-01/12/2024.”

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 observation, in the Infant room, 2 out of the 4 cribs lacked tight fitting sheets.”

AAC R9-5-502.B.3. B. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall not: 3. Permit an infant to use a walker; or

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Infant room, there were 2 Vtech Learning Walker's being used by the enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.3. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:3. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled diapers; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the Infant room and the Ones classroom lacked lids for the soiled diaper container.”

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, the Infant room lacked outlet covers on the wall in the food prep area. The Pre-K classroom lacked outlet covers on the wall above the counter and on the wall under the shelf that holds the projector.”

AAC R9-5-503.F.1. F. A licensee shall ensure that in an activity area with a diaper changing area: 1. The containers required in subsections (A)(3) and (4) are inaccessible, and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Twos classroom, there was a diaper in the garbage can located outside of the toilet room next to the door.”

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 Ones classroom, there was a sponge on the diaper changing surface. In the Twos classroom, there was a blue bowling pin on the diaper changing surface and a light blue key in the diaper changing handwashing sink.”

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-K classroom, there was an open bag of potting soil that was labeled "Keep Out Of Reach Of Children" on floor next to cots.”

AAC R9-5-404.C.3. C. A licensee shall ensure that:3. When six or more enrolled children are present in a facility, an infant is not placed for supervision with a child who is not an infant.

“Findings: Based on staff statements and Compliance Officer's observation, there were 2 one-year-old children walking independently present in the infant room. Staff stated they were able to walk by themselves and were starting to transition from the infants to the Toddler classroom.”