Little Rascals Learning Center

AAC R9-5-203.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that each staff member submits to the licensee a copy of the staff member’s valid fingerprint clearance card each time the fingerprint clearance card is issued or renewed every five years.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer's observations of 3 staff files, Staff #1's (DOE2.12.2013) file lacked documentation of a copy of the front and back side of their fingerprint clearance card. The card was verified and valid at the time of the inspection.”

AAC R9-5-517.A.10. A. A licensee who transports an enrolled child in a motor vehicle that the licensee owns, or acquires for use by contract, shall: 10. Ensure that the motor vehicle is: a. Maintained in a clean condition, b. In a mechanically safe condition, and c. Free from hazards; and

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, the vehicle used to transport enrolled children had a broken seatbelt cover with sharp metal edges.”

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 child educator 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 the Compliance Officer's observation and staff statement, Staff #1 and Staff #2 were not documenting their arrival and departure times. Staff stated they did not know they had to.”

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 Officers' observations, the following diaper changing areas were not seamless and smooth: Infant room, 1s, and 2s. There was a small hole on each side of the diaper changing surface where straps used to be.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.11. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 11. Label each food container received from the parent with the infant's name.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the Infant room, there were 4 packets of breast milk labeled with a child's first name only, rather than with a child's first and last name as required.”

AAC R9-5-515.B. B. If an enrolled child exhibits signs of illness or infestation at a facility, a licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 1. Immediately separates the enrolled child from other enrolled children, 2. Immediately notifies the enrolled child’s parent by telephone or other expeditious means to arrange for the enrolled child’s removal from the facility, and 3. Maintains documentation of the notification on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the notification.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observation and staff statement, the illness log was not current. Staff stated they sent a child home in September or October, 2025 with a fever, and it was not documented. Staff stated they did not know they had to document the illness.”

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 observation and staff statement, in the 3/4s room, the activity schedule was not posted. Staff stated they took it down to update it and forgot to repost it, and was unaware of where it was.”

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 observation, in the 3/4s room, there was a white laundry hamper with sharp plastic edges on both sides, accessible to enrolled children.”

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 the Compliance Officers' observations of 2 outdoor activity areas, the following hazards were accessible to enrolled children: Preschool playground: There was a multi-colored plastic caterpillar with cracked, sharp edges on the eyes. Toddler playground: The seat on a red tricycle was cracked with sharp edges and there were missing pieces on the seat.”

AAC R9-5-601.4. A licensee shall comply with the following physical plant requirements: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 the Compliance Officers' observations, in the 3's room, there were children in diapers. The 3's room is not licensed for diaper changing.”

AAC R9-5-511.A. 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, crib mattress, 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; and 5. Each cot, mat, or crib is maintained in a clean and repaired condition.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, in the 3's room, the following was observed: *There was a one-year-old child sleeping on a bean bag, rather than on a cot or mat as required. *There were frayed edges on the seams on multiple stacked blue mats.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.22. C. A licensee shall ensure that:22. A refrigerator at the child care facility maintains a temperature of 41° F or below, as shown by a thermometer kept in the refrigerator at all times;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, the Infant room lacked a thermometer in the refrigerator.”

AAC R9-5-504.5.d. A licensee providing child care services for 1-year-old and 2-year-old children shall:5. Ensure that: d. If a parent brings a sippy cup for the parent’s enrolled child, the sippy cup is labeled with the enrolled child’s name.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observations, in the 1's room, there were 2 sippy cups that lacked a child's first and last name as required.”

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 Compliance Officer #1's observation, it was determined that Staff #1 (DOE 8/27/2024) was a teacher caregiver alone with enrolled children in the 1's room at the time of the inspection. Staff #1 was not qualified as a teacher-caregiver and was not supervised by a qualified staff member.”

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 observations, it was determined that 2 out of 15 enrolled children's Emergency Information and Immunization Record Cards reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #7: The child’s home telephone number. Child #8: The child’s date of enrollment.”

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 facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observations, it was determined that 6 out of 7 enrolled children's attendance forms reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #1: Arrival time and signature for 11/11, and release time and signature for 11/12/2024. Child #2: Release time and signature for 11/20 and 11/25/2024. Child #3: Arrival time and signature for 11/25/2024. Child #4: Arrival time and signature for 11/22, and release time and signature for 11/25/2024. Child #5: Arrival time and signature for 11/25/2024. Child #6: Arrival time and signature for 11/25/2024.”

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 Compliance Officer #1's observations, it was determined that Staff #1 (DOE 8/27/2024) was a teacher caregiver in the 1's room at the time of the inspection. Staff #1 was not qualified as a teacher caregiver because their file lacked documentation of a high school/ high school equivalency diploma.”

AAC R9-5-403.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each staff member who provides child care services completes 18 or more actual hours of training every 12 months after the effective date of this Chapter or the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service in at least two topics listed in this subsection: a. Child growth and development, including: i. Infant growth and development, which may include sudden infant death syndrome prevention; ii. Developmental psychology; iii. Language development; iv. Observation and child assessment; v. Developmentally-appropriate activities; vi. Child guidance and methods of discipline which may include training on the appropriate techniques to prevent a child from harm or to prevent the child from harming others; and vii. Developmentally-appropriate activity areas; b. Health and safety issues, including: i. Accident and emergency procedures, including CPR and first aid for infants and children; ii. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; iii. Nutrition and developmentally-appropriate eating habits; iv. Child abuse detection, reporting, and prevention; v. Safety of indoor and outdoor activity areas; and vi. Sun safety policies and procedures; c. Program administration, planning, development, or management; and d. Availability of community services and resources, including those available to children with special needs; and 2. As part of the required 18 hours of training in subsection (B)(1): a. A staff member who has less than 12 months of child care experience before the staff member’s starting date, completes at least 12 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) in the staff member’s first 12 months at the facility; b. A staff member who has 12 months or more of child care experience, completes at least 6 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; c. A staff member who provides child care services to an infant completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(a)(i) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; and d. A facility director completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(c) every 12 months after the facility director’s starting date.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer #1's observations of 5 staff files, 2 staff files lacked: Staff #2 (DOE 2/12/2023): 11 of the required 18 hours of annual training from 2/2023 - 2/2024. Staff #3 (DOE 5/6/2021): 18 of the required 18 hours of annual training from 5/2023 - 5/2024.”

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 the Compliance Officers' observations, in the 3's room, the staff to child ratio was 1:9, with a required ratio of 2:9, with a one-year-old children present in the room.”

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 the Compliance Officers' observations and staff statements, the Licensee failed to ensure when six or more enrolled children are present at the facility, an infant is not placed for supervision with a child who is not an infant. In the Infant room, there was a one-year-old child present, and there were twelve children present at the facility.”

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 Officer #1's observations, in the Infant room there was a pacifier in a child's mouth that lacked an identifier specific to an enrolled child. In the 1's room, there was 1 pacifier that lacked an identifier specific to an enrolled child in a child’s cubby.”

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 #2's observations, in the Infant room, there was 1 container of wipes labeled with a child's first name only, and there was 1 container of wipes that lacked a label of the child's first and last name 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 Officers' observations, the diaper changing areas in the Infant room, the 1's room and the 2's room were not seamless and smooth. There was a grey plastic handle attached to the surface of the table.”

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 the Compliance Officers' observations, the water temperature in the following diaper changing sinks measured below 86 degrees F, rather than between 86 - 110 degrees F as required Infant room: 82.9 degrees F. 1’s room: 113.1 degrees F. 2’s room: 112.9 degrees F”

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

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, in the 1’s room, there was a bag with soiled clothing inside located on top of the soiled clothing container.”

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 and the Director's observations, the soiled clothing container in the infant room was stored on the floor next to the diapering sink and was accessible.”

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 and the Director's observations, 2 five gallon buckets of paint were found stored on the outdoor patio on the playground and were accessible to children.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.l. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: l. 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 the Compliance Officer's review of the written feeding instructions for the 5 enrolled infants and on a discussion with the infant room staff and the Director, it was determined that the written feeding instructions for Child #1 had not been updated in 8 months. The infant room staff acknowledged that there had been changes and stated the amount of formula had increased from what was written on the form 8 months prior.”

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 and the Director's observations, the water temperature measured only 78 degrees F at the diapering sink in the infant room.”

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 the Compliance Officer's review of Staff #2's file, it was determined that the criminal history affidavit form was incomplete. The staff had not answered questions #1 and #3.”

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 the Compliance Officer's review of Staff #2's file (Date of employment 8/6/2023) it was determined that the staff's fingerprint clearance card was issued in 2021, prior to the staff's employment date. The file lacked documentation that the licensee contacted DPS prior to the staff’s start of employment to verify that the fingerprint clearance card is valid.”