Pathways Preschool

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: Based on a review of four staff files and the Compliance Officer's observation, the files for Staff #1, #2, #3 and #4 lacked documentation of Criminal History Affidavits completed before starting dates of employment.”

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, 4 (of 6) baby wipe containers and 7 (of 10) diaper creme ointment tubes were not labeled with first and last names of children in Room 5 Roadrunners.”

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 observations of Compliance Officer #1 and Compliance Officer #2, these hazards were accessible to children on the playground: There was a broken dowel with exposed raw wood and sharp edges on one shelf of the safety helmet shelf next to the west fence. There was an exposed area of cracked and chipping concrete exposing rough edges and flaking paint at the base of the northwest building wall. There were four exposed cement footings at the bases of the shade structure support posts on the northwest side of the playground. There was a wooden structure under the shade structure that was shaky with a protruding metal screw on one side. There was an exposed rusty metal screw at the end of one baseboard of the sandbox in the northwest corner of the playground.”

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 a review of four staff files and Compliance Officer #2's observation, the files for Staff #2 (DOH: 9/9/24) and Staff #3 (DOH: 7/25/24) lacked documentation for verification of valid fingerprint clearance cards dated before their start date.”

AAC R9-5-401.4. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility:4. An assistant teacher-caregiver is 16 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Current and continuous enrollment in high school or a high school equivalency class; b. High school or high school equivalency diploma; c. Enrollment in vocational rehabilitation, as defined in A.R.S. § 23-501; d. Employment as a teacher-caregiver aide for 12 months; or e. Service as a volunteer in a child care facility for 12 months;

“Findings: Based on a review of four staff files and Compliance Officer #2's observation, the file for staff #1 lacked translation of the documentation of high school enrollment or the equivalent of a high school diploma.”

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, there were hazards accessible to enrolled children in the following areas: Room 4 (Cactus Wrens): There were three holes and two areas of exposed plastic mesh in the drywall of the east wall within reach of children in feeding chairs. Room 5 (Roadrunners): There were two small areas of missing vinyl exposing raw fiberboard near the toilet paper dispenser in the restroom. Room 6 (Jackrabbits): There were four areas of peeling paint with rough edges on the east wall near the bookshelf.”

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 a review of four staff files and Compliance Officer #2's observations, these files lacked documentation of a negative tuberculosis test dated before their start date: Staff #1: Date of hire 12/3/24, date of test results 12/8/24. Staff #2: Date of hire 9/9/24, date of test results 9/10/24. Staff #4: Date of hire 7/22/24, date of test results 7/25/24.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.1. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 1. Provide a wall-enclosed room for infants that provides exits required by R9-5-601(1);

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers’ observations upon arrival, the infant room was not enclosed with one infant door (of two) open to the hallway and blocked by an infant gate.”

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

“Findings: Per allegation and based on staff interviews, it was determined that children were not supervised at all times when using the restroom. Staff statements included the following: *If I was alone in the room and the child was in the bathroom across the hall, I could not see or hear them well, especially if the children in the room were loud. *Sometimes a child used the hall restroom and the teacher stayed in the classroom doorway. Staff stated they are uncomfortable when children are across the hallway in the restroom around the corner and they cannot see them.”

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: Per allegation and based on staff interviews, it was determined that ratios were not maintained at all times. Staff statements included: *"...[T]he two-year-old room was out of ratio a few months ago; coverage has improved with the new staff." *"At the most, I was alone with 10 children [in the two-year-old room]".”

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: Per allegation and based on Compliance Officers' observation and staff interviews, the toilet rooms were not maintained in a clean and sanitized condition: Hallway Restroom: There was a build-up of dirt debris on the floor in the corners of the room. There was urine in two of two toilet basins. Playground Exit Restroom: There was urine in the toilet basin. Hummingbirds Twos Room: There was urine in one toilet basin (of two). Roadrunner Room: There was a build-up of a brown substance along the water line in the toilet basin. Acorns Room: There was a build-up of dirt on the corners of the paper towel dispenser. Staff statements included the following: *I spot-check the bathroom when I leave. *I do not always check the bathroom [after children use it]. *I stand outside the restroom [for the older kids] and if they do not tell us [it needs cleaning] we do not know. *I clean it twice a week and definitely a heavy cleaning on Friday. *It is not as tidy as it could be; I do spot checks maybe three times a week. *It is dirty all day and we just wipe it down. I flush toilets if I see it, if not it won't get done. The director stated, "Teachers have a cleaning schedules for assistants and after care."”

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 Officer’s observation in the outdoor activity area, the following hazards were accessible to enrolled children: There were several areas of exposed plastic liner under the wood chips near the south exit door. There was one loose wooden board on the window sill of the playhouse.”

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 a review of five medication forms and the Compliance Officer’s observation, the following three medication forms were incomplete: Child #7, #8 and #9: Prescription number did not match label.”

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, during the inspection, there was a 4-year-old child in the Hallway Restroom alone and unsupervised by a staff member. The staff member was in the PreK classroom across the hall and was unable to see or hear the enrolled child at all times.”

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 Officer’s observation, during the inspection the staff-to-child ratio in the Hallway was 0:1 when a four-year-old child was alone in the Hallway restroom without a staff member.”

AAC R9-5-402.A. A. A licensee shall maintain a file for each staff member containing: 1. The staff member’s name, date of birth, home address, and telephone number; 2. The staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service; 3. The staff member’s ending date of employment or volunteer service, if applicable; 4. The name and telephone number of an individual to be notified in case of an emergency; 5. The staff member’s written statement attesting to current immunity against measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps, and pertussis; 6. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(C); 7. Documents required by R9-5-203; 8. Documents required by R9-5-301; 9. Documents required by R9-5-401, if applicable; 10. If applicable: a. The form required in A.R.S. § 8-804(I), b. Documentation of the submission required in A.R.S. § 8-804 and the information received as a result of the submission, and c. Documentation of training provided by a licensee as required by R9-5-403, if applicable; 11. A copy of any current license or certification required by A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1. or this Chapter; and 12. Documentation of the requirements in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(D).

“Findings: Based on a review of five staff files, the file for Staff #1 lacked documentation of good faith efforts to contact two references.”

AAC R9-5-304.B. B. Except as required in A.R.S. § 36-3009, before an enrolled child receives child care services, a licensee shall require the enrolled child’s parent to complete a Department-provided Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card that is signed by the enrolled child’s parent containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, city, state, zip code, home telephone number, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of each parent of the child; 4. The name and contact telephone number of at least two individuals authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the facility in case of emergency, or if the child’s parent cannot be contacted; 5. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s health care provider; 6. The written authorization for emergency medical care of the enrolled child when the parent cannot be contacted at the time of the emergency; 7. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; 8. The written instructions of a child’s parent or health care provider for nutritional and dietary needs of the child including, if applicable, the request in R9-5-509(C)(9); and 9. A written record completed by the child’s parent or health care provider noting the child’s susceptibility to illness, physical conditions of which a staff member should be aware, and any individual requirements for health maintenance.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observation, it was determined that 6 out of 15 enrolled children's Emergency, Information and Immunization Record cards reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #1: Child's telephone number. Child #2: Name and contact telephone number of the child’s health care provider. Child #3: Mother's contact telephone number. Child #4: Name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child. Child #5: Home address, city, state and zip for mother/guardian and father/guardian. Child #6: The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number for father/guardian.”

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 a review of five staff files, the files for Staff #1, #2 and #3 lacked documentation for verification that the fingerprint clearance cards were valid at time of hire.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observations, these personal products lacked the enrolled child's first and last name: Ones Room: 3 of 4 diaper wipe containers. Infant Room: 3 of 5 diaper wipe containers; 4 diaper ointment tubes.”