Prescolaire Early Learning Academy

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

“Per the allegation, staff statements, facility documentation, and the Compliance Officer's observation, the ratio in the Toddler 2 room was 1:7 when a 1-year-old child was listed as a 2-year-old in the facility's attendance system. Staff stated: *The age was wrong a month ago. It threw off the class ratio. *We were operating at a 2-year-old ratio. *The child's parent said the child's birthday was wrong. Toddler 2 child and staff attendance records were documented on 4/6/2026 from 8:01 am - 8:31 am, the ratio was 1:7 with a one-year-old child present. On 4/16/2026 from 7:31 am - 8:19 am, the ratio was 1:7 with a one-year-old present. The Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card confirmed the child was a 1-year-old.”

AAC R9-5-306.A. A. A licensee shall: 1. Maintain a dated attendance form containing an enrolled child’s name with the time of each admission and release, and the parent or staff member's signature or other unique identifier. 2. If an electronic signature is used to admit or release the enrolled child, 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; 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. Maintain the attendance form on facility premises for 12 months after the date of attendance.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer and Bureau Chief's observations, it was determined that 3 out of 26 reviewed sign in/out records lacked the following documentation: Child #1: A release signature for 1/19/2026 - 1/20/2026. Child #2: There were initials used throughout the month, rather than a signature. Child #3: There were signatures missing throughout the month.”

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: Based on staff member statements and the Compliance Officers' observations, Staff #1 used a method of discipline that included the use of physical punishment. On 10/24/2025 in the Preschool 4 classroom, after Staff #1 flipped a sleeping child off of a naptime cot when the child was not waking up from nap. The child hit their head and began to cry. Staff stated they observed Staff #1 grab the child's upper arm aggressively and say in a loud, harsh tone, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT, YOU'LL WAKE EVERYONE UP, GO OUT", as they were pulling the child towards the door.”

AAC R9-5-510.A.1. A. A staff member shall provide guidance to help children respond to difficult situations. To develop self-regulation, children should receive adult support that is individual to the child and adapts as the child develops internal controls. This process should include: 1. Forming a positive relationship with the child, which occurs when the adult spends time talking to the child, listening to the child, following the child’s lead, playing with the child, and responding to the child’s needs; 2. Base expectations on the child’s developmental level; 3. Establishing and being proactive in teaching and supporting children in learning simple rules; 4. Modifying the learning/play environment to support the child’s appropriate behavior; 5. Creating a predictable daily routine and schedule; 6. Modeling desired behavior; 7. Showing children positive alternatives; 8.Using deliberate redirection, the staff member should encourage the child to use appropriate behavior, and provide positive feedback when the child exhibits the behavior; 9. Individualized positive discipline strategies based on the individual needs of children, such as using a buddy system, individualized schedule, special break, or another applicable positive discipline strategy; and 10. If applicable, a licensee shall develop a written plan with the enrolled child's parent to provide individualized social and emotional intervention supports for the enrolled child that includes methods for understanding the enrolled child's behavior, and developing, adopting, and implementing a team-based positive behavior support plan.

“Per allegation findings: Based on staff member statements and the Compliance Officers' observations, on 10/24/2025 in the Preschool 4 classroom, Staff #1 failed to model desired behavior to children. Two staff members were attempting to wake a child from nap. The staff members stated they observed Staff #1 standing on the other side of the room, and then Staff #1 stormed across the room towards them and the child. The staff stated that Staff #1 stood at the head of the child's cot, lifted the cot off the floor at an angle, then flipped the sleeping child forward onto the ground. The child landed on their head and started to cry. One of the staff members who observed this said to Staff #1, "You just flipped [the child] over on [their] cot". Staff stated that Staff #1 responded, "You have seen [the child]... [The child] has not been listening to me all day". Staff stated Staff #1 grabbed the crying child's upper arm while saying in a loud, harsh tone, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT, YOU'LL WAKE EVERYONE UP, GO OUT".”

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: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Infant room, a non-crawling infant was flat on their stomach on the floor. The staff members were not within reach of the infant and were performing other duties.”

AAC R9-5-510.A.1. A. A staff member shall provide guidance to help children respond to difficult situations. To develop self-regulation, children should receive adult support that is individual to the child and adapts as the child develops internal controls. This process should include: 1. Forming a positive relationship with the child, which occurs when the adult spends time talking to the child, listening to the child, following the child’s lead, playing with the child, and responding to the child’s needs; 2. Base expectations on the child’s developmental level; 3. Establishing and being proactive in teaching and supporting children in learning simple rules; 4. Modifying the learning/play environment to support the child’s appropriate behavior; 5. Creating a predictable daily routine and schedule; 6. Modeling desired behavior; 7. Showing children positive alternatives; 8.Using deliberate redirection, the staff member should encourage the child to use appropriate behavior, and provide positive feedback when the child exhibits the behavior; 9. Individualized positive discipline strategies based on the individual needs of children, such as using a buddy system, individualized schedule, special break, or another applicable positive discipline strategy; and 10. If applicable, a licensee shall develop a written plan with the enrolled child's parent to provide individualized social and emotional intervention supports for the enrolled child that includes methods for understanding the enrolled child's behavior, and developing, adopting, and implementing a team-based positive behavior support plan.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation, staff member statements, and the Compliance Officers' observations, in the Preschool 4 classroom, Staff #1 failed to model desired behavior when an enrolled child was not waking up from their nap. Facility documentation stated that Staff #1 "aggressively lifted a nap cot with a sleeping child on it, causing the child to flip off the cot onto the ground". Staff stated they observed Staff #1 "pulled cot and flipped [the] child out of it". Staff stated Staff #1 said the child was giving them a "hard time all day".”

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 observation, the facility lacked a current fire inspection. The last fire inspection expired on 1/5/2025.”

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's observation, the licensed capacity in the Nursery is 13 and there were 14 infants present at the time of the inspection.”

AAC R9-5-516.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that a written statement is prepared and maintained on facility premises that specifies:1. Whether prescription or nonprescription medications are administered to enrolled children; and 2. If prescription or nonprescription medications are administered, the requirements in subsection (B) for administering the prescription or nonprescription medications.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the label on the nonprescription medication for Child #1 (DOB 11/22/2022), Child #2 (DOB 8/1/2021), and Child #3 (DOB 11/29/2021) stated "do not use unless directed by a doctor" for ages 2-5. The facility lacked a doctor's note for the nonprescription medication for Child #1, Child #2, and Child #3.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, the following wipes were not labeled with the child's first and last name as required: Toddler 1: 2 wipes were labeled with the child's first name only; Toddler 2: 2 wipes were labeled with the child's first name only and 2 wipes were labeled with first name and last initial: and Nursery: 3 wipes were labeled with the child's first name only and 3 wipes lacked a label.”

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 Officer's observation, in the Toddler 2 room, the mounted paper towel dispenser in the diaper changing area lacked paper towels.”

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's observation, 2 of 4 bottles reviewed in the Nursery room refrigerator were labeled with the child's first name only.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.m. C. A licensee shall ensure that:1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: m. Posts the current written dietary instructions in the infant room and the kitchen and maintains the instructions on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the instructions; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the kitchen lacked posted, current infant feeding instructions.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.1.d. C. A licensee shall ensure that:1. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room: d. Keeps dated, daily, documentation of each infant including: i. A description of any activities the infant participated in, ii. The infant’s food consumption, iii. Diaper changes, and iv. Tummy time;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the Nursery lacked dated, daily, documentation of tummy time.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observation, the file for Staff #1 lacked educational documents to qualify the staff member as a teacher-caregiver. The international education document in the file was not evaluated as equivalent or higher to a high school diploma from the United States. Additionally, the document was not translated to English as required.”

AAC R9-5-303.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that the licensed capacity of each indoor activity area or room is posted in that activity area or room.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Nursery, there were two capacity postings, one listed 13 and one listed 11. The licensed capacity for the Nursery is 13.”

AAC R9-5-308.A. A. A licensee shall secure and maintain the following minimum insurance coverage: 1. General facility liability insurance of at least $300,000; and 2. Motor vehicle insurance coverage, required by A.R.S. Title 28, Chapter 9, Article 4, for each motor vehicle provided by a licensee to transport enrolled children.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, there was a medication liability waiver attached to the facility's medication form.”

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 soiled diaper container in the diaper changing area in the 1’s Room lacked a waterproof liner.”