Quality Interactive Anthem Montessori

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

“Allegation Findings: Based on staff statements, the staff-to-children ratios were not maintained at all times when providing child care services to enrolled children. Staff stated the following: *We sometimes go over ratio in the morning time. Parents come earlier and that puts us over ratio. When I am out of ratio, it’s for about 15 minutes. *Usually out of ratio Monday and Tuesdays, sometimes Wednesdays. Out of ratio most of the day.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.2.b. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 2. A staff member providing child care services in an infant room does not: b. Place an infant to sleep using a positioning device that restricts movement, unless the infant’s health care provider has instructed otherwise in writing;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observations, in the Infant room, there was a child sleeping with a sleep sack on, restricting their arm movement.”

AAC R9-5-512.F.1. F. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. Each toilet room in a facility contains, within easy reach of enrolled children: a. Mounted toilet tissue; and b. Except as provided in subsection (G): i. A sink with running water; ii. Soap contained in a dispenser; and iii. Disposable, single-use paper towels in a mounted dispenser, or a mechanical air hand dryer;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observations, in the Winter Frost room, the restroom lacked soap in the dispenser.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.10. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 10. Toilet rooms are ventilated to the outside of the building, either by a screened window open to the outside air or by an exhaust fan and duct system that is operated when the toilet room is in use;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observations, in the Winter Frost room, the exhaust fans in both restrooms were not in working condition.”

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 Officers' observations, the file for Staff #2 lacked an answer for question 2 on the Criminal History Affidavit. Additionally, the files for Staff #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 lacked the second page of the Criminal History Affidavit.”

AAC R9-5-203.C. C. Except as provided in A.R.S. § 41-1758.03, a licensee shall ensure that each staff member, before starting date of employment or volunteer service, submits to the licensee a copy of the staff member’s valid fingerprint clearance card, front and back, issued under A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 12, Article 3.1.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officers' observations, the file for Staff #1 lacked a copy of their valid fingerprint clearance card.”

AAC R9-5-302. A licensee shall prepare a written statement of child care services provided by the licensee that includes the following: 1. A description of the facility’s child care services classifications in R9-5-204; 2. Hours of operation; 3. The facility’s street address, city, state, zip code, mailing address, and telephone number; 4. Child enrollment and disenrollment procedures; 5. Charges, fees, and payment requirements for child care services; 6. Child admission and release requirements; 7. Guidelines for positive discipline reflective of age-appropriate methods for children that include clear, appropriate, consistent expectations; 8. Transportation procedures; 9. Field trip requirements and procedures; 10. Responsibilities and participation of parents in facility activities; 11. A general description of activities and programs; 12. A description of the liability insurance required by R9-5-308 that is carried by the licensee and a statement that documentation of the liability insurance coverage is available for review on the facility premises; 13. Medication administration procedures; 14. Accident and emergency procedures; 15. A notice stating inspection reports are available on-site; 16. A provision stating that the facility is regulated by the Arizona Department of Health Services including the Department’s local street address, city, state, zip code, and local telephone number; 17. The procedures for notifying a parent at least 48 hours before a pesticide is applied on a facility’s premises; 18. A statement that a parent has access to the areas on facility premises where the parent’s enrolled child is receiving child care services; and 19. Policies and procedures for suspension and expulsion of children to include clear, appropriate, consistent expectations, including suspension and expulsion prevention strategies.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observations and facility documentation, the statement of services lacked the required information: *Updated transportation procedures *A statement that a parent has access to facility premises *Description of liability insurance”

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, the ratio in the Primary room was 2:24 instead of 3:24 for 2-year-old children. The ratio in the 1's room was 1:12 instead of 2:12 for 1-year-old children.”

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 and facility documentation, in the Primary room, there were 24 children present and 23 children were documented on the roster.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, the medication authorization form for Child #1 lacked the current date of authorization.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, there was an electrical outlet lacking a safety cover in the Tundra classroom.”

AAC R9-5-512.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each toilet room in a facility contains, within easy reach of enrolled children: a. Mounted toilet tissue; and b. Except as provided in subsection (G): i. A sink with running water; ii. Soap contained in a dispenser; and iii. Disposable, single-use paper towels in a mounted dispenser, or a mechanical air hand dryer; 2. Staff members wash their hands with soap and running water after toileting; 3. An enrolled child’s hands are washed with soap and running water after toileting; 4. Except for a cup or receptacle used only for water, food waste is stored in a covered container and the container is clean and lined with a plastic bag; 5. Food waste and other refuse is removed from the facility building at least once every 24 hours or more often as necessary to maintain a clean condition and avoid odors; 6. A staff member or an enrolled child does not draw water for human consumption from a toilet room handwashing sink; 7. Toys, materials, and equipment are maintained in a clean condition; 8. Plumbing fixtures are maintained in a clean and working condition; and 9. Chipped or cracked sinks and toilets are replaced or repaired.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, there was a trash receptacle lacking a cover in the Jade Frost classroom.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, there was a sippy cup with a straw lacking a label with the infant's name in the Hidden Hills infant room.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, the classroom roster in 3/4/5’s reflected the presence of 17 children, however only 16 children were actually present in the activity area.”

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: Based on Compliance Officers’ observations, information provided by staff members and review of facility video footage and photographs, on 4/22/24 a teacher's discipline techniques placed a child's health, safety and welfare at risk of harm. The teacher repeatedly picked a child up by the hand and wrists, elevating the child to where the child's feet did not make contact with the floor. The teacher then sat on the child's backside, while the child was lying on the carpet to hold the child in place. The teacher also picked up the child and placed the child on the teacher's hip and as the child began to slip off the hip, the teacher held the child around the chest area with one hand and continued to walk around the classroom. Staff stated that the teacher would be "a little rough" with the child and that the teacher seemingly "did not like" the child that the teacher was disciplining.”

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;

“Per Allegation Findings: Based on Compliance Officers’ observations and review of facility video footage and photographs, on 4/22/24 a child's health, safety and welfare was placed at risk of harm. A teacher working in the 1/2's classroom picked a child up by the hands, elevating the child to where the child's feet did not make contact with the floor. The teacher carried the child in this manner, to a carpeted area where the teacher then sat on the child's backside, while the child was laying on the carpet. The teacher then picked up the child by the right wrist, again elevating the child to where the child's feet did not reach the floor. The teacher dragged the child across the classroom by the wrist, as the child rotated from the wrist until the child sat on the ground. The teacher picked the child up again by the right wrist, and walked the child around the rear of the classroom where the child sat down while being held by the wrist. The teacher remained holding the child by the right wrist while she performed other duties in the classroom, occasionally dragging the child behind. The teacher then picked up the child on the teacher's hip, the child began to slide off the teacher's hip, and the teacher continued to carry the child by holding the child around the chest area with one hand. The child continued to slip from the teacher's grasp until the child was finally returned to a seated position on the carpet.”

AAC R9-5-510.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 2. Teaches, models, and encourages orderly conduct, personal control, and age-appropriate behavior;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers’ observations, information provided by the staff and review of facility video footage, on 4/22/24 a staff member did not teach, model nor encourage personal control when the staff member repeatedly picked up a child by the hand and wrist, causing the child's feet to leave the ground. The staff member held the child by the wrist so that the the child was "dangling" by the wrist. Additionally, the staff member did not model personal control when the staff member pinned a child to the floor by sitting on the child's backside.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation,7 of 25 attendance records reviewed lacked the following required documentation: Child #5: Release times and signatures for 12/4 and 12/5/23. Child #6: Release signatures for 12/4, 12/6, 12/7 and 12/20/23. Child #7: Release signatures for 12/1, 12/5, 12/6, 12/7, 12/12, 12/13, 12/14, 12/18, 12/19 and 12/20/23. Child #8: Release signatures for 12/4, 12/6, 12/7 and 12/20/23. Child #9: Release times and signatures for 12/4, 12/8, 12/11 and 12/12/23. Child #10: Release signatures for 12/1, 12/4, 12/5, 12/6, 12/7, 12/8, 12/11, 12/13, 12/14, 12/15 and 12/20/23. Child #11: Release times and signatures for 12/4 and 12/6/23.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, 4 of 25 Emergency Information and Immunization record cards reviewed lacked the following required documentation: Child #1: Date of enrollment. Child #2: Name of the individual to be contacted in case of sudden injury/illness. Child #3: Date of enrollment. Child #4: Date of enrollment.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, there was an electrical outlet in Amethyst Dove classroom that lacked a safety insert and 2 electrical outlets in the Tundra classroom that lacked safety inserts.”