Sugar Maple School

Regulation 6.2.7.4.4: No form of inappropriate discipline or corporal punishment shall be used with children such as but not limited to: Confining a child in an enclosed or darkened area, such as a closet or a locked room;

“Rest time for Child A has been in the locked office in a crib with netting encompassing the entire top of the crib. The zipper clasp to open the netting can be accessed only from the exterior (outside of crib) side. Staff acknowledged that this toddler has been required to remain in the crib while awake to accomodate the rest needs of other children. This child was described as likely to cry and disturb other children if placed in the play room with others for rest time. The licensee was notified by Licensing Field Specialist Crawford during a licensing visit on 08/19/2026 that the practice of locking the child in the room was to stop effective 08/19/2026. It was confirmed that the practice continued after 08/19/2026. Confining a child in a locked room is a serious violation warranting a parental notification letter. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted, corrective action needs to be completed. Send a copy of this site visit letter either by U.S. mail or electronic mail to all parents of children who have been enrolled in the past 30 days. Send the contact information for each parent to Licensing Field Specialist [name]. A Program Improvement Plan is required to be submitted for approval. This plan needs to include: revised rest time practices including where, in what, and how children are to be sleeping based upon age and development needs, updated employee handbook addressing requirements for supervision for rest time practices, and resources to be reviewed with staff and made available on site for strategies/techniques to assist children with resting. This plan is to be submitted to Licensing Field Specialist [name]. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 7.3.1.3: The program director of a CBCCPP licensed to serve thirteen (13) - fifty-nine (59) children shall be qualified as a teacher associate, and shall have completed either: * A Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Step One (1) Certificate; or * Successful completion of a three (3) college credit course in program management for early care and education or for school age care and education, or in staff supervision related to early care and education of children; and a three (3) college credit course in curriculum.

“It was confirmed through staff interviews that the licensee, [name], is operating as the Program Director. Staff confirm that [name] handles the responsibilities as listed in the regulatory definition of Program Director (Rule 2.2.39). Staff report that the person identified to the Child Development Division as Program Director is a classroom lead teacher and only serves in an assistant and substitute program director role. [name] does not meet the requirements to be the Program Director. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted, corrective action needs to be completed. Have a qualified individual serving as Program Director. Submit to Licensing Field Specialist Stannard, documentation of the responsiblities assigned to the qualified Program Director. Include in this documentation the role of the Program Director in defining and implementing guidance practices, ensuring staff expectations of the different groups of children are age and developmentally appropriate, and level of engagement/monitoring of program curriculum. Update job descriptions to reflect the changes. Review job descriptions with all staff persons. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 6.2.4.5: When seven (7) or more children are present, a second adult, who could assist in an emergency, shall be within direct hearing distance of the licensed space at all times.

“It was confirmed through documentation review and staff interviews that on 07/30/2026 there was a window of time in the program day that one person was the sole adult in the building with more than seven (7) children. Nine children ranging in age from 1 yr. 7 months to 5 yrs. of age were present. The number of children present required a second adult to be present in the building to assist with an emergency including an evacuation of the building. It was confirmed that for at least ten minutes of rest time, one staff person was left alone in the building with all of the children in care. During this time, four children were awake including a child in a crib in a locked room. The staff present reported not knowing the access code to unlock the door. This is a serious violation of staff to child ratio and child safety requiring a parental notification letter. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted the following corrective action needs to be submitted to and approved by the Division. Send a copy of this site visit letter either by U.S. mail or electronic mail to all parents of children who have been enrolled in the past 30 days. Send the contact information for each parent to Licensing Field Specialist Standard . Submit updated written rest time practices that clearly state no child is to rest or sleep in a locked space for any reason. Submit for approval the staffing plan that identifies arrival and departure times for all staff persons and includes break times. Review the requirement of this rule with all staff and have staff sign a statement of understanding of the requirement of this rule. Send all required documentation to Licensing Field Specialist Stannard. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.4.1.1: The licensee shall ensure that each child, except school-age children, has an individual crib, port-a-crib, cot, mat, or bed that is safe for the child's age and development, in good repair, and used by only one child each day. No child shall nap directly on the floor or on furniture not designed for sleeping. Cribs or port-a-cribs shall be used for children under twelve (12) months of age. Children shall not nap in cribs or port-a-cribs if they are physically able to climb out unassisted.

“It was confirmed through staff interviews that Child A, who is over two years of age, is able to climb out of a crib. Child A is placed in a crib with a full netting tent enclosure over the crib for rest time. It was acknowledge by multiple staff that the intent of the netting is to prevent Child A from climbing out of the crib. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted the following corrective action needs to be submitted to and approved by the Division. Submit to Licensing Field Specialist Stannard a revised rest time/sleep policy. Include the changes to Child A's sleep practices that meet the requirements of this rule. This policy is to include the resources used to determine the appropriate sleep materials/equipment for children of different ages and abilities. This plan needs to include how parental requests, medical requirements, and sensory needs of different children will be accomodated within consideration of the rule requirements. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 3.4.6.5: Staffing Schedule: A licensee shall maintain a written record of the daily schedule for at least 365 days of all staff including exact days and hours worked and the group of children to whom they are assigned.

“It was confirmed through documentation review and staff interviews that a written record of staff assignments to groups as required by this rule is not maintained. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted the following corrective action needs to be submitted to and approved by the Division. Have a written (either on paper or electronic) schedule meeting the requirements of this rule. Send to Licensing Field Specialist Stannard for review. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 6.2.1.3: The program director shall ensure that the number of staff present meets requirements described in the chart below for ages of children, maximum group size, and staff/child ratios at any time of day.

“It was confirmed through documentation review and staff interviews that on 07/30/2026 staff to child ratio was not maintained. Nine children ranging in age from 1 yr. 7 months to 5 yrs. of age were present. The number and ages of children in care required a minimum of two staff persons to be present in the building providing care. It was confirmed that for at least ten minutes of rest time, one staff person was left alone in the building with all of the children in care. During this time, four children were awake including a child in a crib in a locked room. This is a serious violation of staff to child ratio requiring a parental notification letter. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted the following corrective action needs to be submitted to and approved by the Division. Send a copy of this site visit letter either by U.S. mail or electronic mail to all parents of children who have been enrolled in the past 30 days. Send the contact information for each parent to Licensing Field Specialist Stannard. Submit for approval, a staff break coverage plan that indicates set times for each person's breaks. Include in this plan how and by whom ratios per group will be maintained. Review this plan with all staff persons and have each person sign a statement of understanding about staff to child ratio and break coverages. Send the staff sign offs and all required corrective action documentation to Licensing Field Specialist Stannard. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 6.2.4.4: The program director shall ensure that a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher assistant is present while children are present at the CBCCPP.

“Per staff statements, the program has been operating without a person qualifying as a teaching assistant or higher since 12:15 p.m. on the date of this visit. The only two (2) staff present qualify as trainee only. The program was out of compliance with this rule from 12:15 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. when the program closed for the day. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted, corrective action needs to be submitted to and approved by the Division. Submit a staffing plan that includes typical room assignments and planning for staff coverage that will ensure that a staff person meeting at least teaching assistant is always present when children are in care. Additionally, identify each staff persons qualifying position (trainee, teaching assistant, teaching associate, teacher) upon the staffing plan. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“Staff A was counted in staff to child ratio for seven (7) business days before the required Record Check Authorization form was submitted to the Division. As of the date of this visit, the program has not received notification that this individual has passed the record check background clearance. This staff has worked a total of nine business days. Staff B has reportedly counted in staff to child ratio for four (4) days over the previous two weeks and there is not an approved record check clearance in the system for this person. Corrective Action: The license to operate a childcare program was suspended on 09/01/2026. Prior to the suspension being lifted, corrective action needs to be submitted to and approved by the Division. The licensee is to submit a written plan that indicates when in the hiring process the record check authorization form is to be completed, how the licensee will ensure the submission of the document to the Division, and actions to be taken to ensure person appears on the associated parties list with a record check clearance approval. In addition, the employee handbook/program hiring information is to be updated to include the requirement that record check approval be completed before a person may be employed at the program. These requirements are to be submitted to Licensing Field Specialist [name]. If the license is still suspended on the listed due date, you may extend the due date to coincide with the re-activation of your license should that occur. Status: Appeal Period.”