The Learning Experience - Surprise

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 Allegation Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation and information provided by the staff, on 2/11/26 the Infant classroom was at a staff to child ratio of 2:12 instead of the state mandated staff to child ratio of 3:12. Staff members stated that "we were at a 2:12 for about 30 minutes at most".”

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 Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, the classroom roster in Toddler B reflected the presence of 11 children, however 12 children were actually present in the classroom.”

AAC R9-5-404.C.3. C. A licensee shall ensure that when there are: 3. 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 Compliance Officer's observation, on 2/11/26 there was a 1 year old child in the Infant classroom with other infant children when greater than 6 children were present in the facility.”

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 were outlets lacking safety inserts on the black surge protectors near the computers in both Preschool 1 and Preschool 2 classrooms.”

AAC R9-5-603.B. B. 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 Compliance Officers' observations, the soccer goal post on the facility playground was unsecured, creating a tipping hazard.”

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 facility lacked documentation of a medication consent form for Child #10.”

AAC R9-5-514. A. A. A licensee shall ensure that there is a first aid kit on facility premises that contains first aid supplies in a quantity sufficient to meet the needs of the enrolled children including the following: 1. Sterile bandages including: a. Adhesive bandages of assorted sizes, b. Sterile gauze pads, and c. Sterile gauze rolls; 2. Antiseptic solution or sealed antiseptic wipes; 3. A pair of scissors; 4. Adhesive or self-adhering tape; 5. Single-use, non-porous gloves; and 6. Reclosable plastic bags of at least one-gallon size.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the facility's first-aid kit was devoid of sterile gauze rolls.”

AAC R9-5-508.G. G. In addition to the required daily servings of food stated in subsection (C), a licensee: 1. Shall make second servings of food available to each enrolled child at meals and at snack time, 2. May substitute a food that is equivalent to a specific food component if second servings of the specific food component are not available, and 3. Shall ensure that a food substitution in subsection (G)(2) is written on the posted weekly menu by the end of the meal or snack service.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, substitutions were not documented for the food substitution at lunch on 1/26/26.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, there was a basket of tambourines atop in diapering surface in the Toddler B classroom. Additionally, there were seams along the base and across the surface of both the Toddler A and Toddler B diaper changing areas.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, there was a bottle in the Infant classroom that lacked a label with the infant's name.”

AAC R9-5-501.B.6. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 6. For enrolled children five-years or younger, and except as provided in subsection (C), prepares, posts, and implements a dated lesson plan in each indoor activity area for each calendar week, which is maintained on facility premises for 12 months after the lesson plan date and provides opportunities for each child to: a. Gain a positive self-concept; b. Develop and practice social skills; c. Think, reason, question, and experiment; d. Acquire language skills; e. Develop physical coordination skills; f. Participate in structured large muscle physical activity; g. Develop habits that meet health, safety, and nutritional needs; h. Express creativity; i. Learn to respect cultural diversity of children and staff; j. Learn self-help skills; and k. Develop a sense of responsibility and independence;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, the lesson plan in the Twaddler B classroom was dated for the week 1/26/26 -1/30/26.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.18. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 18. 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 Compliance Officers' observations, there was a plunger adjacent to the toilet in the restroom of the Twaddler A classroom.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.14. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 14. Temperatures are maintained between 68° F and 82° F in each room used by enrolled children;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the interior temperature for the PreK 1 registered at 67 degrees F and the Twad A classroom registered at 66 degrees F.”

AAC R9-5-305.C. C. A licensee shall attach an enrolled child’s written immunization record or exemption affidavit, required in subsection(A), to the enrolled child’s Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record, required in R9-5 304(B).

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, 5 of 20 Emergency Information and Immunization records were lacking the attached immunization for Child #1, Child #5, Child #7, Child #8 and Child #9.”

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 an Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record that is no more than a two-page written notice, and is signed by the enrolled child’s parent containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, email address, and 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 the nutritional and dietary needs of the child including, if applicable, the request in R9-5-509(C)(14); 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, 6 of 20 Emergency Information and Immunization records reviewed lacked the following documentation: Child #1: Health care provider's phone number. Child #2: Parent/guardian's contact information. Child #3: Date of enrollment; Parent/guardian's contact information. Child #4: Date of enrollment; Health care provider's contact information. Child #5: Emergency contact's information. Child #6: Date of enrollment; Emergency contact's information.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, the paper towel dispensers lacked singly dispensed paper towels in both the Infant and Twaddler A diaper changing areas.”

AAC R9-5-514. G.1. G. If while attending a facility an enrolled child has an accident, injury, or emergency that, based on an evaluation by a staff member, requires medical treatment by a health care provider, a licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 1. Notifies the enrolled child's parent and the Department immediately after the accident, serious physical injury, as defined in A.R.S. § 8-201, or emergency;

“Per allegation findings for case 155745 and case 155936: Based on Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, a child was injured in the mouth on 1/8/26 at 9:37 AM and the parent/guardian of the child was not immediately notified. The parent/guardian learned of the injury at 5:45 PM, when the child was picked up from the facility and taken to an emergency dental appointment that that discovered "soft tissue damage" in the child's mouth.”

AAC R9-5-511.A.1.2.3.4.5. 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, 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; 5. Each cot, mat, or crib is maintained in a clean and repaired condition;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, in the Twaddler B's classroom there was a child laying directly on a mat surface without a sheet between the child and the mat.”

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 Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, the classroom roster in the 2’s Twaddler A classroom reflected the presence of 11 children, however 12 children were actually present.”

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 Compliance Officer's observation, there were 3 plastic bins, a stack of disposable diapers and a plastic bag of diapers sitting atop the diapering surface in the 2's Twaddler A classroom.”

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 Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, the roster in the 1's classroom reflected the presence of 5 children, however 6 children were actually present in the classroom.”

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 roster for the Preschool 2 classroom reflected 17 children, however 14 children were actually present. Additionally, the Toddler A classroom lacked a roster to reflect the 5 children present, as the iPad had been left in an adjacent classroom.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations and review of facility documentation, the facility lacked documentation of a current, violation-free fire inspection.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, the staff-to-child ratio in the Preschool 2 room (with 3 year old children present) was 1:14 instead of the state mandated staff-to-child ratio of 2:14.”

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 Officers' observations, the large shelving units in the Prepper A, Toddler A and Preschool 1 classrooms were a tipping hazard as they had not been anchored to the walls of the classrooms.”

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, the paper towel dispenser was empty in the Twaddler B restroom.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, there was a plunger adjacent to the toilet in the Twaddler A restroom.”

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 Officers' observations, there was a tube of diaper cream that lacked a label with the enrolled child's name in the Toddler B classroom.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, there were seams on the diapering surfaces in the Toddler A, Twaddler A and Prepper B classrooms. The diaper changing surface in the Infant A classroom had an accumulation of grime.”

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 Compliance Officers' observations, the paper towel dispenser in the diaper changing area of the Twaddler B classroom was empty. Additionally, the paper towel dispenser in the diaper changing area of the Prepper B classroom was broken and unable to be filled with paper towels.”

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 Officers' observations, there was a sippy cup that lacked a label in the Toddler B classroom.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.14. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 14. Temperatures are maintained between 68° F and 82° F in each room used by enrolled children;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officers' observations, the temperature in the Twaddler A classroom registered a temperature of 67 degrees F, according to the thermostat in the director's office.”

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, there was no roster present in the 1's--Toddler A classroom to document the presence of the 6 children present in the classroom.”

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 Officer's observation, there were 3 outlets in 4’s classroom's surge protector that lacked safety covers.”

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's observation, there were holes in the drywall and paint flaking from the wall in the 2/3's classroom that were accessible to enrolled children.”

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 Compliance Officer's observation. the diaper changing areas in the following areas had empty paper towel dispensers: Infants and the 2/3's.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.5. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member:5. Except as provided in subsection (D), prepares and posts a dated lesson plan in each indoor activity area for each calendar week, which is maintained on facility premises for 12 months after the lesson plan date and provides opportunities for each child to: a. Gain a positive self-concept; b. Develop and practice social skills; c. Think, reason, question, and experiment; d. Acquire language skills; e. Develop physical coordination skills; f. Participate in structured large muscle physical activity; g. Develop habits that meet health, safety, and nutritional needs; h. Express creativity; i. Learn to respect cultural diversity of children and staff; j. Learn self-help skills; and k. Develop a sense of responsibility and independence;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, the lesson plan in the 3's classroom lacked a date. Additionally, the lesson plan posted in the Toddlers classroom was for 3/18-3/23/24.”

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 Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, the Twaddler classroom had 14 children on the roster, however there were actually 15 children present. Additionally, there were 15 children from the Preschool 3 classroom on the facility playground, however the roster on the iPad could not be retrieved due to the lack of WiFi on the facility playground.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 2. Except for an enrolled school-age child, drinking water is provided sufficient for the needs of and accessible to each enrolled child in both indoor and outdoor activity areas;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer's observation, the middle playground lacked accessible water for the Preschool 3 children that were on the playground.”

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 Officer's observation, the paper towel dispensers in restrooms were empty in the following classrooms: Fours, Preschool 3 and Twaddlers.”