Village Early Learning Center

Regulation 6.2.4.3: The program director shall ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts and classroom observations, it was identified that only one (1) of the two (2) classrooms were led by a staff member who is at least qualified as Teacher Associate. It was shared with this Licensor that a Lead teacher had unexpectedly resigned a few weeks prior. The Director informed me that she was the Lead teacher for now. However, I observed the Director in the preschool classroom for brief moments to cover breaks. Upon further evaluation, it was identified that the preschool classroom is currently staffed with two (2) Trainees. This is a repeat violation from the 2025 site visit. Upon supervisor review, the CBCCPP was urged to come into compliance immediately. The program decided to close one classroom and combine into a mixed age group until they could hire a qualified Lead Teacher. Corrective Action: Submit a Program Improvement Plan to Licensing Field Specialist Stark by 9/30/2026. In this Program Improvement Plan, include a current evaluation of staff qualifications and classroom assignments that ensures each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a Teacher Associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation. Include in this plan past and present recruiting and advertising strategies implemented, hiring goals with timelines, and a staff development plan to improve the qualifications of the current staff. Send the detailed Program Improvement Plan to Licensing Field Specialist Stark by the listed due date. Continued non-compliance in this area could result in further licensing action, including moving to a provisional license, which could affect your Universal Pre-K status. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts, it was identified that five (5) out of seven (7) staff members had missing documentation from their accounts. The majority of these documents were provided on site. Corrective Action: Immediately upload the identified documents to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and submitted to BFIS. Send verification of uploading to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Create a plan for documents to be uploaded to Northern Lights at CCV immediately following receipt of the certificates. Include in this plan how you will support staff with this task. Send a detailed description of the plan to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. 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.

“A Teacher Assistant, employed for five weeks, had not completed the background clearance to include fingerprinting and was left alone to supervise children during rest time and allow the other staff member to go on their break. Corrective Action: Have the identified staff member submit to fingerprinting. Send a copy of the receipt and/or TVT number received at the fingerprinting appointment to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. The Director shall ensure that the staff member is not left alone with children while waiting for the fingerprint results. Develop a system to track the background clearance process for staff members and include a staffing plan for staff members that are waiting for fingerprinting results. Send a detailed description of this plan to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“Upon review of the program 's BFIS Quality and Credential Account with the Director, it was identified that three (3) staff members on the list were no longer employed. Corrective Action: Enter the ending dates of employment for the individuals identified in the program's BFIS Quality and Credential account. This will remove them from the Associated Parties List. Send confirmation of this to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Develop a plan to review the program's BFIS account for accuracy. Develop an offboarding system that includes removing them from the Associated Parties List. Send a detailed description of the plan and system created to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 7.3.2: Staff The program director shall ensure and maintain documentation that staff meet one (1) of the following qualifications:

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts, it was identified that five (5) staff did not have record of qualifications for their positions. These were not located on site either. Corrective Action: Obtain the qualification documents for the identified individuals and send them to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and added to the staff BFIS accounts. Send verification of this submission to Licensing Specialist Stark. Develop a system for obtaining qualification documents in the enrollment process. Include how you will ensure these documents are uploaded to Northern Lights at CCV. Send a detailed description of the plan to Licensing Specialist Stark. Status: Appeal Period.”

Correction due by Sep 30, 2036, per the state

Regulation 3.3.5: The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

“Three of the six persons employed more than six months have not completed the required Protecting Vermont's Children from Abuse and Neglect training. Corrective Action: Have the identified staff persons complete the required training and submit their certification of completion to Northern Lights @ Community College of Vermont ( NL@CCV). Include LIcensing Field Specialist Crawford as a CC'd person on that submission to NL@CCV. Develop a plan to ensure timely completion of this required training as part of the onboarding process for persons associated with the program. Submit this plan to elaine.crawford@vermont.gov for review. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 3.7.2.3: At least one (1) drill every 365 days shall be conducted while children are sleeping or resting.

“Documentation for evacuation drills for the previous fifteen months shows evacuation drills practiced occurred before or after the program's rest time. It was acknowledged by multiple staff persons who have been employed more than one year that they have not participated in a drill while children were resting or sleeping. Corrective Action: Conduct an emergency evacuation drill during rest time. Incorporate this requirement into the yearly planning for drills.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 29, 2026

Regulation 5.10.1.2.1: The licensee shall ensure that the CBCCPP is in compliance with Vermont Division of Fire Safety rules at all times. This includes but is not limited to: * Complying with Vermont Division of Fire Safety inspection reports; * Having regular fire systems inspected with violations identified during the inspection noted as corrected; and * Having fire extinguishers tagged with valid inspection tags.

“The identified emergency exit window in the preschool classroom is sealed shut. The staff person asked to open the window during the visit was unable to do so. Persons on site could not recollect the last time the window was operational. Corrective Action: The Division of Fire Safety (DFS) was contact by Licensing Field Specialist Crawford about the findings of this visit on the date of this visit. As required during the visit, the program is to confer with the DFS for guidance about evacuation procedures. Update Licensing Field Specialist Crawford about requirements set forth to meet fire safety requirements and the steps taken by the program. .”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 2025

Regulation 5.6.5: All prescription medication administered by staff shall be in its original container, properly labeled for the child, and administered prior to the expiration date on the container.

“A child's prescription medication is missing the required labeling. The child's name is handwritten upon the storage container. Corrective Action: Have the correct label for the identified medication. Develop a plan to ensure medication is maintained in adherence to this rule. Review it with staff persons that”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 2025

Regulation 6.2.4.3: The program director shall ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation.

“The youngest toddler group has two persons meeting teaching assistant as the staff persons present 75% of the time.. The two year old group has a teaching associate who is working directly with the group less than 50% of the time children are in care. Corrective Action: Develop a program improvement plan that identifies what immediate supports and oversight will be given to the young toddler and two year old classroom. Identify in this plan who is the qualified teaching associate or higher person providing the support/oversight and maintain documentation on cite of actions taken. Additionally, this plan needs to include a timeline and concrete steps to be taken to have qualified persons leading the young toddler and two year old group. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.6.2: The program director shall ensure that only staff, who have completed a training course approved by the Division, administer medication in the CBCCPP. With written parental permission, a school age child may self-medicate under the direct supervision of staff who meets the training requirement within this rule.

“Documentation and staff statements confirm that a staff person who has not completed an approved training had administered multiple doses of medication to a child. Corrective Action: As required during this site visit, only persons who have completed an approved training are to administer medications. Identify and communicate with all staff who is qualified to administer medications.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 9, 2024

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.

“A staff person reported to have been working at the program and counted in staff to child ratio regularly since October 2023 has not completed the record check process Corrective Action: As requried during the site visit, this individual is to submit a record check authorization form to the Child Development Division by 06/14/2024. This person is not be left alone with children for any reason until the full background clearance process which includes fingerprinting is completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 19, 2024

Regulation 5.1.2: General Health Examinations: Within forty-five (45) days of enrollment, the licensee shall obtain documentation of the child's age appropriate well care exam from the parent. Documentation shall include information regarding any health conditions and medications that may impact the care of the child.

“Three (3) of the four (4) children's files reviewed were missing the required physical exam/wellness information. It was confirmed that each of the children had been in care for more than forty-five (45) days. Corrective Action: Update the identified children's files to contain the required physical exam information. Review all children's files and update as needed. Develop a system to monitor child's files for completeness. Send an email to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford explaining the system for monitoring files.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 15, 2023

Regulation 5.10.1.1.2: Children shall be protected from choking hazards presented by cords on window coverings, electric or electronic appliances or equipment and telephones.

“There are accessible eletronical cords in the toddler room. The cords are hanging against the wall at child height directly behind, visible to, and within reach of the dress up clothes. Corrective Action: As required during the visit, these cords are to be removed or made inaccessible. Confirmation was received that the cords were removed following rest time. Review and confirm via email to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford that staff have been informed to ensure cords remain secured or inaccessible at all times.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 13, 2024

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Staff person A has been employed working directly with children and at times alone with children since January 2022 without completing the required orientation. Corrective Action: Have this individual complete orientation. Submit to Licensor [name] the written policies and procedures as required by this rule. Send the program's plan for Staff person A's orientation.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 21, 2023

Regulation 7.3.1.5: The program director of a CBCCPP licensed for thirteen (13) or more children shall complete within one (1) year of employment start date a three (3) college credit course in managing an early care and education program that includes budgeting and financial management, approved by the Division; or the licensee shall employ a business manager as in the rule 7.6.1 of these regulations.

“The Program Director has been employed in the position since 2021 and has not completed a 3 credit college course meeting the requirements of this rule. The program does not and has not since 2021 had a qualified business manager. Corrective Action: Develop a plan for the Program Director to complete a qualifying course or for the program to hire a business manager meeting the requirements in Rule 7.6.1.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 21, 2023

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“There are two persons listed on the associated parties list who reportedly ended employment in January 2022. There are two persons listed on the associated parties list who reportedly ended employment in April 2022. Corrective Action: Remove the identified names from the associated parties list. Review the associated parties list and determine if any other names need to be removed. Establish a practice to ensure names are removed in the timeframe required by this rule”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 15, 2022

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 person A was hired on 01/03/2022 and has not completed the fingerprint clearance process. The individual is working on the date of this visit and confirmed to be counted in staff to child ratio and at times alone with children. Corrective Action: Staff person A may not be left alone with children until the program is notified the fingerprint clearance process is completed and approved. Have Staff person A complete the full fingerprint clearance process. Establish a procedure that ensures timely completion of the full background clearance process.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 15, 2022

Regulation 5.10.4.5.5: Hard surfaces accessible to children shall be smooth, non-porous, and easy to clean. See the rules in section 5.2.6 of these regulations for a schedule for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing of specific surfaces and items.

“The two picnic tables identified as the tables upon which children may eat while outside has visible chipping peeling paint on the seats and supports. The majority of the bench seats are bare wood without an intact non-porous barrier. The table surface is covered in vinyl tablecloth. Corrective Action: The identified tables are not to be used by children. The chipping and peeling paint is to be safely addressed. The entire table is to be maintained with an intact non-porous barrier.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 15, 2022

Regulation 5.10.4.2: Exits: Stairways, hallways, windows, and doors from rooms used by children shall be clear and unobstructed from stored items, non-movable barriers, toys, and other items at all times.

“There were program materials and supplies blocking the designated emergency exit windows. Corrective Action: The access to each emergency window is remain unobstructed and free of any materials, supplies, or toys.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 5, 2022

Regulation 5.4.1.8: Bedding used by a child shall be stored in a manner that prevents contact with bedding used by other children.

“The cots used by children at rest time were covered with each child's individual sheet and were stacked together standing upright, with the sheets touching. This is a violation because the bedding needs to be stored in a way that one child's individual bedding isn't touching that of another's. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, store bedding in a way that prevents contact. It is required to submit a description of the updated system for bedding storage.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2021

Regulation 5.1.2: General Health Examinations: Within forty-five (45) days of enrollment, the licensee shall obtain documentation of the child's age appropriate well care exam from the parent. Documentation shall include information regarding any health conditions and medications that may impact the care of the child.

“A sample of child files were reviewed and it was found that all files were missing the general health exam form or documentation of a well care exam. All the files of the children reviewed had been in attendance for more than 45 days. This is a violation because documentation of a child's well care exam is requried to be in a child's file within 45 days of enrollment. Corrective Action: It is required to review all enrollment files to determine if the documentation of the well care exam is missing. It is required to make a plan to obtain this documentation. The plan, with an update on progress on collecting the required forms, will be submitted for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2021

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“After a review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts as well as staff files onsite, it was determined that the program does not have a system for keeping BFIS accounts up to date. It was reviewed that seven (7) staff of the program had missing items from their BFIS accounts that included qualifications, required trainings, or annual professional development. This is a violation because within six (6) months of employment, staff shall have an up to date BFIS account that reflects qualifications, required trainings, and annual professional development. Corrective Action: It is required to review all staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts to determine what is missing and needs to be sent. Create a plan to review and update accounts, and how the BFIS Quality and Credential accounts will be kept up to date in the future. It is required to submit the plan for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2021

Regulation 7.3.1.5: The program director of a CBCCPP licensed for thirteen (13) or more children shall complete within one (1) year of employment start date a three (3) college credit course in managing an early care and education program that includes budgeting and financial management, approved by the Division; or the licensee shall employ a business manager as in the rule 7.6.1 of these regulations.

“It was identified that the program does not have a qualified business manager and the Director does not have a course that meets the requirements for budgeting and financial management. This is a violation because the program needs to employ a qualified business manager or the Director must carry the required course to be in compliance with this rule. Corrective Action: It is required to make a plan for how the program will come into compliance with this rule. The detailed plan must be submitted for review and approval.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2021