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On August 12, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on August 12, 2024, there was one teacher with fifteen 3-year-olds and there were two teachers with twenty 2-year-olds at La Petite Academy, Inc. There were twenty children in the preschool room ages 3-years to 5-years-old with one teacher. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.112(1), which states the following: "Staff/child ratios shall be maintained at all times."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A), which states the following: "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On August 15, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed correct staff/child ratios in all classrooms. All teachers were able to recite the correct staff/child ratios for their classrooms.
CI O'Malley conducted interviews with teachers Amanda Heinzer and Mallorie Pollock. Ms. Heinzer stated that on Monday, August 12, 2024, several staff members called out sick. Teachers from other academies were called in to cover the staffing vacancies, but the facility was not fully staffed until approximately 10:00 a.m. Ms. Pollock's preschool class had a ratio of one teacher to seventeen children from approximately 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Ms. Pollock affirmed that her ratio was one teacher to seventeen children on the morning of August 12, 2024.
On August 19, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted a phone interview with Parent A (parent of Child A and Child B), who stated that on the morning of August 12, 2024, Parent A observed twenty children in Child A's (5-years-old) classroom with one teacher. Parent A disenrolled both Child A and Child B from the facility.
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