| Conclusion Summary |
|
On February 13, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that there is a classroom with one, two, and three-year-old children. On February 20, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegation to be substantiated based on the following information.
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A) which states: "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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.082(1)(C) which states: "Children shall have no access to areas not approved for child care."
On February 20, 2026, CI Hughes conducted in person interviews with food program director Dikita Hopkins and Sherry Bolds. Sherry stated that they moved the children under the age of 2-years-old into the butterfly (2-year-old) room since they were bigger than the children in the infant/toddler rooms. Dikita stated she was in charge for the day since the director was out sick and there were toddlers in the 2-year-old room.
On February 20, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes observed 3 caregivers with 12 children ages 14-months-old to 2-years-old with 4 of those children being under the age of 2-years-old in a classroom not approved for children under the age of 2-years-old.
|