Bright Stars Child Care and Preschool
A child care center in Aurora, Colorado 80012
1155 S Havana ST, Aurora, Colorado 80012.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Colorado’s own record is on coloradoshines.com.
The short answer
Record last released by Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) on Nov 2, 2026.
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean5
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Quality rating
- Many states rate child care in a quality rating system that goes past the licensing rules, such as Texas Rising Star or Kentucky All STARS. Taking part is often voluntary, so a program with no rating hasn’t been rated low. Source: Each state’s quality rating system.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
CDEC’s file lists 10 inspections, investigations and complaints from Jan 1, 2023 to Oct 27, 2026, the latest on Jan 12, 2026 (Supervisory).
46 citations in all, 31 of them from complaints and Stage II investigations.
Where Colorado posts its reports: Colorado Shines.
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Data request 2026-967, delivered Oct 28, 2026 and each month since: licensing inspections, complaints and Stage II investigations from Jan 1, 2023. Released Oct 28, 2026. CDEC sends the previous month’s records in the first week of each month; a person saves each file and loads it.
When those citations happened
46 citations in 7 months of the last 46. Last cited Jan 2026. The last 4 years, to Nov 5, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each citation, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Data request 2026-967, delivered Oct 28, 2026 and each month since: licensing inspections, complaints and Stage II investigations from Jan 1, 2023. Released Oct 28, 2026. CDEC sends the previous month’s records in the first week of each month; a person saves each file and loads it.
Jan 12, 2026: supervisory (case 253292)8 citations
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At the time of enrollment, and upon amendments to policies and procedures, the center must give the parent(s)/guardian(s) the center’s policies and procedures and provide the opportunity to ask questions. Written copies must be available either electronically or in hard copy. The center must obtain a signed document stating that the parent(s)/guardian(s) have received the policies and procedures, and by signing the policies and procedures document, the parent(s)/guardian(s) agree to follow, accept the conditions of, and give authorization and approval for the activities described in the policies and procedures.
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An admission record must be completed for each child prior to or at the time of the child’s admission. This record must be updated annually and when changes occur. The admission record must include: A dated, written authorization for emergency medical care signed and updated annually by the parent(s)/guardian(s). The authorization must be notarized if required by the local hospital, clinic, or emergency health care facility;
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An admission record must be completed for each child prior to or at the time of the child’s admission. This record must be updated annually and when changes occur. The admission record must include:Written authorization, obtained in advance of the event from a parent/guardian, for a child to participate in field trips or special activities, whether scheduled or unscheduled, whether walking or riding in an approved vehicle;
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The center must maintain and update annually and upon changes, a record on each child that includes: A copy of the child’s health statement completed by a health care provider
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All staff must complete a Department-approved standard precautions training prior to working with children. This training must be renewed annually and will be counted towards ongoing professional development.
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Topical preparations such as petroleum jelly, diaper rash ointments, sunscreen, insect repellent, and other ointments may be administered to children with written authorization from the parent(s)/guardian(s). These preparations may not be applied to open wounds or broken skin unless there is a written order by the prescribing health care provider.
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Items labeled “keep out of reach of children” must be inaccessible to children.
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Buildings must be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe condition.
Jun 17, 2025: complaints (case 257401)4 citations
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Every five (5) years, requests for FBI criminal record checks must be renewed by completing the fingerprint process at an approved vendor. An updated clearance letter or verification of the submission of the request must be obtained prior to five (5) years from the date reflected on the current clearance letter.
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Items labeled “keep out of reach of children” must be inaccessible to children.
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Buildings must be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe condition.
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Centers must comply with the locally adopted fire code, including but not limited to the following: In every building or structure, exits must be arranged and maintained so as to provide free and unobstructed egress from all parts of the building or structure at all times when it is occupied. No lock or fastening to prevent free escape from the inside of any building can be installed. Only panic hardware or single-action hardware is permitted on a door or on a pair of doors. All door hardware must be within the reach of children.
Apr 2, 2024: supervisory (case 200583)5 citations
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Every five (5) years, all child abuse and neglect inquiry background checks must be renewed by resubmitting an inquiry form and current fee to the Department for processing. An updated clearance letter or verification of the submission of the inquiry form must be obtained before five (5) years from the date reflected on the current clearance letter.
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Every five (5) years, requests for FBI criminal record checks must be renewed by completing the fingerprint process at an approved vendor. An updated clearance letter or verification of the submission of the request must be obtained prior to five (5) years from the date reflected on the current clearance letter.
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All climbing equipment eighteen (18) inches or higher must have resilient surfacing of at least six (6) inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment.
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Buildings must be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe condition.
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Volatile substances such as gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, oil-based paints, firearms, explosives, and other hazardous items must not be stored in any area of the building used for childcare.
Apr 28, 2023: supervisory (case 180516)2 citations
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Sleeping cots and mats must be of firm construction and in good repair.
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Items labeled ?keep out of reach of children? must be inaccessible to children.
Mar 24, 2023: complaints (case 197236)10 citations
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Any center having a Director assigned to a classroom must have qualified and adequate staff, allowing the Director or qualified staff the ability to attend to the duties of a director as they arise.
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Prior to working with children, each staff member must read and be instructed about all policies and procedures of the center. Staff members must sign a statement indicating that they have read and understand the center’s policies and procedures.
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Staff to Child Ratios by AGES OF CHILDREN and NUMBER OF STAFF 6 weeks to 18 months (infants): 1 staff member to 5 infants 12 months to 36 months: 1 staff member to 5 toddlers 24 months to 36 months: 1 staff member to 7 toddlers 2-1/2 years to 3 years: 1 staff member to 8 children 3 years to 4 years: 1 staff member to 10 children 4 years to 5 years: 1 staff member to 12 children 5 years and older: 1 staff member to 15 children Mixed-age group 2-1/2 yrs to 6 yrs: 1 staff member to 10 children
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When combining age groups, not including individual child transitions, children must be cared for in the room licensed for the youngest child in care, including the outdoor play area
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All children must be under the direct supervision at all times of a qualified adult who has been assigned the responsibility to supervise
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The time a child arrives and leaves the center each day must be recorded. Staff members must complete written attendance verification periodically throughout the day, including during transitions.
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Mattresses for cribs and futons must have a properly fitted, clean sheet.
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An individualized diet and feeding schedule must be provided according to a written plan submitted by the parent or by the child’s physician with the knowledge and consent of the parent. A change of diet and schedule must be noted on each child’s daily activity schedule and posted in an area clearly visible to the staff.
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Children who are actively eating may be in a highchair or other approved feeding equipment for longer than fifteen (15) minutes. Children must be moved once feeding is complete
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Buildings must be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe condition.
Feb 6, 2023: complaints (case 193899)4 citations
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Individuals who have obtained a successfully completed CBI or FBI record check may care for children, for no longer than ninety (90) calendar days, while waiting for all other required background checks to be completed. The individual must be supervised at all times by an individual who has successfully completed all required background checks.
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For security purposes, a sign-in/sign-out sheet or other mechanism for parents/guardians, or staff if children are being transported, must be maintained daily by the center. It must include, for each child in care, the date, the child’s name, the time when the child arrived at and left the center, and the parent /guardian or staff member’s signature or other unique identifier. For children who are transported, parent(s)/guardian(s) must verify the accuracy of the sign-in/sign-out sheet at least weekly.
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The admission record must include: A dated, written authorization for emergency medical care signed and updated annually by the parent(s)/guardian(s). The authorization must be notarized if required by the local hospital, clinic, or emergency health care facility.
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The time a child arrives and leaves the center each day must be recorded. Staff members must complete written attendance verification periodically throughout the day, including during transitions.
Jan 12, 2023: complaints (case 192692)13 citations
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An operator of a licensed facility, guest child care facility as defined in Section 26-6-102 (16), C.R.S., or an exempt family child care home provider must submit a request to determine if an operator, applicant for employment or current employee has been found responsible for a confirmed report of child abuse or neglect in the State Department’s automated system (Trails).
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Each applicant listed below must submit to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency or any third party vendor approved by CBI including county departments of human or social services that use fingerprint machines pursuant to Section 19-3-406(1)(C),(2), C.R.S., to obtain any fingerprint criminal history record held by the CBI and FBI. If a third party takes the individual?s fingerprints, the fingerprints may be electronically captured using CBI?s approved LiveScan equipment. Payment of the fee for the criminal record check is the responsibility of the individual being checked, identified as follows:
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Criminal background check requests must be submitted and successfully completed prior to an individual caring for children or allowing the individual unsupervised access to children in child care centers (less than 24-hour care), school-aged child care facilities, family child care homes, and qualified exempt provider homes.
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All staff at the center must demonstrate knowledgeable decision-making, judgment, and concern for the proper care and well-being of children.
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All staff must complete a Department-approved Standard Precautions training that meets current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements prior to working with children. This training must be renewed annually and will be counted towards ongoing professional development.
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Staff working with infants less than twelve (12) months old must complete a Department-approved Safe Sleep training prior to working with infants less than twelve (12) months old. This training must be renewed annually and will be counted towards ongoing professional development.
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Staff working with children less than three (3) years of age must complete a Department-approved Prevention of Shaken Baby/Abusive Head Trauma training prior to working with children less than three (3) years of age. This training must be renewed every two (2) years and will be counted towards ongoing professional development.
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For every thirty (30) or fewer children in attendance, there must be at least one (1) staff member on duty who holds a current Department-approved First Aid and Safety Certificate (including CPR for all ages of children) and is responsible for administering First Aid and CPR to children. Such individuals must be with the children at all times when the center is in operation. If children are at different locations, there must be a First Aid and CPR qualified staff member at each location.
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Within thirty (30) calendar days of employment, all employees and regular volunteers must be trained using a Department-approved training about child abuse prevention, which includes common symptoms and signs of child abuse, how to report, where to report, and when to report suspected or known child abuse or neglect. This training must be renewed annually.
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Within ninety (90) calendar days of employment, all staff required to register with the Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System (listed in Section 7.702.33, d) must complete the Department-approved training course: Introduction to the Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Programs. This course is required once and will be counted towards ongoing professional development.
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Within ninety (90) calendar days of employment, all staff required to register with the Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System (listed in Section 7.702.33, d) must complete the Department-approved Recognizing the Impact of Bias on Early Childhood Professionals training or other Department-approved training on implicit bias. This course is required once and will be counted towards ongoing professional development.
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The Director of the center must be present at the center at least sixty percent (60%) of any day that the center is open.
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The time a child arrives and leaves the center each day must be recorded. Staff members must complete written attendance verification periodically throughout the day, including during transitions.
All 10 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 2026 | Supervisory (case 253292) | 8 citations; no clearance date in CDEC’s file. |
| Jun 17, 2025 | Complaints (case 257401) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Unfounded; 4 citations; no clearance date in CDEC’s file. |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Supervisory (case 222983) | No citations; cleared Feb 26, 2025. |
| Apr 2, 2024 | Supervisory (case 200583) | 5 citations; cleared Jan 3, 2025. |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Supervisory (case 180516) | 2 citations; cleared Jul 28, 2023. |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Capacity/Age/Exhibit (case 200581) | No citations; cleared Apr 28, 2023. |
| Mar 30, 2023 | Follow-up (case 198314) | No citations; cleared Jan 3, 2025. |
| Mar 24, 2023 | Complaints (case 197236) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Founded; 10 citations; no clearance date in CDEC’s file. |
| Feb 6, 2023 | Complaints (case 193899) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Founded; 4 citations; cleared Feb 20, 2023. |
| Jan 12, 2023 | Complaints (case 192692) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Founded; 13 citations; cleared Jan 23, 2023. |
Is it licensed?
- Colorado’s service type: Child Care Center; licensed by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
- Licensed for 71 children: 9 infants, 15 toddlers, 47 preschool and school-age children.
- Colorado’s licence number: 1558859.
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado Licensed Child Care Facilities Report. Released Nov 2, 2026. Updated monthly.
What did complaints and investigations find?
- CDEC’s file lists 4 complaints and Stage II investigations from Jan 1, 2023 to Oct 27, 2026. Outcomes, in CDEC’s words: Founded (3), Unfounded (1).
- Neither CDEC’s roster nor its file of inspections lists enforcement actions, such as fines or the revocation of a licence.
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Data request 2026-967, delivered Oct 28, 2026 and each month since: licensing inspections, complaints and Stage II investigations from Jan 1, 2023. Released Oct 28, 2026. CDEC sends the previous month’s records in the first week of each month; a person saves each file and loads it.
| Received | Case and outcome, in CDEC’s words | In CDEC’s file |
|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2025 | Complaints: Unfounded | Received May 28, 2025; CDEC contacted the provider Jun 17, 2025; 4 citations; case 257401. |
| Mar 8, 2023 | Complaints: Founded | Received Mar 8, 2023; CDEC contacted the provider Mar 24, 2023; 10 citations; case 197236. |
| Jan 19, 2023 | Complaints: Founded | Received Jan 19, 2023; CDEC contacted the provider Feb 6, 2023; 4 citations; cleared Feb 20, 2023; case 193899. |
| Dec 27, 2022 | Complaints: Founded | Received Dec 27, 2022; CDEC contacted the provider Jan 12, 2023; 13 citations; cleared Jan 23, 2023; case 192692. |
Who does the caring?
- Colorado doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual programs in this dataset.
Who owns it?
- Colorado’s dataset lists its governing body as NA.
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado Licensed Child Care Facilities Report. Released Nov 2, 2026. Updated monthly.
How is it rated?
- Colorado Shines: Level 4 of five, as Colorado rates it (awarded Sep 30, 2023, valid until Sep 30, 2027).
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado Licensed Child Care Facilities Report. Released Nov 2, 2026. Updated monthly.
How does it compare nearby?
- Programs aren’t compared with each other here: CDEC’s file doesn’t grade its citations by how serious they are.
| Place | |
|---|---|
| Bright Stars Child Care and Preschool This child care provider | Not given |
What the record doesn’t say
- Inspections, investigations and complaints are from the file CDEC sent for a data request, from Jan 1, 2023, and the file it sends each month since. CDEC says its file may miss a program licensed during that time that is no longer licensed, and that its records may change as they are updated or finalized.
- CDEC’s file gives each rule cited, its category, and the days set to correct it and to clear the case, but not what the inspector wrote: Colorado Shines has each monitoring report. CDEC doesn’t grade citations by how serious they are.
- This page is built from the dataset of licensed child care facilities CDEC publishes monthly on data.colorado.gov, so a program licensed or closed since may be missing or still shown. It leaves out 24-hour licence types and care that is exempt from licensing.
- Colorado’s roster carries no enforcement actions, hours or staffing levels.
Sources
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Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado Licensed Child Care Facilities Report (data.colorado.gov, a9rr-k8mu).
Released Nov 2, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated monthly. Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License (PDDL). data.colorado.gov’s terms ask for this disclaimer: “The data made available here has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Colorado. THE STATE OF COLORADO MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF COLORADO EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. It is understood that the information contained in the Web feed is being used at one’s own risk.” Facts are extracted; monitoring reports are not republished.
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Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Data request 2026-967, delivered Oct 28, 2026 and each month since: licensing inspections, complaints and Stage II investigations from Jan 1, 2023.
Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 29, 2026. CDEC sends the previous month’s records in the first week of each month; a person saves each file and loads it. No licence stated: CDEC sent this file for a data request that said it would be shown on a free public website. Its disclaimer says the data “is now subject to open records law”. Shown free, never sold.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). Colorado’s own record is on coloradoshines.com. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Nov 5, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.