STEM Child Care, Inc.
A child care center in Castle Rock, Colorado 80108
4981 Metzler Way, Castle Rock, Colorado 80108.
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 18 inspections, investigations and complaints from Jan 1, 2023 to Oct 27, 2026, the latest on Jul 7, 2026 (Complaints).
43 citations in all, 15 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
43 citations in 10 months of the last 46. Last cited Jul 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.
Jul 7, 2026: complaints (case 274674)1 citation
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The center must maintain and update annually and upon changes, a record on each child that includes: A written record of any serious accident, illness, or injury occurring during care must be retained in each child’s record, with a copy provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s).
Jun 8, 2026: injury (case 274249)1 citation
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Items labeled “keep out of reach of children” must be inaccessible to children.
Jan 16, 2026: supervisory (case 252937)7 citations
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Emergency drills, lockdown and active shooter on premises drills must be held at least quarterly but often enough so that all occupants are familiar with the drill procedure and their conduct during a drill is a matter of established routine. Fire drills must be held monthly and be consistent with local fire department procedures. Tornado drills must be held monthly from March to October. A record of all emergency drills held over the past twelve (12) months must be maintained by the facility or center, including date and time of drill, number of adults and children participating, and the amount of time taken to evacuate.
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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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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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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 thirty (30) calendar days of admission, and within thirty (30) calendar days following the expiration date of a previous health statement, the parent(s)/guardian(s) of each child must submit a statement of the child’s current health status or written verification of a scheduled appointment with a health care provider. The statement of the child’s current health status must be signed and dated by a health care provider who has seen the child within the last twelve (12) months, or within the last six (6) months for children less than two and one-half (2½) years of age. The statement must include when the next visit is required by the health care provider. All health statements must be kept at the center.
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In the case medication needs to be given on an ongoing, long-term basis, the authorization and consent forms must be reauthorized on an at least annual basis. Any changes in the original medication authorization require a new written order by the prescribing practitioner and a change in the prescription label.
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A variety of material and equipment from the following categories must be available: Books and Pictures.
May 1, 2025: injury (case 255792)2 citations
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Admission procedures must be completed prior to the child’s attendance at the center and must include: If applicable, a Department-approved health care plan authorized by the child’s health care provider and parent(s)/guardian(s) defining the interventions needed to care for a child who has an identified health or developmental condition or concern including, but not limited to seizures, asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, heart or respiratory conditions, and physical disabilities. Any applicable medications, supplies, and/or medical equipment must be available to the staff prior to the child’s first day of care. The staff working with a child with a health care plan must be informed, trained, and delegated responsibility for carrying out the health care plan by the Department-approved child care health consultant; supervision of the plan and interventions must be documented.
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For a child with special health care needs requiring intervention and/or medication, the center must obtain written instructions for providing services from the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s), and the health care provider. If an existing individualized health care plan is provided for the child, it must be reviewed and followed by the center staff when caring for the child. If the child does not have an existing individualized health care plan, the individualized health care plan must be obtained by the child’s first day of care.
May 1, 2025: complaints (case 255878)10 citations
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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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Admission procedures must be completed prior to the child’s attendance at the center and must include: If applicable, a Department-approved health care plan authorized by the child’s health care provider and parent(s)/guardian(s) defining the interventions needed to care for a child who has an identified health or developmental condition or concern including, but not limited to seizures, asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, heart or respiratory conditions, and physical disabilities. Any applicable medications, supplies, and/or medical equipment must be available to the staff prior to the child’s first day of care. The staff working with a child with a health care plan must be informed, trained, and delegated responsibility for carrying out the health care plan by the Department-approved child care health consultant; supervision of the plan and interventions must be documented.
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For a child with special health care needs requiring intervention and/or medication, the center must obtain written instructions for providing services from the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s), and the health care provider. If an existing individualized health care plan is provided for the child, it must be reviewed and followed by the center staff when caring for the child. If the child does not have an existing individualized health care plan, the individualized health care plan must be obtained by the child’s first day of care.
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Toys, including mobiles and other types of play equipment that are designed to be attached to any part of sleeping equipment, must be kept away from sleeping infants and out of sleep environments, including hanging toys. Blankets and other items must not be hung from or draped over the sides or any part of sleeping equipment.
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In the toddler room, a crib, sleeping cot, or two (2) inch mat must be provided for each child, and there must be a minimum of two (2) feet between each crib or cot. Aisles between cots or cribs must be kept free of all obstructions while cribs are occupied. No child less than the age of two (2) years should use a cot for sleeping without written permission of the parent or guardian.
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Cots or pads must be spaced at least two (2) feet apart on all sides during rest time. Children must have a safe area in which to rest that is easily supervised, out of the path of traffic, and free of hazards.
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Guidance used at the center must be appropriate to the development of the child and is used as an opportunity to teach children social-emotional skills, such as self-regulation, problem-solving, and empathy for others.
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Any form of restraint is not permitted.
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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.
Feb 20, 2025: supervisory (case 219643)5 citations
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Prior to the original license being issued, following the renovation of the facility that would affect the licensing of the facility and at least every two (2) years thereafter, all child care facilities except family child care homes and Neighborhood Youth Organizations must be inspected and obtain an approving inspection report from the local department of health or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and from the local fire department. These reports must be maintained at the facility and be available for review upon request by a Licensing Specialist.
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All staff members must submit to the center a medical statement, signed and dated by a physician or other health care provider, verifying that they are in good mental, physical, and emotional health appropriate for the position for which they have been hired. This statement must be dated no more than six (6) months prior to employment or within thirty (30) calendar days after the first date of employment. Subsequent self-reported health histories must be submitted annually.
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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 cardiopulmonary resuscitation (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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The infant program must have an infant program supervisor who meets at least one (1) of the following qualifications: An adult who holds a current early childhood professional credential level II or higher in version 3.0, as determined by the Department, has a minimum of nine (9) months (1,365 hours) of verifiable experience in the care and supervision of infants and/or toddlers, and: Has completed the Department-approved expanding quality in infant and toddler care training course.
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If the office space is accessible to children, it must be free of hazards.
Jul 25, 2024: complaints (case 235100)4 citations
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Medications must be kept in the original labeled bottle or container. Prescription medications must contain the original pharmacy label.
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Staff designated by the director to give medications must complete the Department-approved medication administration training and have current annual delegation or more often as determined by the Department-approved child care health consultant. Delegation must be from the center’s current Department-approved child care health consultant who must observe and document the competency of each staff member involved in medication administration. All staff administering medication must have current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training prior to administering medication with the following exceptions:
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All diaper change areas must: Be a minimum of thirty-six (36) by eighteen (18) inches in size and large enough to accommodate the size of the child;
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Toys, toy parts, furnishings, equipment, and any materials accessible to children under than three (3) years of age must not be a choke hazard or able to be inhaled. Any area of the facility accessible to children less than three (3) years of age must be free of any choke or inhalation hazards.
Mar 19, 2024: supervisory (case 199653)7 citations
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All staff must have at least one (1) hour of child development training within ninety (90) days of employment. This training must include the major domains (cognitive, social, emotional, physical development and approaches to learning). This training is required once and will count toward ongoing training requirements if taken after the date of hire.
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The individual health care plan must be updated at least every twelve (12) months from the date of the initial plan and as changes occur. The plan must include all information needed to care for the child, must be signed by the health care provider, parent(s)/guardian(s) and must include, but not be limited to, the following:
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Within thirty (30) calendar days of admission, and within thirty (30) calendar days following the expiration date of a previous health statement, the parent(s)/guardian(s) of each child must submit a statement of the child’s current health status or written verification of a scheduled appointment with a health care provider. The statement of the child’s current health status must be signed and dated by a health care provider who has seen the child within the last twelve (12) months, or within the last six (6) months for children less than two and one-half (2½) years of age. The statement must include when the next visit is required by the health care provider. All health statements must be kept at the center.
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If a medication is out of date or left over, the parent(s)/guardian(s) is responsible for picking up the medication. If the parent(s)/guardian(s) do not respond, the center must dispose of the medications as required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
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Items labeled “keep out of reach of children” must be inaccessible to children.
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A variety of material and equipment from the following categories must be available: Music
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A variety of play equipment and materials appropriate for children’s age, size, developmental needs, and activities must be provided for both indoor and outdoor structured and free play.
Jan 31, 2024: injury (case 215390)1 citation
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Toddlers must be sitting when eating or drinking.
Apr 19, 2023: supervisory (case 179014)4 citations
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Emergency drills, lockdown and active shooter on premises drills must be held at least quarterly, but often enough so that all occupants are familiar with the drill procedure and their conduct during a drill is a matter of established routine. Fire drills must be held monthly and be consistent with local fire department procedures. Tornado drills must be held monthly from March to October. A record of all emergency drills held over the past twelve (12) months must be maintained by the facility or center, including date and time of drill, number of adults and children participating, and the amount of time taken to evacuate.
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All facilities, except family child care homes must post in every room of the child care facility, excluding bedrooms and living areas, the license capacity of the room and the staff-to-child ratio required by regulation to be maintained for the age of children cared for in the room.
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Items labeled ?keep out of reach of children? must be inaccessible to children.
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Kitchens, including all hazardous items, must be inaccessible to children at all times.
Jan 10, 2023: injury (case 191790)1 citation
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Items labeled ?keep out of reach of children? must be inaccessible to children.
All 18 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2026 | Complaints (case 274674) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Founded; 1 citation; cleared Jul 29, 2026. |
| Jun 8, 2026 | Injury (case 274249) | 1 citation; cleared Jun 8, 2026. |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Stage II (case 271721) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Unfounded; no citations; cleared Apr 13, 2026. |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Injury (case 271791) | No citations; cleared Apr 13, 2026. |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Complaints (case 268807) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Unfounded; no citations; cleared Mar 2, 2026. |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Supervisory (case 252937) | 7 citations; cleared Mar 6, 2026. |
| Nov 25, 2025 | Complaints (case 265443) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Unfounded; no citations; cleared Nov 25, 2025. |
| May 1, 2025 | Injury (case 255792) | 2 citations; cleared May 13, 2025. |
| May 1, 2025 | Complaints (case 255878) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Founded; 10 citations; cleared May 13, 2025. |
| Apr 15, 2025 | Complaints (case 254493) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Unfounded; no citations; cleared Apr 15, 2025. |
| Apr 15, 2025 | Complaints (case 254787) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Unfounded; no citations; cleared Apr 15, 2025. |
| Feb 20, 2025 | Supervisory (case 219643) | 5 citations; cleared Apr 4, 2025. |
| Feb 20, 2025 | Capacity/Age/Exhibit (case 239015) | No citations; cleared Apr 4, 2025. |
| Jul 25, 2024 | Complaints (case 235100) | Outcome, in CDEC’s words: Founded; 4 citations; cleared Jul 31, 2024. |
| Mar 19, 2024 | Supervisory (case 199653) | 7 citations; cleared May 7, 2024. |
| Jan 31, 2024 | Injury (case 215390) | 1 citation; cleared Feb 16, 2024. |
| Apr 19, 2023 | Supervisory (case 179014) | 4 citations; cleared May 11, 2023. |
| Jan 10, 2023 | Injury (case 191790) | 1 citation; cleared Jan 17, 2023. |
Is it licensed?
- Colorado’s service type: Child Care Center; licensed by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
- Licensed for 164 children: 20 infants, 41 toddlers, 103 preschool and school-age children.
- Colorado’s licence number: 1720374.
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 8 complaints and Stage II investigations from Jan 1, 2023 to Oct 27, 2026. Outcomes, in CDEC’s words: Unfounded (5), Founded (3).
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 2026 | Complaints: Founded | Received Jun 9, 2026; CDEC contacted the provider Jul 7, 2026; 1 citation; cleared Jul 29, 2026; case 274674. |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Stage II: Unfounded | Received Mar 31, 2026; CDEC contacted the provider Apr 10, 2026; no citations; cleared Apr 13, 2026; case 271721. |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Complaints: Unfounded | Received Jan 27, 2026; CDEC contacted the provider Feb 17, 2026; no citations; cleared Mar 2, 2026; case 268807. |
| Nov 3, 2025 | Complaints: Unfounded | Received Nov 3, 2025; CDEC contacted the provider Nov 25, 2025; no citations; cleared Nov 25, 2025; case 265443. |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Complaints: Founded | Received Apr 25, 2025; CDEC contacted the provider May 1, 2025; 10 citations; cleared May 13, 2025; case 255878. |
| Mar 25, 2025 | Complaints: Unfounded | Received Mar 25, 2025; CDEC contacted the provider Apr 15, 2025; no citations; cleared Apr 15, 2025; case 254493. |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Complaints: Unfounded | Received Apr 1, 2025; CDEC contacted the provider Apr 15, 2025; no citations; cleared Apr 15, 2025; case 254787. |
| Jul 18, 2024 | Complaints: Founded | Received Jul 18, 2024; CDEC contacted the provider Jul 25, 2024; 4 citations; cleared Jul 31, 2024; case 235100. |
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 2 of five, as Colorado rates it (awarded Dec 3, 2025, valid until Dec 3, 2028).
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 | |
|---|---|
| STEM Child Care, Inc. 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.