Little Scholars Academy & Preschool

Staff Records - Retention

“1715.C.: Based on record review at 10:00 a.m., S1 failed to have all current staff entered in the LDOE Electronic System. S3, S6, S7, and S8 were not entered in Edlink. This was not corrected prior to the Specialist departure.”

Rule 1715.B.&C.

Tornado Drills

“1921.E.: Based on record review and interview, S1 failed to conduct tornado drills in the months of March, April, May, and June. This was not corrected prior to the Specialist departure.”

Rule 1921.E.

Critical Incidents and Required Notifications

“1103.A.4.5.B.3.: Based on interviews at 11:45 a.m., S1 failed to immediately notify the parent of the following Critical Incident. On 10/21/2025, at 8:15 a.m., S6 reported to her that on 10/20/2025, at an unknown time, she witnessed S5 (DOH 4/9/2024) mishandle C1, 3-years-old, in an aggressive manner, pulling him up by his arm with aggressive force. O1 was not notified until 1:18 p.m. This could not be corrected prior to the Specialist departure. Specialist was unable to validate the allegation.”

Rule 1103.A.-C.

Daily Attendance Records - Staff and Owners

“1507.B.: Based on observations, record review, and interview at 1:00 p.m., S1 failed to ensure the centers daily attendance record for staff members was accurate, as S1 was signed in, but not present when Specialist arrived. S8 was present, but not signed in. This was corrected prior to the Specialists departure.”

Rule 1507.B.

Independent Contractors Records

“1717.A.1.2.3.: Based on record review and interview at 1:00 p.m., S1 failed to have documentation of an information form to include name, address, and phone number; a list of duties performed while present at the center; or, documentation of a CCCBC based determination of eligibility for child care purposes from the Department for 4 of 4 independent contractors, O1, O2, O3, and O4. S1 was able to get a copy of each contractors CCCBC prior to the Specialists departure.”

Rule 1717.A.

Orientation Training

“1719.C.: Based on record review and interview at 1:00 p.m., S1 failed to ensure 1 of 3 new staff, S8 (first day working 4/1/2025) completed the LDE Key Training Module 1 and received center specific orientation within their first 7 days present at the center and prior to having sole responsibility for children. LDE Key Training Module 1 should have been completed by 4/8/2025; it was completed on 4/9/2025. There was no documentation available that S8 received the center specific orientation. This was not corrected prior to the Specialists departure.”

Rule 1719.A.-C.

Items That Can be Harmful to Children

“1901.J.: Based on record review and interviews at 1:00 p.m., S6 failed to ensure items that are harmful were inaccessible to children. On 10/29/2024, at 4:45 p.m., S6 hung a bottle of disinfectant spray on the side of the changing table in reach of the children in the 1-years-old classroom. This could not be corrected prior to the Specialist departure.”

Rule 1901.J.&K.

Operations

“1501.A.: Based on observations and interview at 11:00 a.m., S1 failed to operate within the licensed capacity. The center is licensed to care for children ages 3 months to 5 years old, however, C2, 15-years-old was being cared for on the child care premises on 6/5/2024 and on 7/2/2024. Specialist advised S1 that the 15 year old would need to leave the premises.”

Rule 1501.A.

Staff Records and Personnel Files

Rule 1715.A.1,3.&4.

Orientation Training

“1719.A.-C.: Based on observations, record review, and interview at 11:00 a.m., S1 failed to have documentation that 1 of 9 staff, completed the DCFS Online Mandated Reporter Training within seven days of the first day present at the center and prior to having sole responsibility for any children. S9 (DOH 6/17/2024) did not have documentation that she’d completed the training. This was not corrected while Specialist was present.”

Rule 1719.A.-C.

Continuing Education Training

“1721.A.-C.: Based on observations, record review, and interview at 11:00 a.m., S1 failed to have documentation that the center staff of an early learning center provided opportunities for staff members to obtained a minimum of 12 clock hours of training annually. S8 (DOH 6/20/2023) did not have the required 12 hours of continuing ed. This could not be corrected while Specialist was present.”

Rule 1721.A.-C.

Apparatus or Equipment

“1907.A.1.-2.: Based on record review and interviews at 11:00 a.m., S1 failed to ensure the manufacturer’s restraint device was used properly when the swing was occupied by C1, 9-months-old. On 6/5/2024, C2, 15-years-old, placed C1 in the infant swing and only buckled the lap strap and not the shoulder strap, which allowed C1 to wiggle out of the swing and fall on to the floor. C1 required medical attention.”

Rule 1907.A.1.-2.

Critical Incidents and Required Notifications

“1103.A.C. Based on record review/interview at 1:00 p.m., S1 failed to notify Child Welfare within 24 hours of the following critical incident: On 6/7/2023 at 2:45 p.m., S1 observed S7 (D.O.H. 6/5/2023) tapping C1, 2-years-old on his hand, she didn’t pay attention to which hand it was. S7 told her C1 pulled her dress. S7 was terminated on immediately on 6/7/2023. S1 stated she did not report the incident to Child Welfare because she did not think she needed to. S1 will notify Child Welfare by 6:00 p.m. on 8/8/2023.”

Rule 1103.A.-C.

Behavior Management Policy

“1509.A8.a.&b: Based on interviews/record review at 1:00 p.m., although the center has implemented their written behavior management policy prohibiting physical punishment, S7 (DOH 6/5/2023) used a prohibited method of discipline on 6/7/2023 at 2:45 p.m. S7 admitted to S1 that she tapped C1, two-years-old, on his arm. S1 stated she walked in the classroom at the time she witnessed S7 hitting C1’s hand. S7 told her C1, pulled on her dress. S7 was terminated effective 6/7/2023.”

Rule 1509.A.8.a.&b.

CCCBC-Based Determinations of Eligibility for Child Care Purposes Required for Volunteers and Staff

“1807.B. Based on record review and interviews 11:30 a.m., S1 failed to obtain a CCCBC-based determination of eligibility for child care purposes from the Department for staff S2 prior to the staff working on the premises. -S2 was hired at the center and began working with children on 8/6/2023. S1 was not able to provide an eligible CCCBC prior to specialist departure. S4 was escorted off the premises at 12:00 p.m.”

Rule 1807.B.

Free of Hazards

“1903.C. Based on observations at 1:00 p.m., S1 failed to ensure the outdoor area was free of hazards. Specialist observed the outdoor HVAC unit was exposed and accessible to children on the playground. This was not corrected prior to Specialist departure.”

Rule 1903.C.