CHRISTOPHER EARLY LEARNING CENTER INC.

: On August 31, 2026, OCCL received a complaint regarding allegations of improper behavior supports and failing to have and follow a policy stating parents or guardians visits and monitoring of the program are welcomed and permitted without prior approval. An investigation was conducted on September 3, 2026. This complaint is substantiated for failing to follow a policy stating parents' or guardians' visits and monitoring of the program are welcomed and permitted without prior approval. Staff #1 told a parent the rule is to inform the center first before they can visit. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for improper behavior supports. Staff #1 stated Administrator #1 only comes into their classroom when help is requested with behaviors, and no improper behavior supports have been observed. Additional concerns noted at the visit were the combining of the Maranatha Academy children and the child care children and the absence of attendance record documentation for the children and staff present at the time of the visit.

LS observed one staff w/ 6 children in preschool. Both LS observed at 10:15 that there were 4 children w/ Ms. Lilly, 3 older SA and one toddler. Harris said 3 SA were a part of the private school, which he stated is open 9-1:00 pm, and they came in after 9:00 am with Ms. Lilly and were eating breakfast together. Toddler is part of CELC, and the drop-off cutoff is 9 am. At 9:00 am, the private school children should not be together with CELC. This was discussed with Harris. The toddler room did not have an attendance sheet as of 10:15 when the 4 children arrived some time after 9:00, per Harris. A licensee shall have and use a system for documenting children s attendance that includes the exact arrival and departure times in the child s classroom and be entered at the time of the arrival and departure of the child. The children were not signed into the room or center. LS #1 and LS #2 reminded the Administrator of the regulation that all children and staff need to be signed in at arrival. Administrator #1 agreed to ensure staff will comply in the future.

Correction status: Completed · corrected September 3, 2026 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due September 3, 2026

3 kids not signed in; 2 kids not signed out. This was corrected during the visit.

Correction status: Completed · corrected June 17, 2026 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due June 17, 2026

Ensure attendance for children is accurate. Upon arrival, 14 children were on the playground with 9 signed in. This was corrected at the visit. 3 children from Maranatha were present and combined. Maranatha was closed today as well as Red Clay School District.

Correction status: Completed · corrected April 29, 2026 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due April 29, 2026

Ensure staff members have complete service letters or two additional references.

Correction status: Completed · corrected February 19, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 31, 2026

Ensure child files are complete. Dates and hours attending needed for Child #1,2,3,8,16 *send all dates attending and hours attending for all children enrolled

Correction status: Completed · corrected February 19, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 13, 2026

Ensure administration of medication record is completed. Send MAR form for Child #14

Correction status: Completed · corrected February 20, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 13, 2026

The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received multiple complaints on six separate dates in December regarding a lack of supervision, classrooms out of ratio, not following a schedule, not restricting use of electronics, bribing children with gift cards, not providing developmentally appropriate activities, not using respectful communication, not following the center s posted menu, not following required meal pattern requirements, improper transportation, not allowing access to the facility, failure to report abuse or neglect, and falsifying attendance records. On December 8, 2025, December 17, 2025, and December 22, 2025, unannounced complaint investigations were conducted. Based on the results of the investigation, this complaint is substantiated because attendance documents from the weeks of December 1, 2025, and December 15, 2025, show several instances where both staff and children are not being signed in and out of the classrooms. At the time of the visits, children were observed engaging in unstructured and unsafe behavior, including running throughout the classroom without supervision, and one child sustained a head injury, and an accident injury report was not completed and the parent or guardian was not immediately notified. Staff #1 described the classroom environment as out of control, corroborating concerns regarding failure to provide developmentally appropriate educational activities. Staff #1 reported children play on tablets and phones for extended periods, and that Child #2 and Child #3 are bribed with Roblox gift cards to allow prolonged device use. OCCL observed Child #2 and Child #3 using tablets not related to educational uses. It was also observed by OCCL that children were not provided with developmentally appropriate activities, and they were not being engaged by classroom staff. On multiple visits, the food served did not match the posted menu, and menu changes were not documented. Open and improperly labeled food was also observed in the kitchen. Transportation and off-site supervision concerns were substantiated when Staff #1 took Child #4 off-site during her lunch break to run an errand. Administrator #1 provided inaccurate and inconsistent information to OCCL. Administrator #1 reported Child #1 did not attend the child care center and was homeschooled; however, attendance records show Child #1 signed into the center on multiple dates. Purchase of Care (POC) representatives reported that Administrator #1 submitted claims for at least one child who should not have been receiving funds. Administrator #1 also reported Staff #2 was present and working in a classroom; however, Staff #2 was not signed into the center, and Staff #1 stated Staff #2 was not functioning as a classroom staff member. Administrator #1 further denied Staff #2 brought children from her Family Child Care Home to the center, despite Staff #1 and the Reporter stating these children were present and not signed in on the attendance records.

Ensure child files are complete. Child # 5, 7 need immunization record and blood lead results OR notarized exemption letters

Correction status: Completed · corrected February 7, 2025 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 28, 2025

On August 19, 2024, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding lack of supervision involving a specific staff member. A complaint investigation was conducted on August 23, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for lack of supervision. Based on a review of OCCL records, interviews of staff members and the administrator, and classroom observations, there is and has not been a staff member with the name provided by the Reporter. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for lack of supervision.

On June 26, 2024, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding allegations of improper discipline and exceeding maximum screen time usage. An investigation was conducted on July 3, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for improper discipline because Administrator #1 denied spanking Child #1 or any child in the facility. Administrator #1 stated Child #1 was attempting to harm Child #2 and did not want Parent #3 to be notified, which triggered Child #1 s reaction. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for overuse of screen time because Administrator #1 stated children participate in screen time at the end of the day for 30 minutes and stated Child #1 does not have a tablet at the facility. A concern noted was Administrator #1 stated they do not force children to correct negative behaviors and they let everything come to pass, which could be an unsafe or ineffective strategy for managing a classroom. Administrator #1 also noted they do not utilize behavior plans in an effort to help the families.

All staff files must be complete. Send the 7-hour health and safety training for one staff member.

Correction status: Completed · corrected February 9, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 1, 2024

On August 22, 2023, and August 30, 2023, two complaints regarding improper discipline were called into the Child Abuse and Neglect Line and accepted for investigation by the Institutional Abuse Unit (IAU) and the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL). An unannounced visit was conducted by OCCL and IAU on August 30, 2023. This complaint is substantiated for improper discipline because four out of five school-age children who were interviewed stated they had either been hit or had seen other children hit by Staff #1. The children all stated Staff #1 uses a ruler, which was found in the location disclosed by the children.

On July 11, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint regarding lack of supervision and improper discipline. An unannounced visit was conducted on July 24, 2023, to investigate this complaint. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because the administrator, one staff member, and a child were interviewed separately, and all stated the staff members do not hit or grab the children. All parties interviewed stated the children use the bathroom in the classroom with the door partially open, and the children are monitored while using the bathroom to ensure their safety. Two attempts were made to contact the Reporter but were unsuccessful due to the phone voice mail box being full.

All staff files must be complete. Send the completed professional development plan for one staff member. Send the completed health and safety training certificate for three staff members. Send the updated fingerprinting receipt for two staff members.

Correction status: Completed · corrected March 3, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 17, 2023

All child files must be complete. Send the documentation of the completed blood lead screening for four children. Send the current health appraisal for one child. Send the current immunizations for three children.

Correction status: Completed · corrected March 3, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 17, 2023

Sweep and mop the floor in the kitchen, focusing on the areas along the edge of the cabinets. Send pictures after completion.

Correction status: Completed · corrected March 3, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 24, 2023

Ensure the playground has the appropriate fall zones for all raised equipment. Send the pictures when the fall zone areas have been corrected.

Correction status: Completed · corrected March 11, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 17, 2023

The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on January 17, 2023, regarding the allegation that three children had their enrollment terminated due to retaliation from a previous complaint received by OCCL. The investigation of this complaint began on January 19, 2023. Although retaliation is not a regulation violation, the complaint is substantiated because the center did not follow its own expulsion policy. The center s policy states a child s enrollment may be terminated if they pose a serious threat to themselves or others. This would apply to Child #1, but not to Child #1 s siblings. Therefore, the two siblings should not have had their enrollment terminated.

The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on December 28, 2022, regarding an allegation of improper discipline. An unannounced visit was conducted on January 4, 2023, to investigate the complaint. The complaint is substantiated for improper discipline because Child #2 stated during the investigation that Staff #1 grabbed him and hurt his arm in the exact scenario stated in the complaint OCCL received from the Reporter

A complaint was received on January 18, 2022, regarding the allegation of improper discipline and not following notification and documentation requirements for a potentially serious injury. An investigation was conducted on January 24, 2022. LS Romanelli conducted an unannounced visit to investigate the complaint. There is no evidence to substantiate that a serious injury was not documented because two staff stated the child never received a black eye while at the center. There is no evidence to substantiate that Mr. Harris used improper discipline with Child #1 because he restrained Child #1 to stop her from harming another child. A concern noted was this restraint was not documented.