VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

STEM Preschool, LLC
3120 South Abingdon Street
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 639-4601

Current Inspector: Sheila F Nelson (804) 629-7489

Inspection Date: Jan. 6, 2020

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSE. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2 Facilities & Programs.

Technical Assistance:

The Center should be mindful towards putting policies in place concerning better sanitation during meal times.

Comments:

An unannounced complaint investigation inspection was initiated on 01/06/2020. The complaint investigation was in response to concerns regarding supervision. Observations of attendance records and staff records were reviewed and staff interviews were conducted. The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation does not support the allegation, so the complaint is determined to be not valid. Other non-complaint related violations were cited on the Violation Notice. If you have any questions, please contact me at Tanya.Johnson1@dss.virginia.gov or call 571.423.6392.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-80-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of attendance records and an interview with the Director, it was determined that the center failed to keep a written record of children in attendance each day. Evidence: The Director could not provided documentation of attendance for 12/11/2019.
Plan of Correction:	The plan of correction is to ensure that our manual sign in sheet is stored and kept for a 2 year period, when the Brightwheel app is down due to technical difficulties, rather than disposing of it when the app is back up and running
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-350-C
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of records and interviews with staff it was determined that the center failed to ensure that when children are regularly in ongoing mixed age groups, the staff to children ratio applicable to the youngest child in the group shall apply to the entire group. Evidence: Child #2's date of birth is 01/31/2017, on 12/09/2019 child #2 was moved into the 3 year old class. This changed the staff to child ratio to 1:8. There were 9 children in attendance on 12/9/2019. 12/16/2019, 12/17/2019, 12/18/2019, 12/19/2019 and 12/20/2019. On these dates there was only one staff member assigned to the classroom.
Plan of Correction:	Teh plan of correction is to ensure that the Director and the Lead teacher in the classroom the student is to be transferred to, complete an assessment of the student's readiness rather than just having the student's current Lead teacher complete an assessment. Ths alsong with a signed formal form of permission rather that only having parent emails, will allow the ratio to change automatically to 1:10, regardless if the child is a yournger age, keeping the class in ratio
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-350-F
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on review of child's record and discussion with the director, the center failed to obtain a parent's written permission and a written assessment by the program director and program leader, to assigned a child to a different age group if such age group is more appropriate for the child's developmental level and the staff to children ratio shall be for the established age group. Evidence: Child #2's records did not contain documentation of written permission, a written assessment by the program director or the program leader.
Plan of Correction:	The plan of correction is to have the parents of a younger child sign a "formal letter of permission" granting approval of the early promotion, rather than only communicating through email and gaining ambiguous approval from parents. Also, we will ensure that the Director and the Lead teacher in the classroom the student is to be transferred to, complete an assessment of the student's readiness, rather than just having the students current Lead teacher complete a assessment