Stepping Stone School XIV

High risk A person may not be at the operation until their background check result has come back and allows it.

State rule 745.641 (licensing rules for every operation): "Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation"

Inspector's note: There was an employee that was present that had a pending background check. Note: This was corrected at inspection with the employee became active, and received their eligibility letter during the inspection.

Corrected Jun 17, 2026, verified by the state Jul 2, 2026. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk Each caregiver must know how many children they are responsible for.

State rule 746.1205(a)(2) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know number of children responsible for"

Inspector's note: There were two caregivers that did not know the correct number of children that were in their care. This was corrected at inspection when the caregivers were asked again how many children they had in care, and they knew the correct number. The caregivers were retained on the spot how important it is to know how many children they have in their care.

Corrected Jun 2, 2026, verified by the state Jun 17, 2026. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium risk People who leave the operation must be removed from its background-check list within 7 days.

State rule 745.651(1) (licensing rules for every operation): "Background Check Validation - You must inactivate a subject who is no longer associated with your operation within 7 days of leaving"

Inspector's note: A caregiver who departed the operation more than 7 days ago still had an active background check at the time of inspection. This was corrected at inspection when the caregiver's background check was inactivated.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium-high risk There must be enough caregivers for the number and ages of children in the group (the state's child-to-caregiver ratio).

State rule 746.1601 (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children"

Inspector's note: A group with a specified age of 18-23 months had 10 children present with one caregiver. This was corrected at inspection when the specified age group was discussed with caregivers and the director and an additional staff member was added to the classroom.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk If a person's background check came back with conditions, their duties must be restricted as the conditions say.

State rule 745.635(3) (licensing rules for every operation): "Background ck determination - If provisionally eligible w/conditions or eligible w/conditions you must restrict duties per conditions/restrictions"

Inspector's note: It was learned during multiple interviews that the operation is not following the conditions on a staff member's background check at all times.

Corrected Apr 4, 2025, verified by the state Apr 14, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk Must Place Infants in Face up Sleeping Position or Must Have Completed and Signed Sleep Exception Form for the Infant

State rule 746.2427(a) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Must Place Infants in Face up Sleeping Position or Must Have Completed and Signed Sleep Exception Form for the Infant"

Inspector's note: An infant was observed to be asleep in a bouncer seat and was not placed on their back to sleep for several minutes.

Corrected Apr 4, 2025, verified by the state Apr 14, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk Responsibilities - Not interfere with an inspection or investigation

State rule 745.8411(a) (licensing rules for every operation): "Responsibilities - Not interfere with an inspection or investigation"

Inspector's note: While conducting an investigation inspection at the operation, it was learned that a member of the administrative staff discouraged some caregivers from answering the Child Care Regulation inspector's questions related to the allegation.

Corrected Apr 4, 2025, verified by the state Apr 14, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk The director must operate the center in compliance with the minimum standards.

State rule 746.1003(1) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Director Responsibilities - Operate in Compliance"

Inspector's note: During the investigation inspection, the operation was found to be in violation of several high weighted Minimum Standards.

Corrected Apr 4, 2025, verified by the state Apr 14, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk Each caregiver must know how many children they are responsible for.

State rule 746.1205(a)(2) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know number of children responsible for"

Inspector's note: During the second walk-through at the operation, one caregiver stated there were 13 children present in their group. After counting the group it was found that there were 11 children present. This was corrected when the caregiver counted the group again.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium-high risk There must be enough caregivers for the number and ages of children in the group (the state's child-to-caregiver ratio).

State rule 746.1601 (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children"

Inspector's note: During the first walk-through at the operation, three rooms were over the child to caregiver ratios allowed for their specified age groups.

Corrected Apr 4, 2025, verified by the state Apr 14, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk If a person's background check came back with conditions, their duties must be restricted as the conditions say.

State rule 745.635(3) (licensing rules for every operation): "Background ck determination - If provisionally eligible w/conditions or eligible w/conditions you must restrict duties per conditions/restrictions"

Inspector's note: The operation was not following conditions on a staff member's background check that stated their background check must be run under every operation at which they are present and not just under the main location. This was corrected at inspection when the background check was run under this operation.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk Infants may not sleep in car seats, swings or other restrictive devices.

State rule 746.2426(a)(1) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Infant May Not Sleep in a Restrictive Device"

Inspector's note: An infant was asleep in a bouncer seat with unbuckled straps. This was corrected at inspection when the infant was removed from the bouncer seat.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium risk The most recent licensing inspection report or letter must be posted.

State rule 746.401(2) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Posting Requirements - Letter or form from the most recent Licensing Inspection or Investigation"

Inspector's note: The most reccent inspection form was not posted at the operation.

Corrected Feb 7, 2025, verified by the state Feb 20, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk Each caregiver must know how many children they are responsible for.

State rule 746.1205(a)(2) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know number of children responsible for"

Inspector's note: Three caregivers did not know the correct number of children they were responsible for. One caregiver stated 7 children were present when there were 9, another caregiver stated 17 children were present when there were 20, and a third caregiver stated 25 children were present when there were 24. This was corrected at inspection when the caregivers did a head count to confirm the number of children in their group and were then able to answer correctly.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium-high risk Each caregiver must know the names and ages of the children they are responsible for.

State rule 746.1205(a)(3) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know children's names and ages"

Inspector's note: One caregiver did not know the name of a child in their group. Another caregiver was unable to provide Child Care Regulation with the ages of the children in their group. These were corrected at inspection when the caregivers obtained a tablet containing the information and reviewed it.

Corrected while the inspector was there.

Medium-high risk There must be enough caregivers for the number and ages of children in the group (the state's child-to-caregiver ratio).

State rule 746.1601 (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children"

Inspector's note: One classroom had 5 infants present with one caregiver. This was corrected at inspection when one infant was moved to another classroom.

Corrected while the inspector was there.

Medium-high risk There must be enough caregivers when the children in a group differ in age by 18 months or more (the state's child-to-caregiver ratio).

State rule 746.1605(1) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in Age"

Inspector's note: In a group of 12 children with two caregivers, the youngest child was 6 months old and the oldest child was 2 years and 4 months old. At the time, more than 13 children were in care at the operation. This was corrected at inspection when the older children were taken to another classroom.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium-high risk Groups may not be larger than the state's maximum group size for the children's ages.

State rule 746.1609 (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Maximum Group Size 13 or More Children"

Inspector's note: A combined group of three classes with a specified age of 3 years had 32 children present on the playground when it was past time for one of the groups to return inside per their daily schedule. This was corrected at inspection when one group returned to their classroom.

Corrected while the inspector was there. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk The director must operate the center in compliance with the minimum standards.

State rule 746.1003(1) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Director Responsibilities - Operate in Compliance"

Inspector's note: The director stated she was unaware of the timelines for reporting incidences to CCR and for filling out incident reports.

Corrected Jan 3, 2025, verified by the state Jan 3, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

High risk The operation must report to the state any situation that places children at risk.

State rule 746.305(a)(6) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Report Situation Placing Children at Risk"

Inspector's note: The operation did not make the required self-report to Child Care Regulation within two days of the incident occurring.

Corrected Dec 20, 2024, verified by the state Jan 3, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium-high risk Field Trips - Signed Permission

State rule 746.3001(1) (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Field Trips - Signed Permission"

Inspector's note: A child was transported on a field trip without a signed permission form.

Corrected Dec 20, 2024, verified by the state Jan 3, 2025. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).

Medium risk People who leave the operation must be removed from its background-check list within 7 days.

State rule 745.651(1) (licensing rules for every operation): "Background Check Validation - You must inactivate a subject who is no longer associated with your operation within 7 days of leaving"

Inspector's note: The background check for a caregiver who departed from the operation on 12/17/2024 was still active as of 1/3/2025.

Corrected Jan 3, 2025, verified by the state Jan 3, 2025.

Medium risk Incident and illness report forms must be filled in and shared with the parent.

State rule 746.707 (minimum standards for child-care centers): "Incident/Illness Report Form Shared with Parent"

Inspector's note: The incident report was not given to or signed by the child's parent within 48 hours of when the incident occurred.

Corrected Dec 20, 2024, verified by the state Dec 20, 2024. The inspector gave technical assistance (advice on how to comply).