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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304270685
Report Date: 02/17/2026
Date Signed: 02/17/2026 11:27:02 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE CO CHILD CARE, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/13/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Mahnaz Malek
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20260213115450
FACILITY NAME:KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
304270685
ADMINISTRATOR:BROWN, BARBARAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:25189 BEACON HILL WAYTELEPHONE:
(949) 240-4004
CITY:LAGUNA NIGUELSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92677
CAPACITY:96CENSUS: 10DATE:
02/17/2026
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:00 AM
MET WITH:Assistant directorTIME COMPLETED:
12:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Licensee is operating facility out of ratio
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mahnaz (Nancy) Malek conducted a complaint investigation regarding the above allegation. LPA met with assistant director, Savannah Garcia. The director, Debbie Rouintree was not present. Another director from other Kindercare facility, Zelinda Zazuetta arrived during LPA's presence. Census was taken. There were a total of 10 preschool children with one staff in one classroom observed. Another staff person arrived at 8:15 am in this room.
A review of staff records on this date indicated that all facility staff or other individuals who required caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions.

On 2/13/2026, the Orange County Childcare Office received a complaint alleging "Licensee is operating facility out of ratio". The reporting party reported on 2/13/2026 at 8:15am, the preschool room was out of ratio. RP reports that a teacher was alone supervising thirteen children in care.
Continued on page 2
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mahnaz Malek
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/17/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/17/2026
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 3
Control Number 06-CC-20260213115450
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE CO CHILD CARE, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868
FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 304270685
VISIT DATE: 02/17/2026
NARRATIVE
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Page 2 of 2

Today, LPA interviewed total of 9 staff who work in the Preschool and infants and toddlers classrooms.(Staff who are not available were interviewed over the phone).

LPA reviewed the Internal Kindercare documentation of Child Supervision Record (CSR) for the complaint report dated of 2/13/2026. LPA observed on the CSR dated 2/13/2026, S1 had 10 preschool children until 8:00 am. At 8:11 am S1 had 12 preschool children. At 8:15 the 13th child arrived. S1 had 13 children all by themselves until 8:25 am when S2 signed back in. Therefore, S1 was left alone with 13 children for 10 minutes.

During interview with S1 it was confirmed that S1 was left alone with 13 children for 10 minutes. S1 stated two staff were called out on that day which caused the issue.
During interview with S2 the time and date on the CSR was confirmed stating they checked on S1 periodically. However, S1 must have gone to 13 children for 5 or 6 minutes while S2 was doing other task out of the classroom. The rest of the staff members reported to LPA that the facility has changed teachers' scheduling and has input a new phone system to check on the teacher child ratio as needed. They did not disclose any teacher child ratio.

Based on the interviews with 9 staff, admission of S1, and S2, and reviewing Child Supervision Record (CSR) dated 2/13/2026, it was determined the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, the allegation of “Licensee is operating facility out of ratio" is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. The facility was in violation of teacher child ratio being with one staff member with 13 children on 2/13/2026 for 10 minutes.
The teacher child ratio for preschool is 1:12

Please see LIC 809D on next page for details of the deficiency. A previous licensing report was issued on 2/3/2026 giving notice of the same violation. Because the facility has been cited for repeating the same violation within 12 months, the following civil penalty shall be assessed until the violation is corrected. An immediate civil penalty of 250.00 is hereby assessed for the repeat violation.
A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.
Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the assistant director, Savannah Garcia.

End of report.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mahnaz Malek
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/17/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/17/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 06-CC-20260213115450
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE CO CHILD CARE, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 304270685
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 02/17/2026
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
02/18/2026
Section Cited
CCR
101216.3(a)
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(a) There shall be a ratio of one teacher visually observing and supervising no more than 12 children in attendance, except as specified ...... This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on a complaint report, interviewing staff, admission of S1, S2, and reviewing Child Supervision Record (CSR) that S1 was
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The assistant director agreed to send a statement with the new staff’s scheduling to show that the preschool classrooms are staying in ratio at all times. The statement shall show a plan in case of staff being out.
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left alone with 13 preschool children
for 10 minutes on 2/13/2026 until S2 arrived. This is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care. An immediate civil penalty of 250.00 is hereby assessed due to a repeat violation of the same on previous date of 2/3/2026.
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The proof of correction will be sent to LPA's email address by the due date of 2/18/2026.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mahnaz Malek
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/17/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/17/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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