304371590-10-9-2025-06-CC-THOO-DMEMYZ-20251013100222

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304371590
Report Date: 10/08/2025
Date Signed: 10/09/2025 11:03:25 AM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY CC RO, 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
08/13/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Cynthia Sun

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20250813110759

FACILITY NAME:	DISCOVERY MONTESSORI		FACILITY NUMBER:	304371590
ADMINISTRATOR:	SCHOLFIELD, SHIRLEY		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	25692 CROWN VALLEY PKWY BLDG J		TELEPHONE:	(949) 218-2644
CITY:	LADERA RANCH	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92694
CAPACITY:	0	CENSUS:	DATE:	10/08/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:13 AM
MET WITH:			TIME COMPLETED:	10:14 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility is wrongfully terminating day care child.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 10/8/25 Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Cynthia Sun conducted a virtual visit (since the facility was closed) with director/owner, Shirley Scholfield to deliver the finding for the complaint allegation Facility is wrongfully terminating day care child. This complaint investigation was initiated on 08/19/2025.
On 08/13/2025, the Orange County Child Care Office received a complaint facility is wrongfully terminating day care child. The Reporting Party (RP) stated C1 was terminated from the program and RP believes that the termination was due to RP requesting liability insurance information from facility.

During the investigation, LPA interviewed the Adult #1, director, and A1 reviewed records which include Child Care Roster, Staff Roster, Center Parent Handbook, C1 copy of Injury /Ouch Report, and emails from RP and former facility director.

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Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Cynthia Sun
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/08/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/08/2025

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20250813110759

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY CC RO, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: DISCOVERY MONTESSORI	FACILITY NUMBER: 304371590
	VISIT DATE: 10/08/2025

NARRATIVE

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Since the facility was closed due to change of ownership, no staff, children, or parents were available for an interview.

LPA was able to interview director who stated: in the Parent Handbook page 17, under Parental Behavior “Please note that, we acknowledge parental responsibility and welcome positive involvement, Discovery Montessori reserves the right to deny admission or discontinue enrollment in the event that a parent exhibits behavior that is discourteous, scandalous, rumor driven, disruptive, threatening, hostile or divisive. In such a case, the decision of the Director regarding the suitability for continued enrollment or acceptance in the school will be final.” The reason Director Scholfield terminated C1’s enrollment was because facility staff did not feel comfortable with C1’s parent and Director Scholfield stated C1’s parent was making irrational comments.

Based on LPA’s interviews which were conducted, and records reviewed, the preponderance evidence of facility is wrongfully terminating day care child has not been met. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Director. Notice of Site Visit was posted and must remain posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with the posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.

Appeal Rights were explained. The Director was provided with a copy of the appeal rights (LIC 9058) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. All appeals must be in writing and received by the Regional Office within 15 business days. First level appeals should be sent to the regional manager to the address listed above.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Thuy Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Cynthia Sun
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 10/08/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/08/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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