304371754-3-13-2026-06-CC-TNGN-DSJRWB-20260326132253

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304371754
Report Date: 03/13/2026
Date Signed: 03/13/2026 02:54:04 PM

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
02/11/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Kathy Trinh

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20260211085907

FACILITY NAME:	DISCOVERY MONTESSORI		FACILITY NUMBER:	304371754
ADMINISTRATOR:	HORVATH, ILDIKO		FACILITY TYPE:	860
ADDRESS:	25692 CROWN VALLEY PARKWAY		TELEPHONE:	(949) 218-2644
CITY:	LADERA RANCH	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92694
CAPACITY:	132	CENSUS: 82	DATE:	03/13/2026
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:10 PM
MET WITH:	Director, Ildiko Horvath		TIME COMPLETED:	03:10 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Facility wrongfully terminated day care child
Due to lack of supervision, child was injured
Staff have not provided authorized representative copies of child's records
Facility failed to inform day care child's authorized representatives of an injury in a timely manner
Staff do not follow protocols to prevent the spread of illness

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

On 3/13/2026, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), K. Trinh conducted an unannounced subsequent complaint inspection for the purpose of delivering findings for the complaint investigation that was initiated on 02/12/2026. Upon arrival, LPA met with Director, Ildiko Horvath and was led on a tour of the facility. LPA observed a total of 82 children along with 7 staff during nap time.

A review of the Facility Report Summary on this date indicates all facility staff or other individuals who require caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions. During today’s inspection the facility was operating within its licensed capacity and within compliance of staffing ratios.
(Go to page 2)

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion: 60

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tina Nguyen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kathy Trinh
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/13/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/13/2026

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 5

Control Number 06-CC-20260211085907

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: 304371754
	VISIT DATE: 03/13/2026

NARRATIVE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

(Page 2) On 2/11/2026, the Orange County Regional Child Care Licensing Office received a complaint with the following allegations: (1) Facility wrongfully terminated day care child, (2) Due to lack of supervision, child was injured, (3) Staff have not provided authorized representative copies of child's records, (4) Facility failed to inform day care child's authorized representatives of an injury in a timely manner, and (5) Staff do not follow protocols to prevent the spread of illness.

Regarding allegation (1) Facility wrongfully terminated day care child.
During investigation, LPA conducted interviews with six (6) staff, two (2) parents, and obtained pertinent documents.

During staff interviews, five (5) out of six (6) staff stated that they had observed C1’s authorized representative displaying behavior that went against the parent behavior section of the parent handbook.

During record review, LPA reviewed the parent handbook, termination letter, and staff statements. The parent handbook states that, “Discovery Montessori has the right to… discontinue enrollment in the event that a parent exhibits behavior that is discourteous, scandalous, rumor driven, disruptive, threatening, hostile, or divisive.” The termination letter states that the reason for termination is because there have been “repeated concerns regarding parental conduct that is inconsistent with the expectations outlined in our Parent Handbook.”

On 2/24/2026, LPA conducted parent interviews. The interviewed parents did not divulge any information pertaining to the allegation or express any concerns regarding care of the children.  

Regarding allegation (2) Due to lack of supervision, child was injured.
During investigation, LPA conducted interviews with six (6) staff, two (2) parents, and obtained pertinent documents.

During staff interviews, Staff 1 (S1) stated that they were made aware of C1’s injury on 01/23/2026 when C1’s authorized representative called and asked about an injury that had occurred at the facility. S1 added that when C1 came back facility on 02/02/2026, C1 shared that the alleged injury had occurred on the playground. However, the staff present during that day did not observe the incident or injury on C1.
(Go to page 3)

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tina Nguyen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kathy Trinh
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/13/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/13/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 5

Control Number 06-CC-20260211085907

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: 304371754
	VISIT DATE: 03/13/2026

NARRATIVE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

(Page 3) Staff 2 (S2) and Staff 6 (S6), who were C1’s teachers on 01/23/2026, denied seeing the incident or any mark on C1 on 01/23/2026. S6 added that the staff would have written a report if they saw a mark on C1.

On 02/24/2026, LPA conducted parent interviews. The interviewed parents did not divulge any information pertaining to the allegation or express any concerns regarding care of the children.  

Regarding allegation (3) Staff have not provided authorized representative copies of child's records.
During investigation, LPA conducted interviews with six (6) staff, two (2) parents, and obtained pertinent documents.

During staff interviews, S1 stated that they keep the physical facility files for three (3) to four (4) years. The facility does not have access to the updates or posts on ProCare once the child has been disenrolled.

During record review, the Director provided LPA with C1’s authorized representative’s facility records request and authorization form signed on 02/15/2026, as well as the list of documents that were provided to C1’s authorized representatives on 02/20/2026.

On 2/24/2026, LPA conducted parent interviews. The interviewed parents did not divulge any information pertaining to the allegation or express any concerns regarding care of the children.  

Regarding allegation (4) Facility failed to inform day care child's authorized representatives of an injury in a timely manner.
During investigation, LPA conducted interviews with six (6) staff, two (2) parents, and obtained pertinent documents.

During staff interviews, S2 stated that on 1/23/2026, C1’s authorized representative called the facility to ask about an injury after already picking up C1. S2 added that C1 did not return to the facility until 2/2/2026 since they were sick. The incident report had been completed in the morning of 02/02/2026 based on the information provided by C1; Staff 2 (S2) and Staff 6 (S6), who were C1’s teachers on 01/23/2026, did not observe the incident or mark on C1 on 01/23/2026. The incident report was received by C1’s authorized representative that same afternoon. (Go to page 4)

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tina Nguyen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kathy Trinh
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/13/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/13/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 3 of 5

Control Number 06-CC-20260211085907

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: 304371754
	VISIT DATE: 03/13/2026

NARRATIVE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

(Page 4) On 02/24/2026, LPA conducted parent interviews. The interviewed parents did not divulge any information pertaining to the allegation or express any concerns regarding care of the children.  

Regarding allegation (5) Staff do not follow protocols to prevent the spread of illness.
During investigation, LPA conducted interviews with six (6) staff, two (2) parents, and obtained pertinent documents.

During staff interviews, all interviewed staff shared that when children are ill, they are taken to the office to be sent home and cannot return to the facility unless they have been symptom free for 24 hours. Three (3) out of six (6) staff added that the facility provides illness reports to the child’s authorized representatives when they are sent home for an illness.

During record review, the parent handbook states that, “An ill child will not be allowed to enter the classroom. If a child becomes ill at school, the parent will be contacted to arrange for the child's care. The child may be kept in the sick room until the parent arrives. This child must be picked up by the parent or authorized person within 30 minutes of notification." The handbook also lists conditions in which the child is not to be at school including... "A fever of 100 degrees or more during the past 24 hours... Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours."

The facility had also sent out an email on 01/26/2026, and ProCare message reminders on 02/02/2026 to families about the facility’s health policy.

On 02/24/2026, LPA conducted parent interviews. The interviewed parents did not divulge any information pertaining to the allegation or express any concerns regarding care of the children.  

Based on LPA’s interviews which were conducted, and records reviewed, the preponderance evidence of (1) Facility wrongfully terminated day care child, (2) Due to lack of supervision, child was injured, (3) Staff have not provided authorized representative copies of child's records, (4) Facility failed to inform day care child's authorized representatives of an injury in a timely manner, and (5) Staff do not follow protocols to prevent the spread of illness. Although the allegations may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are unsubstantiated.
(Go to page 5)

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tina Nguyen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kathy Trinh
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/13/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/13/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 4 of 5

Control Number 06-CC-20260211085907

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: 304371754
	VISIT DATE: 03/13/2026

NARRATIVE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

(Page 5)

Exit interview was conducted. Notice of Site Visit was posted during the visit. Facility representative was informed that the notice of site visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in civil penalties 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.

End of report.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tina Nguyen
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kathy Trinh
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/13/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/13/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 5 of 5