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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 073404969
Report Date: 04/02/2026
Date Signed: 04/02/2026 11:12:36 AM

Unsubstantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
OAKLAND CC RO, 1515 CLAY STREET, SUITE 1102
OAKLAND, CA 94612
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/20/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Kayla Merchant
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 02-CC-20260220125240
FACILITY NAME:STEP BY STEP MONTESSORIFACILITY NUMBER:
073404969
ADMINISTRATOR:WOOD, RACHELFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:1507 HEATHER DRIVETELEPHONE:
(925) 825-4364
CITY:CONCORDSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
94521
CAPACITY:40CENSUS: 0DATE:
04/02/2026
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:20 AM
MET WITH:Rachel Wood and Marzi HaghighiTIME COMPLETED:
11:20 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Staff hit day care child
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
On 4/2/2026 at 9:20 AM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kayla Merchant conducted an unannounced Subsequent Complaint Investigation at Step By Step Montessori. LPA met with Owner Marzi Haghighi and Director Rachel Wood and explained the purpose of today’s inspection. The finding for the above allegation was delivered during the inspection. The facility is closed for staff inservice and no children were present during this visit. During course of investigation LPA conducted facility inspection, observations, record review, interviews and obtained documents. It was determined that the RP provided some statements to the LPA that conflicted with the statement in the complaint and statements provided by facility staff. No children that were interviewed stated that they observed any incidents of hitting or that they were hit by any staff. However, there is no evidence to prove that the incident did not occur.
Based on the interviews and information obtained throughout the investigation, the allegation is UNSUBSTANTIATED which means 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. No Deficiency has been cited for this allegation. Exit interview conducted with Director Rachel Wood.
A NOTICE OF SITE VISIT WAS ISSUED AND MUST BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Sherelle Johnson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kayla Merchant
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/02/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/02/2026
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 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
OAKLAND CC RO, 1515 CLAY STREET, SUITE 1102
OAKLAND, CA 94612
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/20/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Kayla Merchant
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 02-CC-20260220125240

FACILITY NAME:STEP BY STEP MONTESSORIFACILITY NUMBER:
073404969
ADMINISTRATOR:WOOD, RACHELFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:1507 HEATHER DRIVETELEPHONE:
(925) 825-4364
CITY:CONCORDSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
94521
CAPACITY:40CENSUS: DATE:
04/02/2026
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:20 AM
MET WITH:Marzi HaghighiTIME COMPLETED:
11:20 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Staff handled day care child in a rough manner
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
On 4/2/2026 at 9:20 AM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kayla Merchant conducted an unannounced Subsequent Complaint Investigation at Step By Step Montessori. LPA met with Owner Marzi Haghighi and Director Rachel Wood and explained the purpose of today’s inspection. The finding for the above allegation was delivered during the inspection. The facility is closed for staff inservice and no children were present during this visit. During course of investigation LPA conducted facility inspection, observations, record review, interviews and obtained documents. It was determined that the RP provided some statements to the LPA that conflicted statements provided by facility staff. No children that were interviewed stated that they observed any incidents of staff being rough or that they were handled roughly by any staff. However, there is no evidence to prove that the incident did not occur.
Based on the interviews and information obtained throughout the investigation, the allegation is UNSUBSTANTIATED which means 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. No Deficiency has been cited for this allegation. Exit interview conducted with Director
A NOTICE OF SITE VISIT WAS ISSUED AND MUST BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Sherelle Johnson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kayla Merchant
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/02/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/02/2026
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 2