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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198018027
Report Date: 02/03/2026
Date Signed: 02/03/2026 11:12:00 AM

Document Has Been Signed on 02/03/2026 11:12 AM - It Cannot Be Edited

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK CC RO, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME:SCHOOL OF LITTLE SCHOLARSFACILITY NUMBER:
198018027
ADMINISTRATOR/
DIRECTOR:		BETTY CASTILLOFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:932 BUENA VISTA STREETTELEPHONE:
(626) 357-9660
CITY:DUARTESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91010
CAPACITY: 80TOTAL ENROLLED CHILDREN: 49CENSUS: 44DATE:
02/03/2026
TYPE OF VISIT:Case Management - IncidentUNANNOUNCEDTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION BEGAN:
10:15 AM
MET WITH:Director Betty CastilloTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION COMPLETED:
11:45 AM
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Stephanie Li conducted an unannounced Case Management inspection due to an incident that occurred on 1/23/2026 and was reported to the Department on 1/28/2025. LPA met with Director Betty Castillo. Reason for the visit was explained. There were 44 children and 8 staff.

On 1/28/2026, an unusual incident report was made to the Department regarding an incident where a child was injured while playing on the play structure. Child was getting picked up by parent and parent gave permission for child to continue playing in yard with classroom while parent grabbed her belongings and signed her out. Child slipped while walking up the climbing ladder and landed on her groin area. An ouch report and teacher incident log was made. Parent took child to the ER and informed Director over the weekend that child had sustained mild lacerations and bruising. Child did not have any restrictions and returned to school the following Thursday. Per director, parent kept her home just to be safe.

During todays visit, LPA interviewed director regarding the incident, observed play structure and climbing ladders. LPA observed the climbing ladder bars paint was worn down exposing the smooth metal underneath the paint. LPA felt the silver metal and it was very smooth to the touch. Play structure is surrounded by sand. The sand can also create a slipping hazard while children are climbing the ladders.

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NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: Christina Gabelman
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Stephanie Li
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE: DATE: 02/03/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE: DATE: 02/03/2026
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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California Health & Human Services Agency
California Department of Social Services

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT California law requires a public report of each licensing visit/inspection. This report is a record for the facility and the licensing agency. This report is available for public review; therefore, care is taken not to disclose personal or confidential information. Inquiries concerning the location, maintenance, and contents of these reports may be directed to the Licensing Program Analyst or Regional Office whose address and telephone number are listed on the front of this form.

DEFICIENCIES A deficiency is an instance of noncompliance with licensing requirements, including applicable statutes, regulations, interim licensing standards, operating standards, and written directives. Applicants/ licensees must be notified in writing of all licensing deficiencies. Deficiencies are listed on the left side of this form, and the applicable licensing requirement upon which the deficiency is identified. There are two types of deficiencies:
  • Type A deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, if not corrected, have a direct and immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care.
  • Type B deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, without correction, could become a risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care, a recordkeeping violation that could impact the care of said persons and/or protection of their resources, or a violation that could impact those services required to meet the needs of persons in care.

PLANS OF CORRECTION (POCs) The licensing agency is required to establish a reasonable length of time to correct a deficiency. In order to set the time, the licensing agency must take into consideration the seriousness of the violation, the number of persons in care involved, and the availability of equipment and personnel necessary to correct the violation. Applicants/licensees are requested to provide a specific plan for each violation on the right side of the form across from each deficiency. The more specific the plan, the less chance exists for any misunderstanding in setting time limits and reviewing corrections. The applicant/licensee who encounters problems beyond their control in completing the corrections within the specified time frame may request and may be granted an extension of the correction due date by the licensing agency.

CORRECTION NOTIFICATION The applicant/licensee is responsible for completing all corrections and promptly notifying the licensing agency of corrections. Applicants/licensees are advised to keep a dated copy of any correspondence sent to the licensing agency concerning corrections, or if corrections are telephoned to the licensing agency, the date, person contacted, and information given.

CIVIL PENALTIES The licensing agency is required by law to issue a Penalty Notice, when applicable, to all facilities holding a license issued by the licensing agency, or subject to licensure, except Certified Family Homes, Resource Families, and Foster Family Homes, or any governmental entity.

PENALTY NOTICE GIVEN The statement concerning civil penalties serves as a penalty notice on this Licensing Report and failure to correct cited licensing deficiencies will result in civil penalties. Applicants/ licensees are required to pay civil penalties when administrative appeals have been exhausted and in accordance with any payment arrangements made with the licensing agency.

APPEAL RIGHTS The applicant/licensee has a right without prejudice to discuss any disagreement in this report with the licensing agency concerning the proper application of licensing requirements. The applicant/ licensee may request a formal review by the licensing agency to amend or dismiss the notice of deficiency and/ or civil penalty. Requests for review shall be made in writing within 15 business days of receipt of a deficiency notification or civil penalty assessment. Licensing deficiencies may be appealed pursuant to the procedures in the LIC 9058 Applicant/Licensee Rights.

AGENCY REVIEW The licensing agency review of an appeal may be conducted based upon information provided in writing by the applicant/licensee. The applicant/licensee may request an office meeting to provide additional information. The applicant/licensee will be notified in writing of the results of the agency review within 60 business days of the date when all necessary information has been provided to the licensing agency.

EMAIL REQUIREMENT Adult Community Care Facilities, Residential Care Facilities for the Chronically Ill, and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly are required to provide and maintain an active email address of record with the licensing agency.

LIC809 (FAS) - (09/23)
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
MONTEREY PARK CC RO, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: SCHOOL OF LITTLE SCHOLARS
FACILITY NUMBER: 198018027
VISIT DATE: 02/03/2026
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LPA advised for Director to apply slip grip tape on all climbing bars. LPA observed 2 other climbing ladders with worn down step bars. Per Director, she ordered 2 slip grip tapes during visit and will apply them on all bars as a precaution. LPA advised that slip grip tape will get worn down and to replace them every school year. LPA also observed 2 step areas of the structure where the coating material is peeling, exposing rusty metal edges. LPA advised to monitor or cover the peeling coating so children are not exposed to the rust. Photos of rusty step areas were taken. Photos of all climbing ladders were taken during visit. Director order Gorilla Duct Tape to cover the rusty areas.

LPA reviewed ouch report, teacher incident notes, Brightwheel communication follow up to parent regarding how child is doing and child’s file. Parent did not provide facility with any doctors note as there were no restrictions. Per parent, ER doctor recommended natural healing of bruises.

Based on observations and information obtained during this visit, follow up is necessary regarding the safety of the play structure and climbing ladders. No deficiencies are being cited at this time.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Director Betty Castillo.

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NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: Christina Gabelman
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Stephanie Li
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/03/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/03/2026
LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)
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