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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198020157
Report Date: 10/13/2022
Date Signed: 10/13/2022 03:10:46 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/06/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20220906150828
FACILITY NAME:LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
198020157
ADMINISTRATOR:ESTHER CHOEFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:213 S HOBART BLVDTELEPHONE:
(213) 380-6236
CITY:LOS ANGELESSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90004
CAPACITY:6CENSUS: 6DATE:
10/13/2022
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
01:00 PM
MET WITH:Esther Choe TIME COMPLETED:
02:30 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Facility is commingling children
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Esther Choe.

During the course of this investigation LPA Lee conducted interviews, reviewed records, and made observations in regards to the above allegation.

The complaint alleges that the facility commingles children from different age groups by having 1 staff member watch over children from the infant license and the preschool license. During a previous inspection conducted on 09/15/22 LPA Lee reviewed the sign in sheets for the children. LPA Lee also verified which staff member was present on that date including the time of their arrival. LPA Lee observed that Staff#1 opened at 8AM on 09/15/22 and was the only qaulified staff member present until another staff member arrived at 8:30AM on that date. LPA Lee observed that on 09/15/22 1 infant arrived at 8AM and 1 child in the preschool program arrived at 8:20AM. Based on the documents that were reviewed by LPA Lee, it was observed that on 09/15/22 from 8:20AM until 8:30AM Staff#1 was with 1 child fron the infant license and 1 child from the preschool license.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/13/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/13/2022
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 33-CC-20220906150828
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020157
VISIT DATE: 10/13/2022
NARRATIVE
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A file review conducted for Staff#1 verified that Staff#1 had the qualifying units to provide care for preschool and infant children. Although Staff#1 had the qualifications to be alone with 2 children in the facility, the 2 children that were present on 09/15/22 were from different licenses of the facility. Therefore, for about 10 minutes on 09/15/22 from 8:20AM until 8:30AM the facility was commingling children which is an immediate risk to children in care.

Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the allegation that facility is commingling children has been substantiated. California Code of Regulations,(Title 22, Division 12 & Chapter Number 6), is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

Facility was advised that the form LIC 9224 will need to provided to all enrolled and future parents of children in care for 1 year from the date of this report.

The notice of site inspection along with all pages of this report must remain posted for a period of 30 days during business hours. Failure to maintain posting during business hours will result in a civil penalty of $100.00 dollars.

Exit interview conducted with Director Esther Choe.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/13/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/13/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
Control Number 33-CC-20220906150828
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: LA FIRST MONTESSORI SCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020157
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/13/2022
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
10/13/2022
Section Cited
CCR
101161(a)
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Limitations on Capacity and Ambulatory Status
A licensee shall not operate a child care center beyond the conditions and limitations specified on the license, including the capacity limitation. This requirement was not met as evidenced by the fact that on 09/15/22 from 8:20AM until 8:30AM Staff#1 was providing care for 2 children from separate licenses.
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Director stated that she will ensure that staff members will be scheduled so that there is more that 1 staff member available in the mornings to prevent commingling children moving forward.
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1 child from the infant license and 1 child from the preschool license. This an immediete risk to children in care.
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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: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/13/2022
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/13/2022
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5