<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 370805497
Report Date: 05/21/2026
Date Signed: 05/21/2026 03:10:36 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR., STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/15/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Dana Stevens
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 20-CC-20260515141447
FACILITY NAME:KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER - VIA MERCADOFACILITY NUMBER:
370805497
ADMINISTRATOR:MARCELA ZAVALAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:3655 VIA MERCADOTELEPHONE:
(619) 670-9388
CITY:LA MESASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91941
CAPACITY:83CENSUS: 65DATE:
05/21/2026
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:00 AM
MET WITH:Marcela ZavalaTIME COMPLETED:
03:15 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Staff left a child in the restroom unattended.
Staff did not comply with reporting requirements.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
On 05/21/2026 Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Dana Stevens conducted an unannounced complaint inspection in regard to the above allegations. LPA met with Director, Marcela Zavala, and discussed the allegations. LPA toured the facility. The following ratios were observed:
2's room - 21 children with 2 staff.
Preschool A - 12 children with 1 staff.
Preschool B - 20 children with 2 staff.
Pre-K - 12 children with 1 staff.

LPA conducted interviews with Director, and three (3) staff. During interview Director stated that 2-3 weeks ago on an undetermined date, she was informed by Staff 2 (S2) that Staff 3 (S3) found Child 1 (C1) in the preschool restroom without staff supervision. C1 was found to be unharmed and was returned to their classroom by S3. Director stated she interviewed the staff assigned to C1's classroom and those staff confirmed that C1 was left unsupervised in the restroom for a short, but undetermined, period of time.

During interviews, all staff provided similar information as provided by Director. All staff stated they were unable to recall the specific date of this incident but estimated it occurred 2-3 weeks ago. All staff interviewed estimated C1 was left unsupervised in the preschool restroom for 2-3 minutes. Director stated she did not report this incident to licensing.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Rajani Goudreau
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dana Stevens
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/21/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/21/2026
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 3
Control Number 20-CC-20260515141447
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR., STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER - VIA MERCADO
FACILITY NUMBER: 370805497
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 05/21/2026
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
05/28/2026
Section Cited
CCR
101229(a)(1)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
**This is an amended version of origianl report dated 05/21/2026**101229 Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision (a)The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs.(1)No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher...This requirement was not met as evidenced by:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Director will ensure training on Active Supervision is provided to all Preschool staff. Director will also provide a written plan of operation detailing how staff will ensure constant visual supervision of children is maintained during restroom breaks and transitions.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Based on interviews the facility did not comply with the section cited above, when C1 was left without supervision in the preschool restroom for estimated 2-3 minutes, which posed an immediate Health and Safety risk for children in care.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Type B
05/28/2026
Section Cited
CCR
101212(d)(1)(C)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
**This is an amended version of origianl report dated 05/21/2026**101212(d)(1)(C) Reporting Requirements (d) Upon the occurrence...of any of the events specified in (d)(1) below, a report shall be made to the Department...(1)Events reported shall include...(C)Any...child absence. This requirement was not met as evidenced by:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Director will provide an Unusual Incident Report (LIC624) to Licensing reporting C1's absence.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Based on interviews, the Director did not report to licensing that C1 was left without supervision in the preschool restroom for estimated 2-3 minutes, which posed a potential Health and Safety risk for children in care.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Rajani Goudreau
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dana Stevens
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 20-CC-20260515141447
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR., STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
FACILITY NAME: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER - VIA MERCADO
FACILITY NUMBER: 370805497
VISIT DATE: 05/21/2026
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
Based on interviews, the preponderance of evidence standard is met and the above allegations are found to be Substantiated.

Per California Code of Regulations, (Title 22, division 12 & Chapter 1) one (1) Type A citation and one (1) Type B citation are being cited on the attached LIC 9009-D.

LPA Stevens informed Director that this report dated 05/21/2026 document(s) one (1) Type A citation which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is immediate risk(s) to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPA Stevens informed the Director to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 05/21/2026 that documents the Type A citation to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

Exit interview conducted and copy of this report and appeal rights provided to Director. Notice of site visit must be posted for thirty (30) days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Rajani Goudreau
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Dana Stevens
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/21/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/21/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3