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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376300053
Report Date: 10/17/2025
Date Signed: 10/17/2025 11:37:39 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/12/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Kelly Gerth
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 10-CC-20250812101446
FACILITY NAME:LEARNING JUNGLE ESCONDIDO EASTFACILITY NUMBER:
376300053
ADMINISTRATOR:GUTIERREZ, MARIAFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:1851 E WASHINGTONTELEPHONE:
(760) 745-0115
CITY:ESCONDIDOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92027
CAPACITY:20CENSUS: 7DATE:
10/17/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:29 AM
MET WITH:Site Director Maria Isabel Gutierrez TIME COMPLETED:
12:15 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff handle children in a rough manner.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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 On the above listed date and time, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kelly Gerth made an unannounced visit and met with Learning Jungle Escondido East (CCC) Site Director Maria Isabel Gutierrez to deliver the findings from a complaint made to Community Care Licensing (CCL) on August 12, 2025. The complaint CCL received stated the following allegation(s): Staff yell at children in care, Staff handle children in a rough manner.
On 08/14/2025, LPA Kelly Gerth made an unannounced visit to conduct investigations regarding the complaint of the above allegation(s). During the investigation, confidential interviews were conducted, and evidence was gathered which included rosters of children and staff, photographs, reports, sign in/out logs and communication records. Additional visits and/or interviews were also conducted on 08/21/25, 08/26/25 and 09/04/25.
Regarding the allegation Staff handle children in a rough manner.
See Continuation Page
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelly Gerth
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
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
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/12/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Kelly Gerth
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 10-CC-20250812101446

FACILITY NAME:LEARNING JUNGLE ESCONDIDO EASTFACILITY NUMBER:
376300053
ADMINISTRATOR:GUTIERREZ, MARIAFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:1851 E WASHINGTONTELEPHONE:
(760) 745-0115
CITY:ESCONDIDOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92027
CAPACITY:20CENSUS: 7DATE:
10/17/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:29 AM
MET WITH:Site Director Maria Isabel Gutierrez TIME COMPLETED:
12:15 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
1
2
3
4
5
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7
8
9
Staff yell at children in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
 On the above listed date and time, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kelly Gerth made an unannounced visit and met with Learning Jungle Escondido East (CCC) Site Director Maria Isabel Gutierrez to deliver the findings from a complaint made to Community Care Licensing (CCL) on August 12, 2025. The complaint CCL received stated the following allegation(s): Staff yell at children in care, Staff handle children in a rough manner.
On 08/14/2025, LPA Kelly Gerth made an unannounced visit to conduct investigations regarding the complaint of the above allegation(s). During the investigation, confidential interviews were conducted, and evidence was gathered which included rosters of children and staff, photographs, reports, sign in/out logs and communication records. Additional visits and/or interviews were also conducted on 08/21/25, 08/26/25 and 09/04/25.
Regarding the allegation Staff yell at children in care.
See Continuation Page
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelly Gerth
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
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 5
Control Number 10-CC-20250812101446
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
FACILITY NAME: LEARNING JUNGLE ESCONDIDO EAST
FACILITY NUMBER: 376300053
VISIT DATE: 10/17/2025
NARRATIVE
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Page 2/2

During the investigation, LPA Gerth found that majority of staff interviewed believe that the noise level in the center can be loud due to the size and layout of the facility, and LPA could not corroborate that a specific staff was yelling at children in care at any time, only that some staff members may have a volume that is at times higher than others. During the investigative visits, LPA did observe that due to the layout there were varying levels of volume within the CCC and that voices with a higher-level volume were not harsh in tone and were found to be appropriate. Therefore, at this time there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is UNSUBSTANTIATED.
A copy of this report, appeal rights and Notice of Site Visit were discussed and provided to Facility representative and was reminded that the “Notice of Site Visit” must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in Civil Penalties of $100.00.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelly Gerth
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
Control Number 10-CC-20250812101446
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
FACILITY NAME: LEARNING JUNGLE ESCONDIDO EAST
FACILITY NUMBER: 376300053
VISIT DATE: 10/17/2025
NARRATIVE
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Page 2/2

During the investigation, the Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) identified ongoing concerns related to the quality of care, primarily due to high staff turnover, frequent use of substitute staff, and a lack of permanent classroom teachers. Interviews conducted with staff revealed consistent accounts of stressful classroom environments affecting both children and personnel. These interviews also highlighted inconsistencies in classroom management and teaching approaches, concerns about appropriate supervision, and issues stemming from staff being unfamiliar with the children in their care. Additionally, several staff members reported concerns regarding how certain staff have handled children. These concerns were reportedly been brought to the attention of supervisors. Interviews with parents further supported the allegations, with some expressing unease about how their child(ren) may have been treated by staff during daycare hours. Therefore, based on the evidence collected, corroborating interviews conducted, and information gathered, LPA found that the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

See 9099 D for deficiency issued for CCR 101223(a)(2)

A copy of this report, appeal rights and Notice of Site Visit were discussed and provided to Facility representative and was reminded that the “Notice of Site Visit” must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in Civil Penalties of $100.00.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelly Gerth
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5
Control Number 10-CC-20250812101446
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501

FACILITY NAME: LEARNING JUNGLE ESCONDIDO EAST
FACILITY NUMBER: 376300053
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/17/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
10/29/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(2)
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(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights; (2) To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishings and equipment to meet his/her needs. This requirement was not met as evidenced by;
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By the Plan of Correction (POC) date, the Licensee/Facility Representative agrees to conduct in-person training on Personal Rights for all child care center (CCC) staff. The training will include the participation of the Regional Operations Manager and will specifically address the cited personal rights regulation. The Licensee/Facility Representative will submit all training materials, along with the staff attendance sign-in sheet, to CCL by the POC date.
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Based on interviews, evidence collected and records reviewed, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above where it was found that the allegation Staff handle children in a rough manner is Substantiated, Which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons 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: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelly Gerth
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/17/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5