376600096-8-29-2025-20-CC-JGAY-DLJQAT-20250915120028

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376600096
Report Date: 08/29/2025
Date Signed: 08/29/2025 11:19:49 AM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 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
07/11/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Cindy Meier

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 20-CC-20250711112435

FACILITY NAME:	LA PETITE ACADEMY - EAST J		FACILITY NUMBER:	376600096
ADMINISTRATOR:	TARA REESE		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	798 EAST J STREET		TELEPHONE:	(619) 421-0966
CITY:	CHULA VISTA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	91910
CAPACITY:	108	CENSUS: 44	DATE:	08/29/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	11:00 AM
MET WITH:	Angelica Valderrama		TIME COMPLETED:	12:05 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff did not provide adequate supervision resulting in child sustaining unexplained injuries.
Staff had a verbal altercation in the presence of children in care.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On August 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Cindy Meier conducted an unannounced complaint inspection to deliver the findings for the above allegations. LPA met with Facility Representative, Assistant Director Angelica Valderrama, and advised director of the purpose of the inspection and conducted a tour of the facility. There were forty-four (44) children, and five (5) staff present during the inspection.

During the course of the investigation, interviews were conducted with staff and daycare parents. Documents obtained during the investigation included facility roster, photographs, and text message correspondence.

It was alleged that nearly 1.5 years ago, on 03/21/2024, staff did not provide adequate supervision resulting in daycare child #1 (C1) sustaining a small scratch above the right eye and an ink pen mark above the right ear. It was alleged staff were unaware of how the injury occurred. According to interviews,

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Jason Garay
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Cindy Meier
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/29/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/29/2025

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 20-CC-20250711112435

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR., STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: LA PETITE ACADEMY - EAST J	FACILITY NUMBER: 376600096
	VISIT DATE: 08/29/2025

NARRATIVE

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C1 attended the facility for approximately three (3) days. The five (5) staff interviewed were either not employed by the facility at the time or had little to no recollection of the child or the incident due to the length of time that has elapsed. Former facility director is no longer employed by the licensee and LPA attempts to contact for interview were unsuccessful. Current daycare children were not interviewed due to the time frame and specificity of the alleged incident.

It was also alleged that on 03/21/2024, former facility director (S6) had a verbal altercation, in the facility lobby, with a daycare parent, in the presence of daycare children. The four (4) staff interviewed denied the allegation, stating that S6 maintained a professional demeanor with daycare parents and did not recall her engaging in any verbal altercation during her tenure. The current facility director never worked with S6. One (1) daycare parent reported to have witnessed the verbal altercation and stated they had a similar interaction with S6. LPA was unable to determine the identity of any of the alleged child witnesses; therefore, current daycare children were not interviewed due to the time frame and specificity of the alleged incident.

Based on information obtained it is more likely than not that a verbal interaction occurred; however, there is insufficient evidence to determine if that interaction resulted in a children’s personal rights violation.

Due to conflicting information obtained throughout the course of the investigation and no other witnesses to the alleged incidents, LPA was unable to determine whether or not the allegations occurred. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Facility Representative, Assistant Director Angelica Valderrama.
A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Jason Garay
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Cindy Meier
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/29/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/29/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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