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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376700652
Report Date: 08/26/2026
Date Signed: 08/26/2026 03:11:14 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. 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
04/13/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Evelyn Reyes
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 51-CC-20260413144652
FACILITY NAME:LEARNING TREE, THEFACILITY NUMBER:
376700652
ADMINISTRATOR:AMANDA SMAZIKFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:240 BIRMINGHAM DRIVETELEPHONE:
(760) 943-0848
CITY:CARDIFF BY THE SEASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92007
CAPACITY:72CENSUS: 13DATE:
08/26/2026
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:42 AM
MET WITH:Teacher Alana SalasTIME COMPLETED:
03:20 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Unqualified staff are providing care and supervision to children in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 08/26/2026 at 10:42 a.m., Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Evelyn Reyes conducted an unannounced complaint visit regarding the above allegation from a complaint received on 04/13/2026. LPA met with Teacher Alana Salas, identified self, stated the purpose of the visit, and was granted entry into the facility. LPA observed 13 children present in care with 3 staff.
It was alleged that the unqualified staff are providing care and supervision to children in care at the facility. During the investigation, LPA conducted a review of facility records and interviews with staff, which confirmed that the facility has unqualified staff that have/are providing care and supervision to children in care. Continue on page 2.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Evelyn Reyes
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/26/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/26/2026
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 51-CC-20260413144652
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

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

FACILITY NAME: LEARNING TREE, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 376700652
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 08/26/2026
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
09/25/2026
Section Cited
CCR
101216.1(b)(1)
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101216.1 Teacher Qualifications and Duties
(b)Prior to employment, a teacher shall meet the requirements of (b)(1) or (b)(2)
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Teacher Alana Salas stated she will work with the Director, Cheryl Burns, for the facility to work on the personnel requirement to hire staff with the minimum education/supervised field experience in a licensed day care center or comparable group child care program and inform LPA once completed before or on 09/25/26.
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Based upon staff interviews the requirement was not met by the center by hiring multiple staff without education requirements, or Child Development Assistance Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing who have/are providing care and supervision to children in care at the facility without the supervision of a fully qualified teacher who prior to employment have the education requirement and at least six months of work experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.
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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.
SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Evelyn Reyes
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/26/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/26/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3
Control Number 51-CC-20260413144652
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
FACILITY NAME: LEARNING TREE, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 376700652
VISIT DATE: 08/26/2026
NARRATIVE
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The investigation determined that prior to employment, the facility hired staff without the education requirement, or Child Development Assistance Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing who have/are providing care and supervision to children in care at the facility without the supervision of a fully qualified teacher who prior to employment have the education requirement and at least six months of work experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.

During interviews staff admitted that prior to employment multiple teachers did not have the minimum requirements prior to employment. LPA advised staff that the facility must have the proper minimum requirements for staff to care for and supervise children at the facility. Although multiple staff enrolled in postsecondary school after hire date at this facility to attempt to meet the education requirement LPA observed during visits on 04/22/26, 05/08/26, 05/20/26, 07/02/26, 08/06/26, 08/26/26 multiple staff caring and supervising children without the minimum qualifications.

Teacher Alana Salas stated she will work with the Director, Cheryl Burns, for the facility to work on the personnel requirement to hire staff with the minimum education/supervised field experience in a licensed day care center or comparable group child care program and inform LPA once completed before or on 09/25/26.

Based on the information obtained during interviews and documentation reviewed, it is determined that the allegation is valid because the preponderance of the evidence has been met. Therefore, the allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12, Section 101212(d)(1)(C) is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D. An exit interview was conducted, and the report was reviewed with Teacher Alana Salas. A Notice of Site Visit was issued and must remain posted for 30 days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Evelyn Reyes
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/26/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/26/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3