Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 9 of the 18 visits below. Across Denver centers it cites something at about 55% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Denver with Denver and never with another state.
Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood lists each program’s complaints on its Colorado Shines page, with the department’s verdict on each and a report behind it, going back about three years. Older complaints are released only on request. The department does not rank complaints by severity in either place.
Supervisory visit · June 11, 2026
2.229.L · Correction due June 11, 2026
2 small pieces of chalk on the toddler playground, posing a potential choking hazard.
Required correction: Materials that could pose a choking hazard must not be accessible to children, correct immediately 6/11/26. *Corrected at time of inspection, Director removed the chalk from the playground. No response is required. Correct by 06/11/2026
2.230.B · Correction due June 11, 2026
grip tape on a bridge on the toddler playground to be loose posing a potential tripping hazard.
Required correction: Materials must be safe and free of hazards, correct immediately 6/11/26. *Corrected at time of inspection, Director removed the tape. No response is required. Correct by 06/11/2026
No staff with current medication delegation was available to review.
Limited Supervisory visit · November 11, 2025
2.230.B · Correction due November 11, 2025
In the preschool classroom, a cord plugged into the wall but not into a device. Previously cited on 10/14/2025.
Required correction: Indoor and outdoor equipment, materials, and furnishings must be sturdy, safe, and free from hazards. Correct immediately. Corrected at the time of inspection, the Director removed the cord completely to the locked kitchen and informed staff that it is to stay in the kitchen area. No response required. Correct by 11/11/2025
Limited Supervisory visit · October 14, 2025
2.230.B · Correction due October 14, 2025
A charging cord plugged into the wall, but not into a device in the preschool room, accessible to children.
Required correction: Indoor and outdoor equipment, materials, and furnishings must be sturdy, safe, and free from hazards. Correct immediately. Corrected at the time of inspection, the Assistant Director moved the cord to be inaccessible. No Response required. Correct by 10/14/2025
Limited Supervisory visit · August 20, 2025
2.230.C.1.c · Correction due August 20, 2025
On the Pre-K playground, the resilient material compacted.
Required correction: Loose fill resilient material must be raked regularly to retain its resiliency. Correct immediately. Correct by 08/20/2025
2.237.H · Correction due August 20, 2025
In the Pre-K Casita room, two string lights to have an additional plug on the back that was not covered at floor level.
Required correction: All electrical outlets that are accessible to children must have protective covers. Correct immediately. Corrected at the time of inspection, the Assistant Director covered the outlets. No response required. Correct by 08/20/2025
Supervisory visit · June 25, 2025
2.133.B · Correction due June 25, 2025
Reviewed 7 staff files and found no documentation that the staff have been trained on the use of available fire extinguishers.
Required correction: Obtain and maintain documentation that the staff have been trained on the use of available fire extinguishers. Correct immediately. Correct by 06/25/2025
2.216.B.1.c · Correction due June 25, 2025
Reviewed 7 staff files and found Sejal Y. to be assigned as an infant teacher with no documentation of an orientation.
Required correction: Obtain and maintain documentation that infant staff have completed an 8 hour orientation training. Correct immediately. Correct by 06/25/2025
2.230.C.1.a · Correction due June 25, 2025
The slides on the Preschool Playground and the Pre-K playground to have only 3-4 inches on resilient material.
Required correction: All climbing equipment over 18 inches must have at least 6 inches of resilient material. Correct immediately. Corrected at the time of inspection, Director raked the wood chips. No response required. Correct by 06/25/2025
2.212.G · Correction due July 25, 2025
Reviewed 7 staff files and found Grace H (DOH 5/19/25) and Sejal Y. (DOH 7/21/23) to be missing a medical statement.
Required correction: Obtain and maintain documentation of a medical statement for all staff. Correct within 30 days. Correct by 07/25/2025
2.133.A · Correction due June 25, 2025
Reviewed 7 staff files and found Grace H. to be missing the Department-approved Emergency and Disaster Preparedness training.
Required correction: Obtain and maintain documentation that Grace has completed the Department-approved Emergency and Disaster Preparedness training. Correct immediately. Correct by 06/25/2025
Probationary visit · May 1, 2024
2.229.L · Correction due May 1, 2024
At time of inspection a Melissa and Doug puzzle with a manufacture label of 4+ was on a low shelf, accessible to children, in the infant room. This is a direct violation of stipulation P on the probationary license. Probationary stipulation P states "Choking hazards must be inaccessible to children under three (3) years of age".
Required correction: Toy's with a manufacture label of 4+ must be inaccessible to children under the age of 4. Corrected at the time of visit: Jenny removed the puzzle to the storage area. No written response needed. Correct by 05/01/2024
At time of inspection, the gate to the kitchen in the Toddler classroom was open. This is a direct violation of stipulation Q on the probationary license. Probationary stipulation Q states “Licensee shall ensure all indoor and outdoor play areas are maintained in safe condition and that hazardous, high-risk areas are made inaccessible to children.”
Limited Supervisory visit · January 9, 2024
2.229.C · Correction due January 9, 2024
In preschool bathroom, observed a bottle of air freshener with a manufacture label of "keep out of reach of children", this bottle was in the shower behind a plastic curtain, and within reach of children.
Required correction: Immediately, all items with a manufacture label of 'keep out of reach of children' must be inaccessible to all children. Corrected at the time of visit: Jenny removed the bottle to an area that is gated off from children. No response needed. Correct by 01/09/2024
Supervisory visit · December 11, 2023
7.701.33.D.5 · Correction due December 18, 2023
Reviewed 9 staff files, identified Christina H. missing a current FBI clearance letter.
Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) webpage PowerPoint. Submit verification that staff member Christina has reviewed the PowerPoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of FBI, Clearance Letters for staff member Christina, with a written response to the Specialist. Correct by 12/18/2023
Limited Supervisory visit · November 15, 2023
7.702.71.H · Correction due November 15, 2023
In the Casita classroom, observed an unlocked drawer in the kitchen that had an adult knif. This was accessible to children.
Required correction: Immediately on 11/15/23, all sharp tools must inaccessible to children. Corrected at the time of visit: Jennifer removed knife to a locked cabinet. No response needed. Correct by 11/15/2023
The Department of Early Childhood keeps about three years of complaints on a program’s public page. Anything older is released only on request, as a single file covering the whole state. Shortlist asked for that file under the Colorado Open Records Act and renews it yearly; it is what this page shows for complaints older than the department’s own window.
The file this page is built from arrived on September 13, 2026 and covers complaints the department publishes today, and complaints back to January 2023 obtained by records request. The next request goes in September 2027.
The department publishes a report for each of these visits. Shortlist has not read those reports yet, so this page shows when the state came and not what it found.
The department will also review one program’s complete file on request, which is more than either source above contains. Leave your email and Shortlist will ask for Colorado Academy Early Childhood Programs’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.
Sick and biting policies.
Ask which of these findings were serious, and what changed.Colorado Department of Early Childhood publishes a correction deadline, never whether the work was done or how serious it was.
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.
Not yet reported: who teaches here.
Not yet reported: ages served, days / week.
Pricing per provider website, checked July 2026.
Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.
Do you run Colorado Academy Early Childhood Programs? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.