Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 3 of the 4 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.
Not yet reported: ages served, hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.
This provider does not publish pricing.
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 · September 3, 2025
2.220.A · Correction due September 3, 2025
Reviewed four health care plans and associated medications and identified two health care plans to be expired, one health care plan indicating an over-the-counter emergency medication that was not available on site, and one health care plan not signed by the parents.
Required correction: Obtain current health care plans, all indicated medications, and written parental consent for medication administration. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 10/3/25. Correct by 09/03/2025
In the infant room, observed cloud art made of cotton balls hanging over the cribs and a sensory board made of sequins hanging on the wall at child level.
2.121.D.4.a · Correction due September 3, 2025
Reviewed twelve staff files and identified SM9's file missing documentation of a CBI clearance letter.
Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review 'Navigating the Background Check', the Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint on the CDEC website. Submit verification (via email) that SM1 has reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Correct immediately and submit documentation of CBI clearance letter for SM9 with written response to Specialist by 10/3/25. Correct by 09/03/2025
2.220.G.2 · Correction due September 3, 2025
Identified an emergency medication to be in a lock box inside of a locked cabinet inside the classroom while the class was on the playground. Documentation of the CCHC's recommendation of storing emergency medications was unavailable for review.
Required correction: Ensure staff carry emergency medication when away from the classroom. **Corrected at the time of visit. The emergency medication was placed in the emergency backpack and taken outside with the class.** No response required. Correct by 09/03/2025
2.209.A.7 · Correction due September 3, 2025
Reviewed four children's files and identified two files missing current written authorization by parents/guardians for emergency medical care.
Required correction: Obtain current written authorization by parents/guardians for emergency medical care for all children. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 10/3/25. Correct by 09/03/2025
2.219.B.2 · Correction due October 3, 2025
Reviewed four children's files and identified two files missing current health statements.
Required correction: Obtain current health statements for all children. Correct and respond with a statement of compliance by 10/3/25. Correct by 10/03/2025
2.216.B.1.a
Reviewed twelve staff files and identified the assigned infant program supervisor does not yet meet infant program supervisor qualifications.
Required correction: Ensure the infant program has a qualified infant program supervisor. Correct immediately and respond with a
Complaint · February 7, 2025
2.230.C.1.a
In the gym, observed children climbing on a portable tumbling block eighteen inches high that did not have resilient surfacing in the use zone of the equipment.
Required correction: Ensure all climbing equipment eighteen inches or higher has resilient surfacing of at least six inches in the use
2.217.A.15 · Correction due February 7, 2025
On the toddler playground, observed two classrooms together totaling thirteen toddlers aged 12-36 months. The group size for this age group is ten toddlers.
Required correction: Ensure group size for toddlers is not exceeded. **Corrected at the time of visit. The staff brought one of the classrooms inside, bringing the toddlers into required group sizes.** No response required. Correct by 02/07/2025
2.121.D.4.a · Correction due February 7, 2025
Reviewed three staff files and identified ECT Kelly's file missing documentation of a CBI letter. Observed an FBI letter for Kelly, indicating background checks had been completed.
Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review 'Navigating the Background Check', the Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint on the CDEC website. Submit verification (via email) that Director Crystal has reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Correct immediately and submit documentation of CBI clearance letter for Kelly with written response to Specialist by 2/14/25. Correct by 02/07/2025
Complaint · February 7, 2025
Unfounded
The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record and publishes an investigation report for it. Shortlist has not read that report, so this row includes no citation detail.
Supervisory visit · October 1, 2024
2.219.B.1
Reviewed six children's files and identified five files missing documentation of immunization status or certificate of exemption.
Required correction: Obtain documentation of immunization status or certificate of exemption for all children. Correct immediately
2.133.A · Correction due October 1, 2024
Reviewed thirteen staff files and identified IPS Jenna missing documentation of a Department-approved training in emergency and disaster preparedness.
Required correction: Obtain documentation of a Department-approved emergency and disaster preparedness training for Jenna. Correct immediately and respond with verification of compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
2.121.J.1 · Correction due October 1, 2024
Reviewed thirteen staff files and identified Kaleigh's (DOH: 10/2023) and Brianna's (DOH: 5/2024) files missing documentation of an out-of-state clearance letter. Both Kaleigh and Brianna have lived out of state in the last five years.
Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review 'Navigating the Background Check', the Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint on the CDEC website. Submit verification (via email) that Directors Emma and Elizabeth have reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Correct immediately and submit documentation of out-of-state clearance letters for Kaleigh and Brianna with written response to Specialist by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
Reviewed thirteen staff files and identified Director Emma, ECT Kaleigh, and Aide Anthony's files to be missing documentation of current Department-approved standard precautions training.
2.213.C · Correction due October 1, 2024
Reviewed thirteen staff files and identified IPS Paige's and Director Emma's files missing documentation of current Department-approved safe sleep training.
Required correction: Obtain current Department-approved safe sleep training for all staff working with infants less than 12 months old. Correct immediately and respond with verification of compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
2.213.G · Correction due October 1, 2024
Reviewed thirteen staff files and identified Director Emma's, ECT Kaleigh's, and Aide Anthony's files to be missing documentation of current Department-approved child abuse prevention training. All staff have been employed for more than thirty days.
Required correction: Obtain current Department-approved child abuse prevention training for all staff. Correct immediately and respond with verification of compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
Reviewed thirteen staff files and identified there were no staff on duty in the toddler program with current documentation of Department-approved CPR and First Aid certification.
2.219.B.2 · Correction due October 31, 2024
Reviewed six children's files and identified four files missing documentation of a health statement. Children missing health statements had been enrolled for at least 30 days.
Required correction: Obtain health statements for all children. Correct and respond with a statement of compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/31/2024
2.230.C.1.d
In the gym, observed a rock wall over 18 inches tall, with a large blue mat underneath for resilient surfacing, accessible to children. Documentation from the manufacturer showing the mat meets federal safety standards was not available for review at the time of visit. Previously cited on 7/8/24.
2.230.B · Correction due October 1, 2024
On the toddler playground, observed a gap of approximately 1/4-1/2 inch between the climber platform and the slide, accessible to children and posing a potential safety hazard.
Required correction: Ensure all indoor and outdoor equipment is sturdy, safe, and free of hazards. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
2.220.G.1 · Correction due October 1, 2024
Some emergency medications were being stored in a locked cabinet in the teacher's lounge. Documentation of the child care health consultant's recommended storage plan for emergency medications was unavailable for review at the time of visit.
Required correction: Obtain documentation of the child care health consultant's recommended storage plan for medications and/or ensure all emergency medications are easily accessible to staff. Correct immediately and respond with verification and/or a plan for ongoing compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
2.220.A
Reviewed four health care plans and identified one health care plan to be expired.
Required correction: Obtain current health care plan. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 10/31/24.
2.233.A.3 · Correction due October 1, 2024
Identified through documentation and the Director's statement that in the Owl classroom, licensed for 2.5-6 year old children, children younger than 2.5 years old are being cared for. The room is currently being used to care for children 2-3 years old.
Required correction: Ensure rooms licensed for specific ages of children are not used for other ages of children without prior written approval. Correct immediately and respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
2.127.C · Correction due October 1, 2024
Missing posting of complaint procedure in a prominent and conspicuous location.
Required correction: Ensure at all times during the operating hours of the facility there is a posting in a prominent and conspicuous location regarding the procedures for filing a complaint with CDEC. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 10/31/24. Correct by 10/01/2024
Original visit · November 1, 2023
Correction due December 1, 2023
Facility has not yet obtained health and fire approval. Health and fire inspection reports were not available for review.
Required correction: Obtain health and fire department approval. Correct and respond with verification of compliance by 12/1/23. Correct by 12/01/2023
7.701.33.J.1.a.b.c · Correction due December 1, 2023
Reviewed 11 staff files and identified Director Becca's file lacking documentation of an out-of-state clearance letter. Becca has lived out-of-state in the last 5 years.
Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review 'Navigating the Background Check', the Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint on the CDEC website. Submit verification (via email) that Director Becca has reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Correct and submit documentation of an out-of-state clearance letter for Becca with written response to Specialist by 12/1/23. Correct by 12/01/2023
7.702.71.M · Correction due December 1, 2023
In the gym, a large glass mirror mounted to the wall.
Required correction: Ensure all materials, furnishings, and equipment are not made of easily breakable plastic or glass. Correct and respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 12/1/23. Correct by 12/01/2023
7.702.72.B
On the preschool playground: areas of the fence splintering; the wooden posts holding up the awning near the sandbox have large areas of peeling paint. On the preschool climber: on the yellow metal ladder, areas of peeling paint with rusting metal underneath; on the climber steps and platform peeling rubber coating with rusting metal underneath.
Required correction: Ensure all indoor and outdoor equipment is sturdy, safe, and free of hazards. Correct and respond with a plan
7.702.81.C.2 · Correction due December 1, 2023
Infants will have to go through the Two's room to get to the playground.
Required correction: Ensure the toddler program is completely separate for other age groups. Correct and respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 12/1/23. Correct by 12/01/2023
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 1, 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 Children's Academy of Flatirons’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.
Cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, 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.
All checked July 2026.
Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.
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 Children's Academy of Flatirons? 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.