Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 4 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 · June 24, 2026
2.217.A.7 · Correction due June 24, 2026
During the walk through, observed SM7 and SM9 with a group of twenty school-age children. Identified through the Director's statement that SM6 was on break and is the assigned ECT for the school-age group. Reviewed ten staff files and identified SM6, SM7 and SM9's files missing verification of ECT qualifications. Identified SM6 has an open application for an ECPC.
Required correction: Ensure there is at least one ECT supervising each group of children. Correct immediately and respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 7/24/26. Correct by 06/24/2026
2.230.B · Correction due June 24, 2026
Between the bars on the bridge on the preschool climber, identified four bolts each with more than three threads exposed.
Required correction: Ensure all indoor and outdoor equipment, materials, and furnishings is sturdy, safe, and free of hazards. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 7/24/26. Correct by 06/24/2026
2.209.A.7 · Correction due June 24, 2026
Reviewed six children's files and identified Ch6's file missing documetation of a current emergency medical authorization.
Required correction: Obtain documentation of current emergency medical authorization for Ch6 and ensure this is on file for all children. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 7/24/26. Correct by 06/24/2026
2.219.B.2 · Correction due July 24, 2026
Reviewed six children's files and identified two files missing documentation of a health statement (both children have been enrolled for more than thirty days). Identified one file missing documentation of a current health statement.
Required correction: Obtain documentation of current health statements and ensure this is on file for all children. Correct and respond with a statement of compliance by 7/24/26. Correct by 07/24/2026
Supervisory visit · July 16, 2025
2.230.C.1.a · Correction due July 16, 2025
On the preschool playground under the swings, observed approximately 4-5 inches of resilient surfacing (pea gravel). On the toddler playground, observed: -Approximately 1 inch of resilient surfacing (pea gravel) surrounding the yellow slide that has a platform approximately 24 inches in height -A red slide with a platform 18 inches in height placed on turf without resilient surfacing
Required correction: Ensure that all climbing equipment 18 inches or higher has resilient surfacing of at least six inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment. **Partially corrected at the time of visit: the red slide was placed on resilient surfacing.** Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 8/16/25. Correct by 07/16/2025
2.204.B.4 · Correction due July 16, 2025
Identified through documentation and the director's statement that a child several days from turning 12 months old and not yet walking independently was visiting the toddler room for lunch. A doctor's note indicating developmental appropriateness for placement in the toddler program was unavailable for review.
Required correction: Ensure the toddler program provides care for children 12-36 months who are walking independently or who have a doctor's note indicating developmental appropriateness for placement in the toddler program. **Corrected at the time of visit. The infant was transitioned back to the infant room.** No response required. Correct by 07/16/2025
2.227.C.2 · Correction due July 16, 2025
Reviewed eight staff files and identified drivers Jael and Landin's files missing documentation of current Department-approved CPR and First Aid certificates.
Required correction: Ensure all drivers of vehicles owned or leased by the center in which children are transported have current Department-approved CPR and First Aid certificates. Correct immediately and respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 8/16/25. Correct by 07/16/2025
2.213.G
Reviewed eight staff files and identified ECT Jenn's file missing documentation of a current Department-approved child abuse prevention training.
2.213.B · Correction due July 16, 2025
Reviewed eight staff files and identified ECT Jenn's file missing documentation of a current Department-approved standard precautions training.
Required correction: Obtain current Department-approved standard precautions training for Jenn. Correct immediately and respond with verification of compliance by 8/16/25. Correct by 07/16/2025
2.220.K · Correction due July 16, 2025
Reviewed four children's files and identified Ch3's file missing documentation of authorization to apply sunscreen/topical preparations.
Required correction: Obtain written authorization to apply topical preparations and ensure this is on file for all children. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 8/16/25. Correct by 07/16/2025
2.219.B.2
Reviewed four children's files and identified two files missing documentation of current health statements.
Supervisory visit · August 7, 2024
2.217.A.14 · Correction due August 7, 2024
At the beginning of nap time in the preschool classroom which serves a mixed-age group of 2.5-5 year olds, observed 21 children with two teachers. The ratio for this age group is one staff member to ten children. On the preschool playground, observed sixteen school-age children with one teacher. The ratio for this age group is one staff member to fifteen children.
Required correction: Ensure required staff to child ratios are followed at all times. **Corrected at the time of visit. Another teacher came out to the playground with the school-age children so there were two teachers with sixteen children. One child went home from the preschool classroom at nap time, leaving two teachers with twenty preschoolers.** Respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 9/7/24. Correct by 08/07/2024
2.217.A.15 · Correction due August 7, 2024
In the preschool classroom, observed 21 children in a mixed-age group of 2.5-5 year olds. The group size for this age group is twenty children.
Required correction: Ensure group size is not exceeded unless as otherwise specified in rule. **Corrected at the time of visit. One child went home during nap time, leaving a group of twenty children.** Respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 9/7/24. Correct by 08/07/2024
2.230.B · Correction due August 7, 2024
On the preschool playground, observed several exposed nails under the tall bridge on the climber.
Required correction: Ensure all equipment is sturdy, safe, and free of hazards. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 9/7/24. Correct by 08/07/2024
2.220.A · Correction due August 7, 2024
Reviewed three health care plans and identified one prescribed emergency medication to be expired.
Required correction: Obtain unexpired prescribed medication. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 9/7/24. Correct by 08/07/2024
Reviewed eight staff files and identified Emily's file lacking infant program supervisor or infant early childhood teacher qualifications. Identified through Director's statement that Emily is in the process of obtaining ECE endorsement on
2.216.B.2.a · Correction due August 7, 2024
Observed Emily working alone in the infant program. Reviewed eight staff files and identified IPS qualifications for Emily were missing. Identified other staff who were IPS qualified and identified through the Director's statement that IPS qualified staff are not working in the infant program at least sixty percent of the hours of operation of the infant program.
Required correction: Ensure there is a qualified infant program supervisor present sixty percent of the hours of operation of the infant program who is responsible for the care of the infants. Correct immediately and respond with a plan for ongoing compliance by 9/7/24. Correct by 08/07/2024
2.216.B.1.e
Reviewed eight files and identified Emily's file missing documentation of a Department-approved CPR and First Aid certificate. Emily was working alone in the infant room at the time of visit.
Required correction: Ensure there is at least one staff member on duty in the infant room at all times who holds a current Department-approved CPR and First Aid certificate. Correct immediately and respond with a plan for ongoing compliance
2.230.C.1.a · Correction due August 7, 2024
On the preschool playground under the swings, observed approximately two inches of resilient surfacing.
Required correction: Ensure all climbing equipment eighteen inches or higher has resilient surfacing of at least six inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment. Correct immediately and respond with a statement of compliance by 9/7/24. Correct by 08/07/2024
Supervisory visit · September 7, 2023
Correction due September 7, 2023
Reviewed health inspection report and identified it expired as of 10/6/22.
Required correction: Obtain a current and approving health inspection report. Correct immediately and respond with verification of compliance by 10/7/23. Correct by 09/07/2023
7.702.35.A.2 · Correction due October 7, 2023
Reviewed 10 staff files and identified Jocelyn's file lacking documentation of ECT qualifications. Identified through Director statement that Jocelyn is ECT-qualified.
Required correction: Obtain ECT qualifications for Jocelyn and ensure qualifications for all staff are kept on file. Correct and respond with verification of compliance by 10/7/23. Correct by 10/07/2023
7.702.62.C.2.a · Correction due September 7, 2023
In the infant room, 3 cribs with sheets loose enough for specialist to grab with a full fist.
Required correction: Obtain properly fitting sheets. Correct immediately and respond with statement of compliance by 10/7/23. Correct by 09/07/2023
7.702.72.C.1.a · Correction due September 7, 2023
On the preschool playground, observed approximately 1-3 inches of resilient surfacing around the yellow climber. On the toddler playground, observed less than 1 inch of resilient surfacing in front of the yellow slide.
Required correction: Ensure all climbing equipment 18 inches or higher has resilient surfacing of at least 6 inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment. Correct immediately and respond with statement of compliance by 10/7/23. Correct by 09/07/2023
Correction due September 7, 2023
Reviewed 10 staff files and identified Jocelyn's file (DOH: 9/6/23) lacking documentation of CBI and FBI clearance letters. Identified through Director statement that Jocelyn has not yet submitted a criminal background check request. Jocelyn was observed working with children at the time of visit.
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 Jocelyn has reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Correct immediately and submit documentation of CBI and FBI clearance letters for Jocelyn with written response to Specialist by 10/7/23. Correct by 09/07/2023
7.702.72.B · Correction due September 7, 2023
On the preschool climber, observed exposed nails between the wooden boards supporting the tall bridge. Observed wooden boards supporting the climber to be splintering and deteriorating. Observed loose wooden boards on the wooden bridge.
Required correction: Ensure indoor and outdoor equipment, materials, and furnishings are sturdy, safe, and free of hazards. Correct immediately and respond with statement of compliance by 10/7/23. Correct by 09/07/2023
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 Exploring Minds Academy’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 Exploring Minds Academy? 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.