Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 5 of the 10 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.
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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.
Limited Supervisory visit · August 19, 2025
2.223.A.2 · Correction due August 19, 2025
At the time of inspection, the specialist asked SM1 how many children were in the Preschool Classroom and SM1 indicated there were 8 children ages 3 years and older, and the specialist counted 9 children. After attendance verification, the specialist determined that one child had just arrived and was not added to the attendance roster.
Required correction: The time a child arrives and leaves the center each day must be recorded. At the time of inspection the teacher did add the child to the attendance roster, and was corrected. Sumbit a written response of compliance to the specialist , Correct by 08/19/2025
2.229.C · Correction due August 19, 2025
In the toddler classroom observed a low unlocked cabinet under the diaper changer, behind the unlocked cabinet there were bins with diaper cream and wipes labeled "keep out of reach" accessible to children.
Required correction: Items labled "keep out of reach of children" must be inaccessible to children. ****Corrected at the time of inspection, the Owner locked the diaper changing cabinet, making the items inaccessible to children. No response is required. Correct by 08/19/2025
Limited Supervisory visit · July 28, 2025
2.223.D.5.a.1 · Correction due July 28, 2025
In the Twos Classroom, observed costs to be less than 1 ft apart on the carpeted area.
Required correction: Immediately, cots or pads must be spaced at least 2 feet apart on all sides during rest time. Submit a written statement of compliance to the Licensing Specialist. Correct by 07/28/2025
Limited Supervisory visit · July 3, 2025
2.229.C · Correction due July 3, 2025
In the Preschool classroom, observed wipes labeled "keep out of reach of children" on the sink in the bathroom accessible to children.
Required correction: Immediately, items labeled "keep out of reach of children" must be inaccessible to children. Corrected at the time of the visit. The teacher moved the wipes to a high shelf making them inaccessible to children. No response is required. Correct by 07/03/2025
Supervisory visit · November 18, 2024
2.229.C · Correction due November 18, 2024
In the Preschool Bathroom, I observed wipes labeled "keep out of reach of children" on the sink in the bathroom accessible to children.
Required correction: Items labeled "keep out of reach of children" must be inaccessible to children. Submit a written response of compliance to the specialist. ****Corrected at time of inspection, The Director moved all the wipes labeled "keep out of reach of children" to a high shelf making the items inaccessible to children. No response required. Correct by 11/18/2024
2.223.C.2.a · Correction due November 18, 2024
In the Infant B classroom specialist observed a crib sheet on the mattress causing the mattress to bow inward in the shape of a "U".
Required correction: Mattresses for cribs and futons must have a properly fitted, clean sheet. Submit a written response of compliance to the specialist. ***Corrected at the time of inspection, The Assistant Director fixed the sheet to properly fit on the mattress. No response is required. Correct by 11/18/2024
In the Infant B Classroom observed a boppy pillow several books, and small containers stored underneath
2.232.A.3 · Correction due November 18, 2024
On the Preschool Playground observed a broken wood panel creating a gap between in the fence causing a potential hazard to the children.
Required correction: The play area must be fenced or have natural barriers such as hedges or stationary walls at least four feet high to restrict children from unsafe areas. Submit a written response of complance to the specialist. Correct by 11/18/2024
2.213.E · Correction due November 18, 2024
At the time of inspection reviewed 11 staff files and observed 11 staff on duty who do not hold a current Department-approved First Aid and CPR certification.
Required correction: There must be at least one staff member on duty who holds a current Department-approved first aid and CPR certification. Submit a written response of compliance. Correct by 11/18/2024
Supervisory visit · December 21, 2023
2.230.B · Correction due December 21, 2023
On the toddler playground observed gaps under the fence causing a potential hazard to children. On the Preschool playground observed gaps in the wood panels in the fence and another gap at the bottom of the fence. The fence on the Preschool playground is wobbly causing potential hazards to children.
Required correction: Outdoor equipment must be sturdy, safe and free of hazards. Submit a written corrective action plan to specialist. Correct by 12/21/2023
2.121.D.4.a
Reviewed 11 staff files and observed Audrey L. and Kayla H. to be missing documentation of FBI clearance. Audrey L. and Kayla H both have CBI clearance. At the time of inspection Audrey was working in the Preschool Classroom alone with children ages 3-4 years old.
Required correction: Criminal background check request must be successfully completed prior to an individual caring for children or allowing individual unsupervised access to children in child care centers. Assistant Director moved Audrey to another
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 Kid City USA Highlands Ranch’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 Kid City USA Highlands Ranch? 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.