Lester Arnold Early Learning Center

Center · Commerce City · 7133 E 73rd Ave

What kind of place is this?

Size 90 children licensed In the middle half for Denver centers, where the middle half licenses 40–113. Measured across 1,156 Denver centers, 2026-08-17.

Who runs it

Ownership Government-run Colorado Department of Early Childhood records this as a programme operated by a public school district. data.colorado.gov

How this compares

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.

Will it fit our family?

Not yet reported: ages served, hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Colorado Shines Level 1
License status Active

State record — Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Last visit
February 19, 2026
On file
4 visits since April 2024 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was February 19, 2026. Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish whether it was made.
Most serious
Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.

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.

Feb 2026 Supervisory visit 3 findings

Supervisory visit · February 19, 2026

2.229.G · Correction due February 19, 2026

In room #162 there was a loose plastic bag in an unlocked cabinet accessible to children.

Required correction: Ensure that loose plastic bags are inaccessible at all times. Correct immediately. ** Corrected at time of visit by removing the loose plastic bag from the classroom and making safe. No response required. Correct by 02/19/2026

2.229.M

In room #160 there was a glass jar holding pens on a low shelf, accessible to children.

2.230.B · Correction due February 19, 2026

In Room #161 there were 2 tech cords plugged into the wall and not plugged into devices. The charging end was drawing power and posed a potential shock hazard to children.

Required correction: Ensure that indoor and outdoor areas are free from hazards. Correct immediately. ** Corrected at time of visit by unplugging the charging cords from the walls and putting safety covers in the empty power sockets. No response required. Correct by 02/19/2026

State records file

Mar 2025 Supervisory visit 5 findings

Supervisory visit · March 13, 2025

2.222.A.1.b · Correction due March 13, 2025

In room #161- wipes were accessible to children

Required correction: Ensure that diapering supplies are inaccessible to children at all times. Correct immediately 3/13/25 ** Corrected at time of visit by making inaccessible. No response required. Correct by 03/13/2025

2.223.D.4.c · Correction due March 13, 2025

In room # 161 there was a napping mat with a child resting on it without a sheet.

Required correction: Ensure that all napping mats have sheets on them. Correct immediately 3/13/25 ** Corrected at time of visit by putting a sheet on the mat. No response required. Correct by 03/13/2025

In room #162 napping mats were less than 2 ft. apart and children were resting on them.

2.229.C · Correction due March 13, 2025

In room #160 there was Lotion, hand sanitizer and a first aid ice pack accessible to children and all were labeled "keep out of reach of children".

Required correction: Ensure that items labeled "keep out of reach" are inaccessible to children at all times. Correct immediately 3/13/25 ** Corrected at time of visit by making inaccessible. No response required. Correct by 03/13/2025

2.229.M · Correction due March 13, 2025

In room # 160 there was a breakable ceramic jar and in room # 165 there was a breakable flower vase, all were accessible to children.

Required correction: Ensure that breakable items are inaccessible to children at all times. Correct immediately 3/13/25 ** Corrected at time of visit by making inaccessible. No response required. Correct by 03/13/2025

State records file

Sep 2024 Supervisory visit 5 findings

Supervisory visit · September 11, 2024

2.127.D · Correction due September 11, 2024

All classrooms missing the posted capacity & ratio.

Required correction: In all classrooms of a child care facility there must be a posted capacity and ratio. Correct immediately, 9/11/24. *****Corrected at time of visit by posting capacities & ratios. No response required. Correct by 09/11/2024

2.229.C · Correction due September 11, 2024

In room 162, Clorex wipes and cleaners labeled "keep out of reach of children" in a unlocked cabinet accessible to children

Required correction: Items labeled "keep out of reach of children" must be inaccessible to children, at all times. Correct immediately, 9/11/24. *****Corrected at time of visit by putting a child safety latch on cabinet. No response required. Correct by 09/11/2024

In room is 162 software wires and outlet hanging down posing a potential hazard,

2.237.H · Correction due September 11, 2024

In the hallway between room 162 & 161, an electrical outlet without a protective cover.

Required correction: In rooms used by children, all electrical outlets that are accessible to children must have protective covers. Correct immediately, 9/11/24. *****Corrected at time of visit by putting a protective cover over outlet. No response required, Correct by 09/11/2024

2.138.A · Correction due September 11, 2024

Only 1 fire drill has been conducted so far. No tornado drills.

Required correction: Fire drill must be held monthly and Tornoado drill must be held monthly from March to October. Correct immediately, 9/11/24. Document compliance to Specialist by 9/18/24. Correct by 09/11/2024

State records file

Apr 2024 Supervisory visit 8 findings

Supervisory visit · April 24, 2024

2.219.B.3 · Correction due May 24, 2024

In reviewing children's files: observed the health statements not updated as required by health care provider at 6 months.

Required correction: Statements of health status of children less than 2 years of age must be updated as required in writing by health care provider. Document compliance to Specialist by 5/24/24. Correct by 05/24/2024

2.220.D

In both the infant and toddler classrooms: diaper cream not labeled with first and last names.

2.217.C.6 · Correction due April 24, 2024

In reviewing the nurse consultant file: no brief biography or bio available for review.

Required correction: The child Care Health consultant, the center must maintain documentation of a brief biography highlighting applicable knowledge, experience, and approximate dates worked as a school nurse or health consultant. Correct immediately, 4/24/24. Document compliance to Specialist by 5/24/24. Correct by 04/24/2024

2.209.A.5 · Correction due April 24, 2024

In reviewing child's admissiom forms: no address for doctor and no name, address, and phone number for dentist.

Required correction: An admission record must be completed for each child prior to or at the time of the child's admission. This record must be updated annually when changes occur. The admission record must include: Name, Address, and telephone number's of the child's health care provider, dentist and hospital of choice. Correct immediately, 4/24/24. Document compliance to Specialist by 5/24/24. Correct by 04/24/2024

2.209.A.4

In reviewing child's admission records information for emergency contacts on enrollment form

2.209.A.3 · Correction due April 24, 2024

In reviewing children's admission records: no addresses for authorized person's on enrollment form.

Required correction: An admission record must be completed for each child prior to or at the time of the child's admission. This record must be updated annually when changes occur. The admission record must include: Name, Address, and telephone number's of persons; authorized to pick up child from center. Correct immediately, 4/24/24. Document compliance to Specialist by 5/24/24. Correct by 04/24/2024

2.138.A · Correction due April 24, 2024

No Tornado drills conducted in March and only 1 emergency drill documented in drill log.

Required correction: Emergency drils, lockdown and active shooter drill must be held quarterly and torando dirlls must be condcuted from March to October when the facility is operating. Correct immediately, 4/24/24. Document compliance to Specialist by 5/24/24. Correct by 04/24/2024

2.121.D.5 · Correction due April 24, 2024

In reviewing staff files: No 5 year background check conducted for E.B.C. available for review in files.

Required correction: Every 5 years, CBI & FBI must be renewed by completing the fingerprint process. An updated clearance letter or verification of the submission of the request must be obtained prior to the five years from the date reflected don current clearance letter. Correct immediately, 4/24/24. Document compliance to Specialist by 5/24/24. Correct by 04/24/2024

Individual employees are shown by initials. The state’s report, linked above, names them in full.

State records file

Where this record comes from

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.

Ask for this program’s record now

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 Lester Arnold Early Learning Center’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.

Before you tour

Lester Arnold Early Learning Center hasn’t published

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.

Sources and dates

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.

What kind of place is this

Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.

Who runs it

Licensing and contact

State record

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 Lester Arnold Early Learning Center? 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.