Novastar Kids Co

Center · Centennial · 20901 E Smoky Hill Rd

What kind of place is this?

Size 210 children licensed Larger than the middle half of Denver centers, where the middle half licenses 40–113. Measured across 1,156 Denver centers, 2026-08-17.
Approach steam

In the program’s own words

“an educational program with focus on multiliteracy in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM), and World Languages” kidsco.education, July 2026

How this compares

Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 3 of the 7 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.

Who will be with our child?

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 3
License status Active

State record — Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Last visit
August 10, 2026
On file
7 visits since September 2023 · 3 complaint investigations
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was May 29, 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.

Aug 2026 Complaint Unfounded

Complaint · August 10, 2026

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.

State licensing record

May 2026 Complaint Founded

Complaint · May 29, 2026

Founded

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.

State records file

May 2026 Complaint 2 findings

Complaint · May 29, 2026

2.212.E · Correction due May 29, 2026

At the time of visit, observed a staff member using a personal cell phone with an airpod in while supervising children.

Required correction: Immediately 5/29/2026, staff must refrain from the personal use of electronics while caring for children. Submit a written statement of compliance by 6/5/2026. Correct by 05/29/2026

2.217.A.3 · Correction due May 29, 2026

At the time of visit, observed that there was no director present at the faciltiy at all.

Required correction: Immediately 5/29/2026, the director of the center must be present at the center at least 60% of the day. Submit a written statement of compliance by 6/5/2026. Correct by 05/29/2026

State records file

Oct 2025 Supervisory visit 2 findings

Supervisory visit · October 15, 2025

2.213.B · Correction due October 15, 2025

At the time of visit, reviewed 18 staff files, observed 3 files to be lacking a department-approved standard precautions training.

Required correction: Immediately 10/15/2025, all staff must complete a department-approved standard precautions training. Submit documentation and written statement of compliance by 10/29/2025. Correct by 10/15/2025

2.213.G

At the time of visit, reviewed 18 staff files, observed 1 file to be lacking a department-approved child abuse prevention training.

State records file

Oct 2024 Supervisory visit 11 findings

Supervisory visit · October 15, 2024

2.209.A.7 · Correction due October 15, 2024

Reviewed 14 child files. Observed 4 files lacking current documentation of a parent/guardian signature authorizing emergency medical care.

Required correction: Review all child files. Immediately, parent/guardian authorization must be given for emergency medical care. Corrected at the time of visit, the facility obtained signatures from parent/guardian. Submit a written statement of future compliance by 11/15/2024. Correct by 10/15/2024

In Room 119, in an unlocked cabinet under the teacher shelf, gloves were accessible to children.

2.209.B.4 · Correction due November 15, 2024

Reviewed 14 child files. Observed 1 child file lacking a child's health statement completed by a health care provider.

Required correction: Review all child files. All child files must include a copy of the child's health statement completed by a health care provider Submit a written statement of compliance by 11/15/2024. Correct by 11/15/2024

2.216.B.1.c · Correction due October 15, 2024

Reviewed 17 staff files. Observed Kristhyn F., hired 1/10/2024, working in the infant classroom lacking an infant orientation.

Required correction: Review all staff files. Immediately, all staff working with infants must complete eight (8) hours of orientation. Corrected at the time of visit, the director and owner stated the employee had received the training, however, did not have the certificate. The owner completed the certificate at the time of visit. Submit a written statement of future compliance by 11/15/2024. Correct by 10/15/2024

Reviewed 14 child files. Observed 2 files lacking current documentation of a parent/guardian signature authorizing topical preparations.

2.206.A · Correction due October 15, 2024

Reviewed 14 child files. Observed 2 files lacking current documentation of a parent/guardian signature stating they received the updated policies and procedures.

Required correction: Review all child files. Immediately, all policies and procedures must be signed at the time of enrollment and upon amendments to the policies and procedures. Corrected at the time of visit, the facility obtained signatures from parent/guardian. Submit a written statement of future compliance by 11/15/2024. Correct by 10/15/2024

2.223.A.2

In Room 112, the teacher stated they had 8 children, then corrected the number to 9 children, however 7 children were signed in on the attendance log and 9 children were in attendance.

Required correction: Immediately, all staff must be aware of how many children are in attendance and must have the time a child

2.230.B · Correction due October 15, 2024

In Room 119, a torn pillowcase was in the reading area. In Room 126, a fan with a loose cord was accessible to children. In Room 130, a broken jeep was in the dramatic play area. In Room 134, chairs were stacked 3 high, all causing a potential hazard.

Required correction: Immediately, indoor equipment and materials must be free of hazards. Corrected at the time of visit, the director removed the pillowcase, fan, and broken jeep. The director unstacked the chairs, removing all potential hazards. Submit a written statement of future compliance by 11/15/2024. Correct by 10/15/2024

2.237.B · Correction due October 15, 2024

In Room 119, paint was chipping on the green wall by the bathroom. Ceiling tiles were loose above the interior windows, causing potential hazards.

Required correction: Immediately, buildings must be kept in good repair. Submit photo documentation and a written statement of compliance by 11/15/2024. Correct by 10/15/2024

2.230.C.6

On the Pre-K playground, both orange slides had a gap between the slide and deck, creating an entrapment and strangulation hazard. On the Early Preschool playground, both blue slides had a gap between the slide and deck, creating an entrapment and strangulation hazard. The Early Preschool playground also had a gap between the green leaf climber and deck, causing a potential entrapment and strangulation hazard.

Required correction: Immediately, all pieces of playground equipment must be free of entrapment and strangulation hazards at all

2.220.D · Correction due October 15, 2024

Reviewed all medications. Observed a bottle of benadryl lacking the child's first and last name.

Required correction: Immediately, over-the-counter medication must be kept in the original container and must be labeled with the child's first and last name. Submit a written statement of compliance by 11/15/2024. Correct by 10/15/2024

State records file

Dec 2023 Probationary visit report not read State records file
Nov 2023 Probationary visit report not read State records file
Nov 2023 Probationary visit report not read State records file
Oct 2023 Probationary visit report not read State records file
Sep 2023 Probationary visit 1 finding

Probationary visit · September 20, 2023

7.702.34.A.7 · Correction due September 20, 2023

At the time of the visit, reviewed 12 children files and found that 6 children files had an expired written authorization for emergency medical care.

Required correction: Immediately review all children files and ensure all files contain a current dated, written authorization for emergency medical care. This form must be updated annually by the parent(s)/ guardian(s). Submit a written statement of compliance by 9/27/2023. Correct by 09/20/2023

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 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.

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 Novastar Kids Co’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.

Before you tour

Novastar Kids Co 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.

Who will be with our child

Not yet reported: children per teacher.

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 Novastar Kids Co? 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.