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 · June 8, 2026
2.121.J.1
Licensing Specialist reviewed 16 staff files and observed staff member #3 to have lived out of state and to be missing an out of state background check.
Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that staff member #3 has reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of Out of State background check for staff member #3 with written response to the Specialist. Correct by
2.229.H · Correction due June 8, 2026
Three pairs of adult scissors in an unlocked lower drawer, accessible to children, in the Preschool classroom.
Required correction: Sharp tools and instruments must be stored in areas inaccessible to children. Correct by 6/8/26. Staff placed the 3 pairs of scissors in an upper locked cupboard, making them inaccessible to children. Corrected at the time of inspection. No response necessary. Correct by 06/08/2026
2.230.C.1.a · Correction due June 8, 2026
One plastic slide on the Preschool playground to be over 18 inches in height and to be on surfacing with no resilient material.
Required correction: All climbing equipment eighteen 18 inches or higher must have resilient surfacing of at least six 6 inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment. Correct by 6/8/26. Staff removed the slide from the playground while the Licensing Specialist was present. The slide was moved to a storage area. Corrected at the time of inspection. No response necessary. Correct by 06/08/2026
2.237.H · Correction due June 8, 2026
A power strip, accessible to children, in the Preschool classroom, with 4 missing outlet covers.
Required correction: In all rooms used by children, all electrical outlets that are accessible to children must have protective covers or safety outlets must be installed. Correct by 6/8/26. Staff removed the power strip and the remaining wall outlets are safety outlets. Corrected at the time of inspection. No response necessary. Correct by 06/08/2026
Supervisory visit · August 6, 2024
2.230.C.1.a · Correction due August 6, 2024
The preschool playground climbing equipment eighteen (18) inches or higher had a resilient surfacing to be three (3) inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment.
Required correction: All climbing equipment eighteen (18) inches or higher must have a resilient surface of at least six (6) inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment. Correct immediately. Send verification with written response to Specialist. The facility's owner corrected the violation at the time of the inspection by adding resilient surface of at least six (6) inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment. No response is necessary. Correct by 08/06/2024
2.212.G
Reviewed twenty (20) staff files and observed Emma H., Emily G., and Kyle L., files to be missing a medical statement signed and dated by a physician or other health care provider,
2.133.A · Correction due August 6, 2024
Reviewed twenty (20) staff files and observed Emma H. file to be missing a department-approved training in emergency and disaster preparedness.
Required correction: Obtain a department-approved training in emergency and disaster preparedness for Emma H. Correct by 08/06/2024
2.213.L · Correction due August 6, 2024
Reviewed twenty (20) staff files and observed Emily G file to be missing at least one (1) hour of child development training. Emily G hire date: 9/20/2023
Required correction: Obtain at least one (1) hour of child development training for Emily G. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 08/06/2024
Complaint · February 19, 2024
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 · September 20, 2023
7.702.72.C.1.a · Correction due September 20, 2023
The Preschool playground climbing equipments was higher than eighteen (18) inches, and the resilient surfacing was less than one (1) inch in the use zone surrounding the equipments.
Required correction: All climbing equipment eighteen (18) inches or higher must have resilient surfacing of at least six (6) inches in he use zone surrounding the equipment. Correct immediately. Send verification with written response. Correct by 09/20/2023
7.702.72.B · Correction due September 20, 2023
The preschool playground orange double slides and green slides had an opening on top of the equipments, posing a potential safety hazard.
Required correction: Indoor and outdoor equipment, materials, and furnishings must be sturdy, safe, and free of hazards. Correct immediately. Send verification with written response. Correct by 09/20/2023
7.702.42.I · Correction due October 20, 2023
Reviewed eight (8) staff files and observed Mirela S.'s file to be missing the Department-approved Recognizing the impact of Bias on Early Childhood Professionals training. Mirela S. hire date was 6/10/2023.
Required correction: Obtain the Department-approved Recognizing the impact of Bias on Early Childhood Professionals training for Mirela S. Send verification with written response. Correct by 10/20/2023
7.702.42.D · Correction due September 20, 2023
Reviewed eight (8) staff files and observed Mirela S.'s file to be missing a Department-approved prevention of Shaken Baby/Abusive Head trauma training. Mirela S. hire date was 6/10/2023.
Required correction: Obtain a Department-approved prevention of Shaken Baby/Abusive Head trauma training for Mirela S. Correct immediately. Send verification with written response. Correct by 09/20/2023
7.702.42.F · Correction due September 20, 2023
Reviewed eight (8) staff files and observed Mirela S.'s file to be missing a Department-approved introduction to First Aid and CPR module. Mirela S. hire date was 6/10/2023.
Required correction: Obtain a State Department-approved introduction to First Aid and CPR module for Mirela S. Correct immediately. Send verification with written response. Correct by 09/20/2023
7.702.42.H · Correction due October 20, 2023
Reviewed eight (8) staff files and observed Mirela S.'s file to be missing a Department-approved training: Introduction to the Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Programs. Mirela S. hire date was 6/10/2023.
Required correction: Obtain the Department-approved training: Introduction to the Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Programs for Mirela S. Send verification with written response. Correct by 10/20/2023
Complaint · July 7, 2023
Founded · 7.702.72.C.1.a · Correction due July 12, 2023
All climbing equipment eighteen (18) inches or higher must have resilient surfacing of at least six (6) inches in the use zone surrounding the equipment.
Founded · 7.702.72.C.8 · Outdoor Requirements · Correction due July 12, 2023
All outdoor play areas used for children?s activities must be checked daily and kept safe and free from hazardous materials or debris by removal of debris, dilapidated structures, and broken or worn play equipment. The staff must identify hazardous, high-risk areas; those areas must be made inaccessible to children to reduce the possibility of injuries and accidents.
Required correction: All outdoor play areas used for children's activities must be checked daily and kept safe and free from hazardous materials or debrist by removal of debries, dilapidated structures, and broken worn play equipment. Correct immediately. Send verification with written response.
Founded · 7.702.72.B · Correction due July 12, 2023
Indoor and outdoor equipment, materials, and furnishings must be sturdy, safe, and free of hazards.
Founded · 7.702.35.A · Correction due July 12, 2023
A record must be maintained, either written or electronic, for each staff member that includes the following:
Founded · 7.701.32.D.1.a. · General Requirements · Correction due July 12, 2023
For all individuals whose activities involve the care or supervision of children or who have unsupervised access to children, requests must be submitted and successfully completed prior to caring for children or allowing unsupervised access to children.
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 Steele School For Early Learning’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.
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 Steele School For Early Learning? 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.