“Montessori philosophy is grounded in the belief that all children desire to learn and understand their own personal world and the greater world around them.” arborschools.com, July 2026
Washington DCYF cited something at 5 of the 5 visits below. Across Seattle centers it cites something at about 67% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Seattle with Seattle and never with another state.
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1) the bioswell was seen to be full of water again. This problem has not been remedied as Director stated they would do so last year. Director emailed 7/2023: "It has been addressed so far by the weather! It is totally dry, and will remain so until next fall/winter.... We always "top up" our bark chips in August the week before the first day of school, and are planning on ordering more yardage to fill in the bioswell so it will be ready to go for the next rainy season." 5) the fence along the back of the big kid playground is still not addressed, less than 5 feet in some locations. A retention pond with water is on the other side of this fence. This item was reflected on an IR during the last MV and was disputed. Sup and IRC upheld licensor decision.· December 5, 2023
Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.
Licensing visit · November 4, 2025
WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) · Serious
Child with two prescription medications only had medical form for one of the medications.
Licensing visit · October 25, 2024
WAC 110-300-0106(10) · Short Term
BBP trainining not done yearly as per L&I guidelines.
Licensing visit · December 5, 2023
Food allergies and special dietary needs
WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious
A child has an allergy to eggs and nuts. The King County ICP form was used. Only pages 1 and 5 of 7 pages was available. The ICP was incomplete, not covering all required aspects of an allergy plan.
WAC 110-300-0197(4) · Short Term
Dry foods were seen not stored air tight, but rather in a bag with the top folded over. The bags were not labeled.
Outdoor early learning program space
WAC 110-300-0145(8) · Short Term
The fencing along the back fence of the "big kid playground" was pulled away from the fence post greater than 3.5 inches.
Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space
WAC 110-300-0146(1) · Short Term
The slide on the mounded hill does not follow CPSC guidelines. This was reflected on an IR during the last monitor visit and disputed. It was upheld by supervisor Eason and also the IRC. The slide remains on the mounded hill in the playground.
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(c) / 110-300-0165(3)(g) / 110-300-0165(5)(b) · Short Term / Serious
2c) power cords were seen dangling and accessible to children in multiple classrooms. 3d) in the toddler classroom bathroom, the laundry room was not made inaccessible to the children. The door was only pulled closed. 3f) Several shelving units were pointed out in different classrooms as not being secured to the walls. 3g) many of the cabinets in classrooms, especially at the sinks, were chipping. Several bathroom sinks around them to block the pipes underneath, had pressboard which was swollen from the water and chipped 5ab) Many outlets seen throughout the classrooms are not TR to include those near water.
WAC 110-300-0170(2) / 110-300-0170(3)(d) · Short Term / Serious
2) an annual fire safety inspection checklist was not completed 3c) a fan was seen to have accumulated dust 3d) a candle and lighter were in a classroom to celebrate a child's birthday. Director explained their process of use. For a child's birthday they do a montessori lesson where a candle is lit. The lighter was seen placed on the windowsill, accessible to children. The lighter was remmoved immediately.
Water hazards and swimming pools
WAC 110-300-0175(1) / 110-300-0175(5) · Immediate / Serious
1) the bioswell was seen to be full of water again. This problem has not been remedied as Director stated they would do so last year. Director emailed 7/2023: "It has been addressed so far by the weather! It is totally dry, and will remain so until next fall/winter.... We always "top up" our bark chips in August the week before the first day of school, and are planning on ordering more yardage to fill in the bioswell so it will be ready to go for the next rainy season." 5) the fence along the back of the big kid playground is still not addressed, less than 5 feet in some locations. A retention pond with water is on the other side of this fence. This item was reflected on an IR during the last MV and was disputed. Sup and IRC upheld licensor decision.
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) / 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b) · Serious
Clorox wipes, cleaners and magic erasers were seen in classrooms accessible to children. CLeaners are stored in the kitchen between the toddler room and Holly room, not inaccessible to children. The laundry rooom off of the infant classroom also has cleaners and detergent. This door is not locked or made inaccessible to children.
Center capacity, ratio, and group size
WAC 110-300-0356(3) · Serious
3) 2 school age children were in a preschool classroom. School age children are not included in this license. The school age children were not signed in to this classroom.
WAC 110-300-0106(3) · Short Term
Sevan Rubino has been employed as an assistant for 5 months, CCB has not been completed. Cynthia Sylstad does not have CCB recorded as completed in MERIT. She has completed the 5 health and safety trainings as seen in MERIT and a montessori certificate is also reflected in MERIT. Cynthia may meet the alternate requirements for CCB, but has not had it approved by MERIT at this time.
Licensing visit · February 17, 2023
Water hazards and swimming pools
WAC 110-300-0175(1) · Immediate · No longer displayed by the state
Standing water that is almost always present within the playground and is not fenced at all. Children have constant access to it when they are outside on the playground.
Licensing visit · January 18, 2023
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(5) / 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious · No longer displayed by the state
brooms, and other janitorial supplies were seen stored accessible to children. Several items labeled "keep out of reach of children" were seen stored accessible to children. Many items were stored in low cupboards.
WAC 110-300-0291(1)(g) · Serious · No longer displayed by the state
A blanket was seen draped across an 11 month old's chest while sleeping.
Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space
WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) · Serious · No longer displayed by the state
In the toddler playground, there is a tire swing and a slide. Neither are set up to meet CPSC guidelines: https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/325.pdf. (See starting around pages 36 and 40.) The older children playground has about 2 inches of playchips under it.
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b) / 110-300-0165(2)(d) · Serious · No longer displayed by the state
2b) In the Juniper classroom 2 shades on the high windows had cords attached to them, to make it easier for staff to reach to pull the blinds up and down. 2d) In several classrooms, plastic bags were seen stored accessible to children. 3g) Cupboards in classrooms near sinks were seen to have chipped paint and exposed partical board beginning to chip and flake. 2c) Several loose or dangling power cords were seen in classrooms.
Water hazards and swimming pools
WAC 110-300-0175(1) / 110-300-0175(5) · Immediate / Serious · No longer displayed by the state
Along the back side of the playground is a retention/drainage ditch. Licensor noticed a significant amount of water in the long ditch (more than a foot). The fencing along this portion of the playground stands only about 4 feet tall. (see definition of physical barrier and bodies of water in WAC)
WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious · No longer displayed by the state
Anita Sunil does not have current Safe Sleep training. Xiaojuan Guo and Heather Dansberger do not have current CPR/FA cards available. Heather Dansberger and Katy Pawlick do not have BBP/HIV recorded in MERIT , Meital Gazit, Food card: Heather Dansberger Sarah Hooper, Rohini Pushkarna CCB not completed for: M.G., H.D.
Individual employees are shown by initials. The state’s report, linked above, names them in full.
Cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, sick and biting policies.
Ask what changed after the 14 findings Washington DCYF ranked Immediate or Serious, most recently in November 2025.It does not publish whether a finding was fixed. The rest carry its lower risk levels.
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: children per teacher.
Not yet reported: hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.
Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.
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