Inspection · 2025-07-16
(571) 835-0386
Areas Reviewed
8VAC20-780 Administration.
8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training.
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies
8VAC20-770 Background Checks
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
During the inspection, the inspector reviewed the areas listed above. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be included in the description of the violation.
Inspector Notes
An unannounced monitoring inspection was initiated on 7/16/2025 and completed on 8/01/2025 with local agencies in response to a self-report received by the licensing office on 7/11/2025 relating to forbidden actions. The inspector reviewed two staff records on-site on 7/16/2025. This inspection included document review, interviews, and observations.
Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Though not a part of the original self report, violations that were not reported were found related to supervision and operational responsibilities, and are documented on the violation notice issued to the program.
Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five business days from today, which will be the close of business on 8/11/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.
Violations
3When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.
On 7/10/2025, Staff #2 observed Staff #1 roughly handling Child A(16 months) for approximately 6 minutes and did not intervene to protect her from Staff #1.
table. The teacher/child interaction in question was across the room.
Additionally, there was a cleaning staff present who was running a vacuum
cleaner between the two teachers.
After reviewing the video footage by Karter Schools and respective authorities,
staff #2 was thoroughly engaged in diaper changing multiple children on the
other side of the classroom. Staff #2 did acknowledge the child?s cry and as
soon as she completed the diaper change, she took the child to provide
warmth and comfort.
Since this incident, the center team has taken the following steps: mandatory
retraining on Child Abuse & Neglect, Shaken Baby Syndrome, and Dealing
with Stress. A mandatory staff meeting was conducted on the evening of
7/10/25 and a follow up meeting again on 7/23/2025. There was emphasis on
appropriate reporting, how to call for help or assistance, and strategies of
effective calming techniques that all teachers can use. Additionally, Karter
Schools will be conducting formal and informal observations on classrooms
every 30 days.
The operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include ensuring that the center's activities, services, and facilities are maintained in compliance with these standards, the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards, and the terms of the current license issued by the department.
The center's discipline policies including acceptable and unacceptable discipline measures titled "Forbidden Actions and Behavior Policy" states "never use physical punishment, striking a child, roughly handling or shaking a child for any reason at any time." It also states "If a team member witnesses such violations, they must document and report them to the Director." Staff #1 roughly handled Child A (16 month old) on 7/10/2025 and the actions were observed by Staff #2. Staff #2 did not report these actions to the Director and did not document the incident.
as the highest priority. We have taken the following actions to ensure child
safety going forward:
- Immediately terminated staff 1 without allowing further interaction with
children
- Every team member in the building was required to re-complete 3 trainings:
Child Abuse & Neglect, Dealing with Stress, Shaken Baby Syndrome, and to
review and resign the school?s policy on ?forbidden actions.? These were
required to be completed within a 48 hour time frame, no exceptions.
- Frequent check ins with the teachers and children initiated by Leadership
and use of `code words? when needing extra assistance
Karter Schools will be conducting formal and informal observations regularly,
and unannounced classroom check-ins.
On 7/10/2025, Staff #1 roughly handled Child A (age 16 months) with excessive force. There were multiple visible bruises on her back (two hand print shape bruises on the child's back) and scratches on her upper thigh as a result of the incident.
leadership attention the evening of 7/10/2025
(same day) at approximately 8:00pm, after school
hours. The center team escalated the concern to
senior leadership to ensure the full support of the
Karter School team. The full leadership team
immediately began their internal investigation and
self- reported these injuries on the morning of
7/11/2025 to Virginia Licensing and Child
Protection Services as required. That same
morning, the staff member who last cared for the
child was spoken to and dismissed from Karter
Schools with no further interaction with children
or teachers.