Inspection · 2025-11-07
Date
2025-11-07
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Stacy Doyle
(571) 835-0386
(571) 835-0386
SHSIA monitoring inspection of an approved subsidy vendor to determine compliance with current subsidy requirements regarding the health and safety of children and to promote quality standards for the children in their care.
No
Violations
5Standard 8VAC20-780-340-A
Repeat Violation
When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.
On 11/3/2025, child #1 (age 7) was left unsupervised on a bus for approximately 7-8 minutes after the child and driver returned from another center.
The child was observed honking the horn in the center's vehicle to alert individuals that he was inside the vehicle alone. Two parents in the parking lot heard the horn, one parent entered the building to alert staff, while the other one stayed by the vehicle with the child. The staff person went to the vehicle and directed the child how to open the door and brought the child back into the center.
In interview, staff #1 stated she was transporting child #1 to the center from another location. She stated that when she arrived at the center, she parked the van and looked over her shoulder and didn?t see any children and went inside the center to use the bathroom. She was unaware that she had left the child in the van until she put the key back in the office and at the same time another staff member walked in the office stating there was a child left on the van.
When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.
On 11/3/2025, child #1 (age 7) was left unsupervised on a bus for approximately 7-8 minutes after the child and driver returned from another center.
The child was observed honking the horn in the center's vehicle to alert individuals that he was inside the vehicle alone. Two parents in the parking lot heard the horn, one parent entered the building to alert staff, while the other one stayed by the vehicle with the child. The staff person went to the vehicle and directed the child how to open the door and brought the child back into the center.
In interview, staff #1 stated she was transporting child #1 to the center from another location. She stated that when she arrived at the center, she parked the van and looked over her shoulder and didn?t see any children and went inside the center to use the bathroom. She was unaware that she had left the child in the van until she put the key back in the office and at the same time another staff member walked in the office stating there was a child left on the van.
Plan of Correction: Effective immediately, upon arriving at the destination, another staff member is
required to meet the bus and retrieve the child/children in a safe place to initiate
name to face using the bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and
scan the inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have successfully
been removed. Both the bus driver and the supporting staff will then confirm the
bus roster and transportation process is complete by their signature. Lastly, a
walkie talkie call will be made to Leadership to ?clear? the specific bus
Karter Schools has analyzed the current bus procedure and policy to ensure
accuracy. Karter Schools will retrain all bus drivers on the proper use of an Attendance Log (bus roster) and unloading the children upon arriving at the destination with the support of another staff member. This will ensure that the Attendance Log is completed, the vehicle is properly scanned, and that all children are accounted for by more than one person.
required to meet the bus and retrieve the child/children in a safe place to initiate
name to face using the bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and
scan the inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have successfully
been removed. Both the bus driver and the supporting staff will then confirm the
bus roster and transportation process is complete by their signature. Lastly, a
walkie talkie call will be made to Leadership to ?clear? the specific bus
Karter Schools has analyzed the current bus procedure and policy to ensure
accuracy. Karter Schools will retrain all bus drivers on the proper use of an Attendance Log (bus roster) and unloading the children upon arriving at the destination with the support of another staff member. This will ensure that the Attendance Log is completed, the vehicle is properly scanned, and that all children are accounted for by more than one person.
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-F
Children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.
On 11/03/2025, child #1 (age 7) was unsupervised for approximately 7-8 minutes. Two parents in the parking lot heard the child honking the horn in a center van and realized the child appeared to be alone in the vehicle. One parent entered into the center and alerted staff the child was inside the vehicle. The staff were able to guide the child to open the vehicle door and brought the child into the center.
Administration acknowledged that child #1 was alone in the center van and not within sight and sound of staff during the reported incident for approximately 7-8 minutes.
On 11/03/2025, child #1 (age 7) was unsupervised for approximately 7-8 minutes. Two parents in the parking lot heard the child honking the horn in a center van and realized the child appeared to be alone in the vehicle. One parent entered into the center and alerted staff the child was inside the vehicle. The staff were able to guide the child to open the vehicle door and brought the child into the center.
Administration acknowledged that child #1 was alone in the center van and not within sight and sound of staff during the reported incident for approximately 7-8 minutes.
Plan of Correction: Effective immediately, upon arriving at the destination,
another staff member is required to meet the bus and retrieve the
child/children in a safe place to initiate name to face using the
bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and scan the
inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have
successfully been removed. Both the bus driver and the supporting
staff will then confirm the bus roster and transportation process
is complete by their signature Lastly, a walkie talkie call will
be made to Leadership to ?clear? the specific bus.
another staff member is required to meet the bus and retrieve the
child/children in a safe place to initiate name to face using the
bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and scan the
inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have
successfully been removed. Both the bus driver and the supporting
staff will then confirm the bus roster and transportation process
is complete by their signature Lastly, a walkie talkie call will
be made to Leadership to ?clear? the specific bus.
Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E
Repeat Violation
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 standards require the center to have a procedure to verify that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion of any trip. The center should have a list of names of the children being transported, The standards also required children under 10 years of age always shall be within sight and sound supervision.
The center has a bus manual that states children must never be left unattended inside or outside of the Karter bus. It states a Karter bus may not depart from the Karter facility with one or more children on board without a Karter Attendance Log.
Attendance must be checked each time Karter children board and exit the vehicle. The Karter Bus Driver or Team member must check the Karter bus, both inside and outside, after unloading all children by looking under and behind seats, under the bus, behind the bus, etc., to ensure that all passengers have exited.
On 11/03/2025, Child #1 was left alone in the center's vehicle unattended for approximately 7-8 minutes.
In interview, staff #1 acknowledged that she did not take attendance and she did not have an attendance log for child #1. Staff #1 stated she looked over her shoulder and did not check the bus inside to ensure all the passengers had exited. She acknowledged that she did not follow the policy and procedures of the bus manual.
Administration confirmed the center did not have an attendance log for Child #1's transportation. The administration documented that Child #1 was left unsupervised in the vehicle for approximately 7 to 8 minutes before being located.
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 standards require the center to have a procedure to verify that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion of any trip. The center should have a list of names of the children being transported, The standards also required children under 10 years of age always shall be within sight and sound supervision.
The center has a bus manual that states children must never be left unattended inside or outside of the Karter bus. It states a Karter bus may not depart from the Karter facility with one or more children on board without a Karter Attendance Log.
Attendance must be checked each time Karter children board and exit the vehicle. The Karter Bus Driver or Team member must check the Karter bus, both inside and outside, after unloading all children by looking under and behind seats, under the bus, behind the bus, etc., to ensure that all passengers have exited.
On 11/03/2025, Child #1 was left alone in the center's vehicle unattended for approximately 7-8 minutes.
In interview, staff #1 acknowledged that she did not take attendance and she did not have an attendance log for child #1. Staff #1 stated she looked over her shoulder and did not check the bus inside to ensure all the passengers had exited. She acknowledged that she did not follow the policy and procedures of the bus manual.
Administration confirmed the center did not have an attendance log for Child #1's transportation. The administration documented that Child #1 was left unsupervised in the vehicle for approximately 7 to 8 minutes before being located.
Plan of Correction: Karter Schools has analyzed the current bus procedure and policy
to ensure accuracy. Karter Schools will retrain all bus drivers on the
proper use of an Attendance Log (bus roster) and unloading the
children upon arriving at the destination with the support of
another staff member. This will ensure that the Attendance Log is
completed, the vehicle is properly scanned, and that all children are
accounted for by more than one person.
to ensure accuracy. Karter Schools will retrain all bus drivers on the
proper use of an Attendance Log (bus roster) and unloading the
children upon arriving at the destination with the support of
another staff member. This will ensure that the Attendance Log is
completed, the vehicle is properly scanned, and that all children are
accounted for by more than one person.
Standard 8VAC20-780-580-C
The center shall ensure that during transportation of children at least one staff member or the driver always remains in the vehicle when children are present.
On 11/03/2025, Staff #1 did not remain in the vehicle with Child #1 (age 7) after parking the vehicle.
On 11/03/2025, Staff #1 did not remain in the vehicle with Child #1 (age 7) after parking the vehicle.
Plan of Correction: Effective immediately, upon arriving at the destination, another staff member is required to meet the bus and retrieve the child/children in a safe place to initiate
name to face using the bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and scan the inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have successfully
been removed. Both the bus driver and the supporting staff will then confirm the bus roster and transportation process is complete by their signature. Lastly, a
walkie talkie call will be made to Leadership to ?clear? the specific bus
name to face using the bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and scan the inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have successfully
been removed. Both the bus driver and the supporting staff will then confirm the bus roster and transportation process is complete by their signature. Lastly, a
walkie talkie call will be made to Leadership to ?clear? the specific bus
Standard 8VAC20-780-580-K
Staff shall verify that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion of any trip.
On 11/3/2025, Staff #1 transported Child #1 (age 7) from one location to the center, failing to remove the child from the vehicle upon arrival. When she arrived at the center, she parked the van, looked over her shoulder and did not see any children remaining inside. She exited the vehicle and proceeded into the building.
Staff #1 stated she did not verify that all children had been removed from the vehicle. Staff #1 stated she did not do a name to face and did not check the van and follow the policies and procedures in the bus manual. She stated "I just looked over my shoulder and didn't see anyone."
On 11/3/2025, Staff #1 transported Child #1 (age 7) from one location to the center, failing to remove the child from the vehicle upon arrival. When she arrived at the center, she parked the van, looked over her shoulder and did not see any children remaining inside. She exited the vehicle and proceeded into the building.
Staff #1 stated she did not verify that all children had been removed from the vehicle. Staff #1 stated she did not do a name to face and did not check the van and follow the policies and procedures in the bus manual. She stated "I just looked over my shoulder and didn't see anyone."
Plan of Correction: Effective immediately, upon arriving at the destination,
another staff member is required to meet the bus and retrieve the
child/children in a safe place to initiate name to face using the
bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and scan the
inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have
successfully been removed. Both the bus driver and the
supporting staff will then confirm the bus roster and
transportation process is complete by their signature.
Lastly, a walkie talkie call will be made to Leadership to
?clear? the specific bus.
another staff member is required to meet the bus and retrieve the
child/children in a safe place to initiate name to face using the
bus roster. This will allow the bus driver to walk and scan the
inside of the entire vehicle to ensure that all children have
successfully been removed. Both the bus driver and the
supporting staff will then confirm the bus roster and
transportation process is complete by their signature.
Lastly, a walkie talkie call will be made to Leadership to
?clear? the specific bus.