Description:
The Montessori Children’s Academy (MCA) opened the doors of its Madison Campus to 45 students in September of 1999. Rapid successful growth necessitated the addition of more classes, and brought the number of children enrolled to more than 100 by the next year. As enthusiasm for traditional Montessori programs continued, MCA opened another campus in the adjoining town of Chatham at the start of 2003 school year. Shortly after the addition of the Chatham campus, the decision was made to introduce an Elementary Program so that MCA could fulfill the wishes of its parents for an educational path that went beyond its toddler through kindergarten offerings.
MCA expanded once again to meet the growing needs of another neighboring community when, in 2007, it opened its largest educational facility in Short Hills. In 2010, it relocated the Madison Campus to a brand new and much larger facility, located in Convent Station. Looking again to expand its base offerings, in 2011 MCA, through its subsidiary company MCA for Creative Learning (CL), began offering therapeutic Speech/Language and OT services to those children that would benefit from including that additional support as part of their education.
In 2012, MCA partnered with an enrichment company LEAF Approach to Enrichments (LEAF), With LEAF, MCA can now offer a wide range of enrichments for all ages within the communities it serves. The very ypung are taught with morning Parent/Child classes, school age children are offered programs after their regular sessions end, while evening/weekend classes are geared primarily toward adults. All of these add-on pprograms are based on the Montessori approach to learning.
At present, MCA serves almost 500 families and offers programs for toddlers through elementary students. The demands of today's world make a Montessori education more important that ever before. MCA plans to be at the forefront of this approach to learning by expanding into new communities as well as by increasing its offerings with other synergistic services, enabling MCA to be a leader in early childhood education. The Montessori Children's Academy is affiliated with the American Montessori Society and is also a member of the New Jersey Montessori Administrator’s Council.
For more information please visit the school website at TheMontessoriChildrensAcademy.com or call Short Hills 973-258-1400, Chatham 973-665-0071, Convent Station 973-410-9669.
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns, as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Date Cited | Date Abated | Regulation Number |
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| 2022-06-13 | 2022-11-14 | 3A:52-4.10(b)(1) |
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When the center applies for a new or renewal license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department the completed CARI consent forms for all staff members who are or will be working at the center on a regularly scheduled basis. Within two weeks after a new staff member begins working at the center, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department a completed CARI consent form for the new staff member. Violation Observed: Ensure that all staff submit a CARI background check upon renewal.9/8/22: 5 completed CARIs received. |
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| 2022-06-13 | 2022-07-13 | 3A:52-5.3(h)(2) |
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Lead paint precautions are as follows: the center shall comply with the lead paint inspection requirements specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3(h)3, unless the center Violation Observed: Submit a lead paint risk assessment as required. |
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| 2022-06-13 | 2022-11-15 | 3A:52-5.3(i)(5)(i) |
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Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center and, in the discretion of the Office of Licensing, any other time, the applicant or facility operator shall certify in writing that the center provides a potable water supply provided by a public community water system. If the facility is supplied by a public community water system, the applicant or facility operator shall provide documentation of water testing conducted by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection for water testing for lead and copper from all faucets and other sources used for drinking water or food preparation and at least 50 percent of all indoor water faucets utilized by the center. Violation Observed: Complete and submit a DCF Drinking Water Testing Checklist and Statement of Assurance and a copy of the center's water testing completed by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection. |
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| 2022-06-13 | 2022-07-13 | 3A:52-5.3(q)(3)(v) |
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Space and room requirements are as follows: Indoor space requirements for play rooms and sleep rooms are as follows the center shall identify all rooms of the center that have been approved by the Office of Licensing. This identification shall consist of numbers, letters, names or any other means of identification and shall be located either inside or directly outside each room. Violation Observed: Submit a diagram of all approved areas and ensure that all rooms approved for use by the children are labeled. |
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| 2022-06-13 | 2022-11-14 | 3A:52-4.11(a)(1) |
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As a condition of securing a license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall ensure that a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint background check is completed for himself or herself, and for all staff members at least 18 years of age who are or will be working at the center on a regularly- scheduled basis, to determine whether any such person has been convicted of a crime, as specified in P.L. 2000, c. 77 (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-6.10 to 6.17). The sponsor or sponsor representative and each staff member shall complete the electronic fingerprinting process through the vendor authorized by the State to conduct CHRI background checks through the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Violation Observed: Ensure that all staff, the sponsor and/or the sponsor representative complete a CHRI background check as required for the center's license renewal. |
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| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-4.3(c) | |
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The following staff/child ratios shall apply, except as specified in 3A:52-4.3(d) through (f):Age Staff/Child RatioUnder 18 months - 1:418 months up to 2 ½ years - 1:62 ½ years up to 4 years - 1:104 years - 1:125 years and older - 1:15 Violation Observed: There were 17 children, ages 6-9 years, with 1 staff in Room 204/205. An additional staff was needed. |
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| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-7.5(b)(10) | |
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The center shall develop and follow a policy on the administration of medication and health care procedures to children, which shall include the following provisions: the center shall store prescribed epinephrine pens in their original boxes with the child’s name and prescription. A special care plan or other documentation from a health care provider shall accompany the epinephrine pen. If two epinephrine pens are required, both shall be available. Each center under the jurisdiction of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.5 shall store back-up epinephrine pens on site consistent with the requirements stated at N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.5.e(1). Violation Observed: Ensure that the following is maintained at the center: a) the second epi pen for 8 named children, b) updated special care plans for 2 named children,c) replace expired medications for 2 named children,d) the original boxes and prescriptions for 2 named children. |
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| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-7.6(e)(1) | |
| The center shall develop and follow a written policy for parental notification if a method other than a telephone call is used at the center for parental notification. The center shall distribute a copy of this policy to the parent of each enrolled child and secure and maintain on file a record of each parent’s signature attesting to receipt of this policy. | ||
| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-5.3(b)(1) | |
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Outdoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: the building, land, walkways, and outdoor play area shall be free from hazards to the health, safety or well-being of the children. Violation Observed: Repair the peeling paint on the double black doors within the play area. |
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| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-3.4(a) | |
| The sponsor or sponsor representative shall secure comprehensive general liability insurance coverage for the center and shall maintain on file a copy of the insurance policy or documentation of current insurance coverage. | ||
| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-5.2(a)(5) | |
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The center shall be permitted to obtain a valid fire safety inspection certificate issued by the municipality in which it is located, based on a fire inspection conducted within the preceding 12 months, and submit a copy of the certificate to the Office of Licensing in lieu of a CO or CCO, if the center serves only children 2 ½ years of age or older and is located in a public school building that is used as a public school. Violation Observed: Ensure that the emergency light in the first floor handicap bathroom is operable at all times. |
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| 2019-06-04 | 2019-09-25 | 3A:52-5.3(h)(2)(ii) |
| Lead paint precautions are as follows: the center shall comply with the lead paint inspection requirements specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3(h)3, unless the center submits documentation to the Office of Licensing of a previous lead paint inspection conducted by a Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor, who is certified and employed as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3(h)3, indicating the center is free of lead-based paint hazards. | ||
| 2019-06-04 | 2019-09-25 | 3A:52-5.3(i)(5)(i) |
| Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center and, in the discretion of the Office of Licensing, any other time, the applicant or facility operator shall certify in writing that the center provides a potable water supply provided by a public community water system. If the facility is supplied by a public community water system, the applicant or facility operator shall provide documentation of water testing conducted by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection for water testing for lead and copper from all faucets and other sources used for drinking water or food preparation and at least 50 percent of all indoor water faucets utilized by the center. | ||
| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-4.8(b) | |
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Orientation training as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(a) may be included for six of the required hours of staff development specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(c) and (d). Violation Observed: Ensure that all 12 required topics are included in orientation training. |
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| 2019-06-04 | 3A:52-4.3(a) | |
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The children shall be supervised directly by a staff member at all times, including during outdoor activities, rest and sleep, and walking through hallways. Toileting procedures shall be supervised by a staff member as appropriate for the ages and developmental needs of the children. Violation Observed: Children from Room 103 were observed going to their cubbies and to the bathroom in the hallway unsupervised. |
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