Academy For Creative Enrichment
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Reviews
Hours of operation only apply if you are not purchase of care. You will be charged a late fee after 10 hours.
The facility has bugs in them. The director and staff are very rude and all she does is nickel and dime all those that are getting help from social services. Kids are often unsupervised and no water fountain available. They drink sink water.
As a child who attended who now sends their own child , I defiantly appreciate how much time and effort all the teachers and the owner puts in to make it an amazing experience. I attended at the same time as BROOKE ROGERS who made the previous review and there was no MRSA. BROOKE ROGERS has not stepped foot on the property since she left over 15 years ago. I can not speak to her experience with bullying but as someone who was personally bullied by BROOKE ROGERS( who was 4 years older than me) on a daily basis I find it sad. Currently my daughter just moved into the twaddler room and it is reassuring that the same teacher I had , she has as well. I can go about my day knowing that my daughter is receiving the best education and care there is. It is an older facility but you can see that the owner is always making renovations.
Facility s dirty, run down, and has minimal updates over the last 15 years. I attended this summer camp under its previous name, Creative Learning Academy, which was changed in part because of the health department coming in as there were children in the pool with MRSA that as uncovered. Other reviews are correct in that the ownership is rude and has mostly family working for her. Favoritism is a huge issue here. I was bullied my camp counselors, who made me run around a dumpster as punishment and was told I had to tell a lifeguard I had a crush on them. I made lifelong friends there, but this camp really needs to have their issues addressed. Their Google reviews are all friends or relatives of the owner. There has been a sewage with only a piece of cardboard over top by the locker rooms for over ten years at this point.
I was referred to the ACE facility by a good friend of the family. My experience with the summer camp was not great. The most disturbing thing about this provider is that they are requesting that checks be written to a non profit organization by the name of the Ground Zero Foundation while advertising as the Academy for Creative Enrichment and charging tuition around $260/wk including field trips. After a bit of research online I found that they have had their exempt status revoked by the IRS due to not filing appropriately.
With regard to the Director, she is rude and unprofessional. My correspondence with Jennifer Porter was abrupt and abrasive. Her book keeping needs improvement also as she personally locks accounts awaiting payment for the upcoming week on Thursday mornings when account is paid through Friday the week prior. This affects the children directly because they are denied access to the camp snack store on Thursdays as a result when they in fact have available funds for use through Friday.
The facility is run down but has character; my daughter just notified me of a sewer in the arts and crafts area that has a foul odor yesterday. There is definitely a conduct issue with regard to favoritism due to the fact that the majority of the staff is related and their children attend the school. The staff that is not related lacks professionalism also with regard to social interaction with children and parents. They have denied my daughter the ability to return to her cubby for additional water bottles and rushed her through bathroom breaks several times. My mother was scolded during pick up for having the door code even though she was on the approved pickup list and provided ID upon entry.
Overall it was a pretty negative experience however my daughter has enjoyed the pool, field trips, and interaction with children at the camp during her weekly themed events. We will likely not return for summer camp next year because we just weren't treated like the family that is running round the place. It comes down to the vision of the center being compromised by the people around the owner. Her staff will ultimately lead to the facility's demise.
I have been a parent for over 5 yrs and am nothing but satisfied. My neighbors referred me. Their children attended more than 10 years ago and they had the same teachers. That speaks volumes.! I love the structure and routine my children receive and the academics are unbelievable. My oldest eas more than prepared to attend private school. In fact, he was placed in advanced classes in lieu of skipping a grade. Previous reviews sound like ‘sour grapes’. Ask parents who have been there longer than a minute and look at how long the teachers have been there. Don’t settle for ordinary.
The center's curriculum is amazing and creative. The teachers do fun academic creative activities with the kids. I respect the low turnover rate and the fact that adults who attended when they were children have their children attend. I think it speaks volumes that alumni return. My children have learned so much with the ACE curriculum. The theme areas are amazing and full of fun academic activities. Thank you ACE!!
I have to agree with that review. The owner's nephew's girlfriend is the Infant teacher, but she does not any childcare certificates. Why does the state licensing office let unqualified people work there?
This was one if the worst centers I have ever worked at. The director us rude , unprofessional, refused to pay me for my training hours, paid me late on purpose.. as a center , very very disorganized. The director is just plain rude . The center is dirty and run down . Most of the people who work there are related.i would not send my child to this center .
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About the Provider
Ground Zero Foundation was created 12 years ago by two parents concerned about the rising costs of early childhood programs and it's impact on future quality programming.
Ground Zero Foundation acquired the early childhood program, Academy for Creative Enrichment (ACE) one year ago. ACE has existed since 12/90. It's curriculum is a Theme Dramatic curriculum. It has proven to be very successful based on numerous successful alum.
Hours of Operation
- Monday6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Tuesday6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Wednesday6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Thursday6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Friday6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
Inspection/Report History
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. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Date | Type | Regulation Code | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-04 | Non Compliance | 30U - Personnel Files | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure all staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs Adult Abuse Registry Check, Release of Employment, Service Letters and OCCL H/S Course Certificate/transcript. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 30U - Personnel Files | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure that staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs 7 hours of professional development training and Staff #1-4 need to complete skills demonstration for CPR/First Aid (only has certificate of online module completed). Training hours is not determined at this time but will become non-compliant 12/31/2024. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 38U - Parents Right to Know | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure that the program keeps a running Parents Right to Know Log for all newly enrolled families as well as any new prospective families touring the program. Send a log with the two newly enrolled families. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 40U - Child Files | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure children's files are complete. Child #6 needs a blood lead screening result. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 43U - Children's Attendance | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure children's attendance is accurate. At the tie of the visit, the Twaddler class did not have a child checked in. They were checked into the program via ProCare but not on the tracking sheet. Review policy/procedure on signing children into the program--submit a policy signed by all staff members outlining the procedure. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 45U - Hazardous Materials | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure Radon results are current and on file. The results on file expired in 9/2024. Testing has been completed and the facility is waiting on results. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 75U - Activity Areas | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Twaddlers need access to children's books at all times. Send pictures of the book shelf with books placed on it. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 76U - Activity Schedule | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure DAily Schedules are posted in all classrooms. Twaddlers and Preschool 1 did not have them posted. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Facility Visit |
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| 2024-12-13 | Non Compliance | 8U - License Renewal | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure that the renewal application is submitted 60 days prior to the license expiration. OCCL received the renewal application on 12/11/2024. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-02-08 | Non Compliance | 15U - Governing Body | Completed |
| Corrective Action: A licensee shall have an organized system of business management and have sufficient staff, space and equipment to fulfill at a minimum, administrative, fiscal, clerical, cleaning, maintenance, food services, direct child care, and supervisor functions. There were three staff present at the time of the unannounced visit who needed to provide direct care to children. Send a staffing plan to OCCL to include all staff assignments and duties throughout the day for the week of February 6, n2024 through February 16, 20 | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-02-08 | Non Compliance | 27U - Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure supervision and direct observation of children is provided at all times. Staff #1 went to the door to allow LS Brady access to the building leaving Staff #2 to watch both classrooms during naptime. Send a staffing plan to OCCL which included staff breaks as well as arrival time and departure time of all staff, and assigned classrooms for the week of February 6, 2024 through February 16, 2024. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-02-08 | Non Compliance | 43U - Children's Attendance | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure children's attendance is accurate for all classrooms. Send attendance records to OCCL for the week of February 5, 2024 through February 16, 2024 to OCCL by February 20, 2024. When children are moved to another classroom for naptime, the attendance for that classroom needs to reflect where the child is sleeping. Attendance records submitted for correction should reflect children being signed in and out when children are sleeping in another classroom. Attendance records submitted for correction should also show documentation of the child returning to their original classroom. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-02-08 | Non Compliance | 49U - Indoor Space | Completed |
| Corrective Action: A licensee shall ensure a center has enough lighting to allow for the supervision of children. The Infant Room, Twaddler Room, as well as the Pre-School Room did not have sufficient lighting for children in care. Have all staff take Better Kid Care's Safe Sleep Practices for Caregivers: Reduce the risk of SUID by February 20, 2024. Send a copy of the certificate to OCCL. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-01-25 | Non Compliance | 14U - Notification to OCCL | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure OCCL is notified of a change in administration. OCCL was notified at the annual visit that the administrator's last day was 1/19/2024. Please notify OCCL of the new administrator by February 15, 2024. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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| 2024-01-25 | Non Compliance | 15U - Governing Body | Completed |
| Corrective Action: Ensure sufficient staff are able to fulfill administrative, clerical, cleaning and maintenance, food services and supervisory functions. Send a staffing plant to OCCL including breaks for staff. and coverage for all classrooms to ensure ratio is maintained. | |||
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Document |
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