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The First School of Discovery, Inc.

Child care center · 525 10th Street, Palisades Park, NJ 07650 · License 02FIR0011

0Compliance score
Poor

Capacity 44. 2½ to 13

Violation history (19)

SeverityDateStandard / narrativeCorrected
?Mon Feb 02 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.3(a)(1) — The center shall develop and implement an Office of Licensing-approved method to keep track of the location and ensure the safety of all children at all times when under the center’s supervision, including the transfer of supervision from and to parents during arrival and departure and the utilization of off-site locations, including playgrounds and field trips.
Ensure that children are adequately tracked at all times and staff are aware of the number of children in their care. In room 2, when asked how many children staff member began to count.		 Yes
?Tue Mar 25 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.8(c) — The center shall ensure that all staff members who work at the center complete 12 hours of continuing staff development each year. 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).
Ensure that all staff complete 12 hours of staff development annually.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 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.
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.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.8(e) — Directors shall complete staff development in understanding licensing regulations as provided by the Office of Licensing within 90 days of hire. Such staff development may be included in the required 20 hours of staff development specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(d).
Ensure center director completes the Understanding Licensing training provided by OOL.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-2.1(b) — A person applying for an initial license or renewal license to operate a center or relocation of a center shall submit a completed application to the Office of Licensing at least 45 days prior to the anticipated opening of the center or to the expiration of its existing regular license.
Complete and submit a DCF Renewal Attestation and Application.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.1(d)(1) — The staff records specified in 3A:52-4.1(a) through (c) shall be maintained on file as follows: the Staff Records Checklist for the current director and all staff members currently working at the center shall be maintained on file at the center.
Provide updated staff records checklist.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.10(b)(1) — 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.
Ensure that CARI background checks are completed as required for the sponsor/sponsor representative and all regularly scheduled staff for the center's license renewal.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-5.3(i)(8) — Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center, and, as determined by the Office of Licensing, on a case-by-case basis, the facility operator shall submit to the Office of Licensing a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the Department of Health that indicates that no further remediation is needed for the interior of the building in which the center is located.
Submit a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the DOH.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.8(g)(1) — The center shall maintain on file documentation of the date, time, topic, presenter, and attendance for all staff development and orientation completed by center staff members. For staff development provided by the center, the center shall maintain on file documentation or a copy of all staff development materials used.
Provide annual orientation training for 1 staff member.		 Yes
?Thu Aug 15 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-5.3(a)(15) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: ventilation outlets shall be clean and free from obstructions, and filters shall be replaced when saturated.
Ensure all vents are free of dust throughout the center.		 Yes
?Tue Dec 20 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-5.3(a)(4) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: carpeting shall be securely fastened to the floor.
Ensure that all carpeting is securely fastened at the front entrance.		 Yes
?Tue Dec 20 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-5.3(a)(9) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: toilets, wash basins, kitchen sinks, and other plumbing shall be maintained in good operating and sanitary condition.
Replace the rusting ring behind the toilet in Room 2.		 Yes
?Tue Dec 20 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-5.3(a)(15) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: ventilation outlets shall be clean and free from obstructions, and filters shall be replaced when saturated.
Maintain all mechanical ventilation in a clean and operating condition throughout the center.		 Yes
?Tue Dec 20 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-5.3(p) — Play equipment, materials, and furniture for indoor and outdoor use shall be of sturdy and safe construction, non-toxic, free of hazards, and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The center may not use play equipment intended for outdoor use indoors.
Secure power cords in Room 1 and Room 3. Note: The center took immediate action to secure the power cords.		 Yes
?Tue Dec 20 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-6.1(b)(1) — The staff member(s) specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.5 who are responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of the center's daily activities shall ensure that time frames for each activity are geared to the age and developmental level of each child served and are flexible enough to accommodate spontaneous occurrences or children's suggestions and inquiries.
Ensure that time frames for each activity are both age and developmentally appropriate for the children served. Children in Room 2 were observed sitting at tables and in highchairs for over 15 minutes without any activities or meals provided.		 Yes
?Fri Dec 17 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.11(a)(1) — 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.
Provide the CHRI clearances for 6 named staff.		 Yes
?Fri Dec 17 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-4.8(e) — Directors shall complete staff development in understanding licensing regulations as provided by the Office of Licensing within 90 days of hire. Such staff development may be included in the required 20 hours of staff development specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(d).
Ensure that the director completes the Understanding Licensing training provided by OOL.		 Yes
?Fri Dec 17 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 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.
Complete and submit a DCF Drinking Water Testing Statement of Assurance, Checklist and a copy of the center's water testing completed by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection.		 Yes
?Fri Dec 17 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) 3A:52-5.3(a)(15) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: ventilation outlets shall be clean and free from obstructions, and filters shall be replaced when saturated.
Maintain all mechanical ventilation in a clean Room 2.		 Yes

Severity 5 = most serious. Source: official state record.

Inspections (15)

15 inspection record(s) on file from NJ-DCF.

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