Early Care & Learning

Deliberately altered zoning letter justified denial of childcare-license application

Judge Woodard

February 16, 2023

The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) denied an applicant’s request for a license to operate a childcare learning center.  The Court upheld this denial, based on evidence that... Read More

Institution disqualified from federal food program due to repeated financial deficiencies 

Judge Fry

December 13, 2022

In this matter, the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) sought to terminate an institution’s participation in the federal Child and Adult Food Program (CAFP).  This program reimburses approved... Read More

Child care center’s violations did not warrant license revocation, as lapses were not intentional

Judge Teate

September 26, 2022

In this matter, a child care learning center appealed three separate actions against its license, brought by the Department of Early Care and Learning.  The Court ultimately determined the center... Read More

Multiple violations lead to disqualification from the Summer Food Service Program

Judge Teate

September 23, 2022

The Department of Early Care and Learning terminated an individual’s participation in the Summer Food Service Program, which provides nutritious meals to children during the summer school break.  On appeal,... Read More

Learning center successfully rebutted allegation that child was not effectively supervised at time of injury  

Judge Teate

July 29, 2022

The Court reversed a decision by the Department of Early Care and Learning to impose a sanction on a learning center for failing to provide supervision and watchful oversight over... Read More

Insufficient record-keeping results in $179,000 payback to Summer Food Services Program

Judge Teate

September 7, 2021

Judge Teate concluded a facility had to pay back approximately $179,000 in meal reimbursements to the Summer Food Service Program, after finding that the facility failed to comply with record-keeping... Read More

Emergency Closure of Family Child Care Learning Home

Judge Brown

October 2, 2020

Center subject to emergency closure after DECAL discovered that thirty-two children were in its care at one time, when the Center was only authorized to care for six to eight... Read More

Summer Food Service Program participants must repay disallowances using non-SFSP funds.

Judge Walker-Russell

July 25, 2016

The Petitioner, a participant in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), was required to repay a debt to SFSP after the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) discovered that... Read More

CAPS benefits paid to corporation could not be recovered from individuals absent showing of fraud.

Judge Kennedy

May 18, 2016

The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) sought to recover Child and Parent Services (CAPS) Program benefits paid to a corporation doing business as a daycare center.  DECAL alleged... Read More

Daycare’s license revoked for employing individual with unsatisfactory background check.

Judge Kennedy

March 17, 2016

The Department of Early Care and Learning notified the owner of a family day care home (FDCH) that it could not make a fitness determination with regard to two of... Read More

Evidence insufficient to establish a daycare provider caused an infant’s death.

Judge Baxter

March 19, 2015

Petitioner, a Child Care Learning Center, retained its certificate to operate its facility—so long as it no longer operates an infant room—after the judge found insufficient evidence to establish the... Read More

Center restricted, fined for leaving child on vehicle and failure to report child missing.

Judge Howells

February 19, 2015

A child in the care of Petitioner, a daycare center, was left alone on the center’s van during afternoon transportation after the driver failed to physically check the vehicle or... Read More

Center denied licensure where ownership transferred to avert denial.

Judge Teate

December 17, 2014

The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) was authorized to deny an application to operate a child care learning center where the former owner of a center, whose license... Read More

Center may not receive reimbursement for services provided to owner’s foster children.

Judge Howells

November 3, 2014

Petitioner, the owner of a child care learning center, received payment through the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program for child care services provided at the center to her four... Read More

State may recoup reimbursements for child care services that were unsupported by facility’s records.

Judge Schroer

October 14, 2014

Inspiration Station Academy (“the Center”), a daycare, received subsidies from the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) through the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program.   Pursuant to an agreement... Read More

Recoupment authorized for provider’s non-compliance with CAPS Program exemption criteria.

Judge Oakley

October 2, 2014

Petitioner, a child care provider, was granted exemptions from licensure by the Department of Early Care and Learning for two categories of child care services.  DECAL authorized Petitioner to receive... Read More

Egregiousness of child care center’s conduct and continued violation of transportation rules justify revocation of its license.

Judge Schroer

September 4, 2014

Charlotte’s Webb Learning Center’s (the Center’s) rule violations led to a child being left in one of its vehicle for hours.  This incident, as well as the lack of cooperation... Read More

Document neither mentioned nor produced until approximately one week before hearing entitled to no evidentiary weight.

Judge Woodard

August 26, 2014

Petitioner is licensed by Respondent to operate a childcare learning center.  During a site visit, Respondent discovered that Petitioner had not recorded the necessary second check of one of the... Read More

Application filed less than one year after license revocation must be denied.

Judge Baxter

August 12, 2014

The Department of Early Care and Learning’s (DECAL’s) revocation of Petitioner’s license to operate a child care learning center (CCLC) was affirmed after Petitioner filed an unconditional withdrawal of her... Read More

Imminent danger to children justifies emergency closure of child care facility.

Judge Miller

May 23, 2014

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning properly ordered the emergency closure of a licensed family day care home as a result of the imminent danger posed to children. ... Read More