How safe is your day care? Goshen center faces state action after supervision lapse
After a student was allegedly left unsupervised, Inspire Kids faces the possible loss of its license. Here’s how New York monitors day cares—and how parents can check their own.
More Stories
A Goshen preschool is facing the possible loss of its child care license after a student was allegedly left unsupervised for more than a minute.
The case is one of several across the Hudson Valley raising questions about how day care facilities are monitored—and what parents can do when something goes wrong.
Online data for Inspire Kids at 2 Fletcher Street currently lists the facility’s license status as “pending revocation and denial.”
In a letter to parents, Inspire said it was notified Aug. 26 of the state’s intent to revoke its day care license in response to an incident on July 16. According to the letter, a student was left unsupervised for more than a minute. Inspire said it filed an appeal and that the preschool will remain open and continue operating normally during the appeal process.
Inspire said it has taken several steps since the incident, including placing teachers at classroom doors during busing transitions, installing automatic alarms in classrooms and on exterior exit doors, training staff on protocols involving children leaving supervised areas, working with school districts to ensure students’ individualized education programs are current and maintaining communication with families.
“We want to state unequivocally that any lapse in student supervision is unacceptable,” Executive Director Dr. Denise Robinson wrote.
A representative for Inspire told News 12 that the facility would respond to questions about the case.
Online inspection data for the Goshen facility lists 12 inspections and two inspections during which violations were found. A violation cited following an April 21 inspection involved a requirement that children receive competent supervision at all times. The online record lists that violation as corrected.
A pending revocation does not necessarily mean a facility must immediately close. A provider can request a hearing and may generally continue operating while the matter is pending unless its license is also suspended. A suspension requires a facility to close immediately when the state finds evidence of an imminent danger to children.
Other Hudson Valley day care cases
News 12 has reported on several other Hudson Valley day care facilities that faced similar investigations or enforcement actions.
In 2025, the state moved to revoke the license of Pattycake Playhouse in the Town of Newburgh after at least one child allegedly wandered away from the facility. The violations included inadequate supervision and failure to immediately report a serious incident. Current online data lists the facility as licensed and operating.
Little Scholars in Chester was ordered to close temporarily in 2024 after a 3-year-old allegedly wandered outside unnoticed. The state cited an imminent danger to children and immediately suspended the facility’s license. Current online data lists the day care as licensed and operating.
Stepping Stones at the Park in Highland faced state action earlier this year after a mother alleged that a teacher put soap in her son’s mouth, causing him to vomit. Online data currently lists that facility’s status as pending revocation.
In 2024, Kidz Town in Wappingers Falls came under investigation after former employees accused a worker of repeatedly touching children inappropriately. Online records at the time indicated the facility failed to notify authorities or parents about the alleged incidents as required. State Police said their investigation found no criminality. Kidz Town denied the allegations and said the employee was fired.
The cases show that an investigation or pending enforcement action does not always result in a permanent closure. Facilities may appeal, correct violations or reopen after satisfying state requirements.
How New York inspects day cares
According to the New York Office of Children and Family Services, which regulates child care programs statewide, facilities receive an annual unannounced inspection. Initial licensing and renewal inspections are generally scheduled, while monitoring visits are generally unannounced. Complaint investigations are not announced in advance.
The state prioritizes complaints based on the potential danger to children. Investigations involving an imminent danger are supposed to begin by the next day the program is operating. Serious complaints are generally investigated within five days, while nonemergency complaints are generally addressed within 15 days.
How to check your child's day care
Parents can search for their child’s facility by name, address, city, ZIP code or license number through the state’s child care program database at https://hs.ocfs.ny.gov/dcfs.
Complaints involving a child care program can be made by calling 1-800-732-5207. Suspected child abuse or maltreatment can be reported to the statewide hotline at 1-800-342-3720. Anyone who believes a child is in immediate danger should call 911.
