Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista
Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista is a licensed child care center in Irvine, CA, licensed for up to 105 children and serving school-age children. It has held its California license since 1999. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 1 complaint, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 2 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious). None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #77 of 106 centers in Irvine and has more citations per inspection than 70% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
(g) Disinfectants,cleaning solutions, poisons and other items that could pose a danger if readily available to children shall be stored where inaccessible to children.This requirement is not met as evidence by: Director Karen Barbosa provided a written statement on 1/3/24 stating she will conduct a training with staff reviewing cleaning procedures on January 16, 2024 Director will provide a sign in sheet with staff member that received the training on cleaning procedures via email. Based on LPA’s interview. LPA Duron interviewed 5 children. 3 out of 5 children stated S1 has allowed them to use Clorox wipes to clean the tables. C1 stated, yes sometimes we use Clorox wipes and sometimes we use wet paper towels to clean the tables. C2 stated, we use Clorox wipes to clean sometimes. C5 stated, yes, sometimes we use Clorox wipes and sometimes we use wet paper towels. This action poses an immediate risk to the health and safety to the child in care. 8
101700.3 California Lead Action Level at Child Care Centers (b) Testing results...comparing to the Action Level. (1) A result with values of 5.5 part per billion or greater shall be deemed an Action Level Exceedance. This requirement was not met evidenced by: 1 Director stated that facility followed Writtent Directives and submitted all required documentation including LIC 9275, 9276, plan of correction and details of steps taken to resolve the deficiency. Lab report analysis water from Outlet D (7.3 parts per billion) taken on 06/25/2022 indicated levels of lead in exceedance. 8
How common are lead-in-water citations in Orange County? See the county-by-county report →
Complaint investigations
Staff allow the daycare children to have access to a cleaning agent
How often are complaints about daycares in Orange County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista take infants?
Not under this license, which covers school-age children.
Has Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jan 3, 2024, for buildings and grounds. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista?
California investigated 1 complaint since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista compare with other daycares in Irvine?
It is tied for #77 of 106 centers in Irvine by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 70% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista last inspected?
May 28, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes Irvine, was $820 a month for school-age children (about $1,040 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Catalyst Kids-plaza Vista?
The licensee is Catalyst Family INC,, and the administrator listed with the state is Karen Barbosa.
Licensed centers nearby
855 Paseo Westpark, Irvine · 0.3 mi away · 96 spots Among the most cited KinderCare Learning Center
855 Paseo Westpark, Irvine · 0.3 mi away · 48 spots Among the most cited Creeker's Club
2 Stone Creek South, Irvine · 0.5 mi away · 73 spots No citations KinderCare Learning Center
1 Bearpaw, Irvine · 0.7 mi away · 14 spots No citations KinderCare Learning Center
1 Bearpaw, Irvine · 0.7 mi away · 46 spots About typical KinderCare Learning Center
1 Bear Paw, Irvine · 0.7 mi away · 24 spots No citations
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 304270590 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.