Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Creative Scholars Academy Preschool

120 Yellowstone Dr., Chico, CA 95973 · Butte County
4 substantiated complaintsChild care center (preschool)

Creative Scholars Academy Preschool is a licensed child care center in Chico, CA, licensed for up to 58 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2021. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times and investigated 8 complaints, 4 of them substantiated. The state issued 14 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for health & medication (3 of 14). 2 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #45 of 47 centers in Chico and has more citations per inspection than 93% of California licensed centers.

Inspection record

More citations than 93%of 10,948 California licensed centers, per inspection, weighted by severity. Among the most cited
#45 of 47 centers in Chico
1Type A citations
13Type B citations
4Inspections
4 of 8Complaints substantiated
14 citations from 16 state visits since Feb 8, 2021 · 2 in the last 12 months · last inspected Dec 18, 2025

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Dec 18, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 21, 2025 · Report/investigation · no citationFeb 5, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundAug 8, 2024 · Report/investigation · citation foundJul 16, 2024 · Report/investigation · citation foundApr 18, 2024 · Report/investigation · no citationApr 4, 2024 · Report/investigation · citation foundJan 24, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 2, 2023 · Inspection · no citationSep 22, 2022 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 8, 2022 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 8, 2022 · Report/investigation · citation foundJun 8, 2022 · Report/investigation · citation foundFeb 8, 2022 · Report/investigation · citation foundJan 25, 2022 · Report/investigation · citation foundNov 16, 2021 · Report/investigation · no citation
Citation issuedNo citationTop row: inspections · bottom row: complaint investigations and other visits

What inspectors cited most

Health & medication3
Records & paperwork3
Caregiver conduct3
Training & qualifications2
Staff ratios2
Building & playground safety1

Citations, newest first

Type BDec 18, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Staff immunizations §1596.7995(a)(1)
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in one staff file out of six reviewed (S2) missing immunization record including MMR, TDAP, TB and flu or flu decline which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Jan 9, 2026
Type BDec 18, 2025InspectionTraining & qualifications
Staff health screening and personnel requirements §101216(g)(1)
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in one out of six staff files (S2) is missing LIC 503 which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Jan 9, 2026
Type BFeb 5, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Children's medical assessments §101220(a)
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 out of 5 children's records was missing physician's report which poses potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Mar 5, 2025
Type BAug 8, 2024Complaint investigationStaff ratios
Teacher-child ratio §101216.3(a)(1)
(a) There shall be a ratio of one teacher visually observing and supervising no more than 12 children in attendance, except as specified in (b) and (c) below. Licensee stated they will be communicating with parents about picking up and dropping children at contracted time. Staff will be aware of contracted time. Licensee will submit a plan of correction to CCLD by 8/18/24. (1) The number of children in attendance shall not exceed licensed capacity. Based on interviews and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which facility has been operating out of ratio.
Plan of correction due Aug 8, 2024
Type AJul 16, 2024Complaint investigationRecords & paperwork
Admission procedures and parents' rights §101218.1
(a) In accordance with the child care center's individual program, policies and needs, the licensee shall develop, implement and maintain an admission procedure that enables the person in charge of admissions to: (B) Provides the child's parent or authorized representative with information about the child care center that shall at least include the child care center's admission policies and procedures, activities, services, regulations, hours and days of operation, fees, procedures to be followed should the child become ill or injured while at the child care center, and procedures for conducting inspections for illness. Licensee will submit a written statement uderstanding the regulations for admission procedures and will have staff meeting with staff on calling authorized representatives on any incidents regarding children. Based on interviews and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which the family was not notified in a timely manner regarding a incident which poses an immediate health, safety, or personal rights risk to children in care. 8…
Plan of correction due Jul 16, 2024
Type BApr 4, 2024Case management visit (deficiencies)Records & paperwork
Reporting requirements §101212(d)(1)(b)
(d) Upon the occurrence, during the operation of the child care center of any of the events specified in (d)(1) below, a report shall be made to the Department by telephone or fax within the Department's next working day and during its normal business hours. In addition, a written report containing the information specified in (d)(2) below shall be submitted to the Department within seven days following the occurrence of such event. Facility with submit a Unusual Incident Report (UIR) to CCLD and will go over reporting requirements with staff. Licensee will submit a document verifying that staff have been trained to report unusual incidents to CCLD. Licensee will submit documentation by 4/14/24 ro CCLD. (1) Events reported shall include the following:(B) Any injury to any child that requires medical treatment. Based on record review and staff interviews: facility did not report to CCLD a unusual incident regarding C1 receiving medical attention for a injury. 8
Plan of correction due Apr 4, 2024
Type BJan 24, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Disaster and emergency plan §101174(d)
Based on observing the emergency disaster log, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Feb 5, 2024
Type BJan 24, 2024InspectionTraining & qualifications
Mandated reporter training §1596.8662(c)
Based on observing the expired and nonexistent mandated reporter certificates, which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Feb 5, 2024
Type BJan 24, 2024InspectionHealth & medication
Staff immunizations §1596.7995(a)(1)
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Feb 5, 2024
Type BJun 8, 2022Complaint investigationStaff ratios
Teacher-child ratio §101216.3(a)(1)
(a) There shall be a ratio of one teacher visually observing and supervising no more than 12 children in attendance, except as specified in (b) and (c) below. (1) The number of children in attendance shall not exceed licensed capacity. Licensee/director will ensure that they have they meet the teacher ratio requirements with qualified staff and adjust scheduling for staff. Plan of correction shall be submitted to LPA Mendez by 6/17/22 This requirment was not met based on interviews. Facility was operating ouf of ratio. 8 Deficiency Dismissed
Plan of correction due Jun 8, 2022
Type BJun 8, 2022Complaint investigationCaregiver conduct
Personal rights §101223(a)(3)
a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: 3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, 1 Licensee/director will implement potty training schedule and ensure that staff are checking periodically and log in documeting potty training and having a hard copy on file. Plan of correction will be submitted to LPA Mendez on 6/17/22. mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living including eating, sleeping or toileting; or withholding of shelter, clothing, medication or aids to physical functioning This requirement was not met by as evidence no copies of diaper logs were avaiilable..
Plan of correction due Jun 8, 2022
Type BJun 8, 2022Case management visit (deficiencies)Records & paperwork
Reporting requirements §101212(d)(1)(c)
Licensee failed to report an unusual incident that occurred on 2/9/22 that resulted in a child sustaining an injury at the time.
Plan of correction due Jun 8, 2022
Type BFeb 8, 2022Complaint investigationCaregiver conduct
Personal rights §101223(a)(2)
Based on observations/interviews/record reviews, the licensee did not ensure the personal rights of children in care in that 24 of children in care (C1 – C23) did not wear face coverings while in the facility, as required by the Order of the State Public Health Officer (June 11, 2021), and an individual face covering exception did not apply. This is a potential health and safety risk to children in care.
Plan of correction due Feb 8, 2022
Type BJan 25, 2022Complaint investigationCaregiver conduct
Personal rights §101223(a)(2)
Based on observations/interviews/record reviews, not all staff were masked, the licensee did not ensure the personal rights of children in care in that 30 of children in care (C1 – C24) did not wear face coverings while in the facility, as required by the Order of the State Public Health Officer (June 11, 2021), and an individual face covering exception did not apply. This is a potential health and safety risk to children in care.
Plan of correction due Jan 25, 2022

Complaint investigations

SubstantiatedAug 8, 2024Complaint investigationreceived May 30, 2024
Substantiated allegation:
Facility is operating out of ratio
1 citation issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.
Not substantiatedJul 16, 2024Complaint investigationreceived Mar 28, 2024
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.
1 citation issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.
Not substantiatedApr 18, 2024Complaint investigationreceived Jan 22, 2024
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.
Not substantiatedSep 22, 2022Complaint investigationreceived Aug 1, 2022
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.
Not substantiatedJun 8, 2022Complaint investigationreceived Feb 23, 2022
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.
SubstantiatedJun 8, 2022Complaint investigationreceived Mar 1, 2022
Substantiated allegations:
Staff are not changing children's diapers
Facility is out of ratio
2 citations issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.
SubstantiatedFeb 8, 2022Complaint investigationreceived Feb 3, 2022
Substantiated allegation:
Facility is not following Covid-19 mask guidelines
1 citation issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.
SubstantiatedJan 25, 2022Complaint investigationreceived Jan 19, 2022
Substantiated allegations:
Staff are not wearing masks in the facility
Children are not encouraged to wear a mask
1 citation issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.

About this center

Licensed capacity58 children
License typeChild care center (preschool)
License statusLicensed
Licensed sinceDec 16, 2021
LicenseeNicole Ray
AdministratorNicole Ray
Phone(530) 809-2468
State facility #045407980

Common questions

Does Creative Scholars Academy Preschool take infants?

Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.

Has Creative Scholars Academy Preschool had any serious violations?

California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jul 16, 2024, for admission procedures and parents' rights. Each citation is listed in full above.

Have there been complaints about Creative Scholars Academy Preschool?

California investigated 8 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 4. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.

How does Creative Scholars Academy Preschool compare with other daycares in Chico?

It is #45 of 47 centers in Chico by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 93% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.

When was Creative Scholars Academy Preschool last inspected?

Dec 18, 2025. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.

How much does Creative Scholars Academy Preschool cost?

California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Creative Scholars Academy Preschool for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Butte County, which includes Chico, was $695 a month for preschoolers (about $880 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.

Who runs Creative Scholars Academy Preschool?

The licensee is Nicole Ray, and the administrator listed with the state is Nicole Ray.

Licensed centers nearby

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 045407980 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.