Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

First Step Preschool

84711 Avenue 51, Coachella, CA 92236 · Riverside County
Child care center (preschool)

First Step Preschool is a licensed child care center in Coachella, CA, licensed for up to 30 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2013. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times. The state issued 8 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for building & playground safety (4 of 8). 5 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #8 of 8 centers in Coachella and better than 13% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 13%of 10,948 California licensed centers, comparing weighted citations per inspection. Among the most cited
#8 of 8 centers in Coachella
1Type A citations
7Type B citations
4Inspections
0 of 0Complaints substantiated
8 citations from 5 state visits since Feb 8, 2021 · 5 in the last 12 months · last inspected Apr 2, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Apr 2, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundMar 28, 2025 · Inspection · no citationMar 5, 2024 · Inspection · no citationDec 22, 2022 · Report/investigation · citation foundMar 11, 2022 · Inspection · citation found
Citation issuedNo citationTop row: inspections · bottom row: complaint investigations and other visits

What inspectors cited most

Building & playground safety4
Food & feeding3
Training & qualifications1

Citations, newest first

Type BApr 2, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Fixtures, furniture, equipment and supplies §101239(n)
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that LPA observed furniture (storage cubby/ childrens table) in the classroom that was not in good repair which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Apr 9, 2026
Type BApr 2, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Buildings and grounds §101238(a)
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that certain parts of the classroom where drywall is deteriorating which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Apr 9, 2026
Type BApr 2, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Buildings and grounds §101238(g)
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that LPA observed cleaning items under the kitchen sink and desitin cream in the childrens bathroom which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Apr 9, 2026
Type BApr 2, 2026InspectionTraining & qualifications
Staff health screening and personnel requirements §101216(g)(1)
Based on record review and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that S2 and S3 did not have a current health screening report and Tuberculosis test which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Apr 16, 2026
Type BApr 2, 2026InspectionFood & feeding
Food service §101227(a)(1)
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that Licensee had served bagels and cheese that were expired which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Apr 9, 2026
Type ADec 22, 2022Case management visit (lead testing/exceedance)Building & playground safety
Lead in drinking water §101700.3(b)(1)
with values of 5.5 ppb or greater shall be deemed an Action Level Exceedance. This requirement was not met as evidence by: 1 Director made outlet B inaccesible for use at the time of inspection. Director agrees to submit results of the water sample test for faucet labeled B until level of lead is below action level exceedance. Director will also submit documentation of test results for faucets in Room 1 and Room 2, will submit update to the Department within 30 days. Based on water testing results, interviews and records review, facility tested over the Action Level Exceedance, in water outlet labeled B which is used for drinking water. This poses an immediatte health, safety, or personal rights risk to the children in care. 8
Plan of correction due Dec 23, 2022
Type BMar 11, 2022InspectionFood & feeding
Food service §101227(a)(18)
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in the kitchen under the sink there are signs of dirt and dark stain of unknown source which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Mar 17, 2022
Type BMar 11, 2022InspectionFood & feeding
Food service §101227(a)(19)
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above LPA observed a total of 3 open food bags that were not properly protected, seal and can possible become contaminated. LPA did not observe signs of contamination at this time, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Mar 17, 2022

About this center

Licensed capacity30 children
License typeChild care center (preschool)
License statusLicensed
Licensed sinceMar 1, 2013
LicenseeFirst Step Preschool INC.
AdministratorSandra Barajas
Phone(760) 398-4828
State facility #334842035

Common questions

Does First Step Preschool take infants?

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

Has First Step Preschool had any serious violations?

California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Dec 22, 2022, for lead in drinking water. Each citation is listed in full above.

How does First Step Preschool compare with other daycares in Coachella?

It is #8 of 8 centers in Coachella by weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 13% of licensed centers statewide (out of 10,948 California centers with enough inspection history).

When was First Step Preschool last inspected?

Apr 2, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.

How much does First Step Preschool cost?

California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask First Step Preschool for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Riverside County, which includes Coachella, was $856 a month for preschoolers (about $1,080 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.

Who runs First Step Preschool?

The licensee is First Step Preschool INC., and the administrator listed with the state is Sandra Barajas.

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 334842035 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.