Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland
Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland is a licensed child care center in Oakland, CA, licensed for up to 72 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2022. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it once and investigated 5 complaints, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 3 citations, none of them Type A, most often for supervision (2 of 3). 2 citations came in the last 12 months. It has too few inspections so far for a statewide comparison.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on interviews and documents, Owner/Licensee Rachel LaField and a staff engaged in a verbal altercation in the presence of children. This poses a potential risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of the children in care.
Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision - (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs. (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time, except as specified in Sections 101216.2(e)(1) and 101230(c)(1). 1 The center shall come up with detailed schedule that includes a transition checklist and the center will also conduct an outside training on the importance of supervision and submit the agenda and the checklist to CCL by POC date. Supervision shall include visual observation. Based on Interviews and the provided report it was determined that a child was left alone without teacher supervision for about two to three minutes. This poses a potential risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of children in care. 8 A civil penalty for a repeat violation is being assessed during todays inspection.
Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision - (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs. (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time, except as specified in Sections 101216.2(e)(1) and 101230(c)(1). 1 The Director shall submit a plan of correction detailing which changes they have made to prevent this incident from re-occurring in the future. This plan shall be received by LPA Loza no later than COB on July 18, 2025. Supervision shall include visual observation. Based on Interviews and records reviewed, it was determined that a child was left alone without teacher supervision for approximately two minutes. This poses a potential risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of children in care. 8
Complaint investigations
Staff had an altercation in the presence of children
How often are complaints about daycares in Alameda County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 3 Type B citations, listed above.
Have there been complaints about Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland?
California investigated 5 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
When was Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland last inspected?
Apr 30, 2025. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Alameda County, which includes Oakland, was $1,547 a month for preschoolers (about $1,950 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Growing Light Montessori School of Oakland?
The licensee is Growing Light Montessori School Of Oakland, INC., and the administrator listed with the state is Crystal Taylor.
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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 013423129 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.