M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center · Preschool, Salinas
M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center is a licensed child care center in Salinas, CA, licensed for up to 120 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2009. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 1 complaint, which was not substantiated. The state issued 2 citations, none of them Type A. None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #17 of 34 centers in Salinas and has more citations per inspection than 54% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above staff (S3 & S4) have expired Mandated Reporter Certificates which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
LPA was informed and observed drinking fountains "J,D,H,F,B" have been removed and faucet "I" was fully replaced. After water lead testing was completed, the facility had six identified drinking fountains & faucet, "J,D,I, H, F, and B located in infant 1,2,3, and 4 classrooms & kicthen had elevated lead above 5.5 ppb. which poses a potential risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of children in care. 8 Site Director Lilia provided LPA with passing samples test results that are within reporting limits during inspection. CORRECTED DURING INSPECTION.
How common are lead-in-water citations in California? See the county-by-county report →
Complaint investigations
How often are complaints about daycares in California substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children. An infant center is licensed separately at the same address (listed below).
Has M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 2 Type B citations, listed above.
Have there been complaints about M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center?
California investigated 1 complaint since 2021 and substantiated 0. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center compare with other daycares in Salinas?
It is tied for #17 of 34 centers in Salinas by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 54% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center last inspected?
Jan 5, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Monterey County, which includes Salinas, was $878 a month for preschoolers (about $1,110 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs M.a.o.f. Mountain Valley Early Learning Center?
The licensee is Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, and the administrator listed with the state is Vicky Santos.
Licensed centers nearby
115 Bardin Road, Salinas · under 0.1 mi away · 72 spots About typical Alisal Head Start
1437 Del Monte Avenue, Salinas · 0.3 mi away · 22 spots Too few inspections to compare McOe Discovery Academy
1752 E Alisal St, Salinas · 0.3 mi away · 79 spots Too few inspections to compare Orom Children's Center
1752 East Alisal Street, Salinas · 0.3 mi away · 67 spots More citations than most Orom Children's Center
1752 East Alisal Street, Salinas · 0.3 mi away · 34 spots More citations than most Martin Luther King Head Start
925 North Sanborn Road, Salinas · 0.8 mi away · 40 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 274410788 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.