Solid Start Academy
Solid Start Academy is a licensed child care center in Santee, CA, licensed for up to 37 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2022. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 1 time and investigated 2 complaints, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 11 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for building & playground safety (4 of 11). None 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 observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that there were two children (c1) (c2) observed by LPA and LPM to be walking unsupervised outside the classroom and the classroom door was shut which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that the lead testing was not completed as required which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that the children's restroom had dirty sinks, floors, and toilet bowls which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that there were lower cabinets, one in the kitchen, and one in the toddler room, that contained cleaning solutions and disinfectants. There were no children present in the kitchen and toddler room at the time of observation, both cabinets had working latches, but neither was secured. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that staff (S1) did not have required immunizations on file, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that S1 did not have required TB test on file, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that S1 and S2 did not have required health screening on file, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that the kitchen floors, counters, and appliances had food debris and were unclean, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that there were broken plastic sand toys in the wood chips area, and there were two bikes who had broken handle bars in disrepair, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that children were using unlicensed Room 101 instead of licensed Room 103 without prior notification/permission from Licensing, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on observation and record review that Licensee did not comply with regulation above as seven children were left alone in the care of staff 1 and staff 2 who are not qualified teachers which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Complaint investigations
Unqualified staff are providing care and supervision to children
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does Solid Start Academy take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children. An infant center is licensed separately at the same address (listed below).
Has Solid Start Academy had any serious violations?
California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Mar 25, 2025, for care and supervision. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Solid Start Academy?
California investigated 2 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
When was Solid Start Academy last inspected?
Mar 25, 2025. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Solid Start Academy cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Solid Start Academy for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes Santee, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Solid Start Academy?
The licensee is Solid Start Academy LLC, and the administrator listed with the state is Alexandra Ellam.
Licensed centers nearby
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9440 Cuyamaca Street, Santee · 1.1 mi away · 24 spotsAbout typical
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 376105109 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.