Marias Daycare III
Marias Daycare III is a certified child care center in Lancaster, PA, with capacity for 51 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 9 times and confirmed violations in 2 complaint investigations. The state cited 24 violations, 2 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for building & playground safety (10 of 24). 8 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #22 of 73 centers in Lancaster and has fewer citations per inspection than 69% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Ointments (marked "keep out of reach of children") were accessible to children in a low, unlocked cabinet in the Pre-KDG room (Corrected on-site).
The emergency bag containing a first aid kit, was located on a cubby shelf, accessible to children, in the Older Toddler room (corrected on-site).
A low cabinet door in the Older Toddler room, was observed to be off the hinges and in poor repair (corrected on-site).
A low cabinet in the Older Toddler room was found to be unlocked and had a bin of plastic bags and a staff person's purse located inside, accessible to toddlers (corrected on-site).
The updated Financial Agreement for Child #1 did not include the child's date of admission or the Operator's signature (corrected on-site).
Updated Emergency Contact Forms did not include the enrolling parent's work phone number for the following children: * Child #1 (corrected on-site) * Child #2
The updated Emergency Contact Form for Child #2 did not include the address of one of the people listed to whom the child may be released.
The facility's designated Director, Staff person #1, was not present at the facility during the previous renewal inspection on 7/24/25 or for this monitoring inspection on 10/31/25. Staff Person #2 was present for these inspections and was the primary contact for the follow-up regarding the facility's day-to-day staffing. Staff Person #1 was limiting their work hours and there was no qualified Director on-site a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Several accessible electrical outlets were not covered with protective receptacle covers throughout the facility as follows: Preschool 2 Room: 6 outlets did not have covers (corrected on-site). Hallway: 1 outlet did not have a cover (corrected on-site). Preschool 3 Room: 4 outlets did not have covers (corrected on-site).
A wooden, sensory bin lid that was peeling and in poor repair, was observed on the outdoor playground.
The thermometer in the refrigerator in the Preschool 3 Room, showed a temperature of 50 degrees F. (corrected on-site).
There was no outlet cover on an outlet near the microwave in the Preschool Room (corrected on site).
The spray bottles in all of the classrooms that contained bleach and water for sanitizing, were not labeled with the ratio of bleach to water.
A section of a red, vinyl climber had peeling vinyl (corrected on site).
The thermometer in the refrigerator in the Young Toddler Room, was not working (corrected on site).
There was no written plan of daily activities and routines posted in the Older Toddler Room.
The posted written 911 emergency plan did not identify the means of transporting a child to emergency care, along with the staffing provisions in the event of the emergency. This plan was not posted in all of the childcare spaces/classrooms.
Staff Person 1 was observed to be caring for children unsupervised. Staff Person 1 had not completed the following pre-service training required prior to caring for children unsupervised: 2022 1-hr Health and Safety Update training.
Staff Person 1 was observed working alone with children in the Older Toddler Room during the provisional hire period. The NSOR clearance results were not received and in the file.
The incident report for Child #1 regarding the child's injury requiring emergency medical treatment that occurred at the facility, was not submitted to the regional office within 72 hours. The incident occurred on 6/19/23 and the report was not submitted to the regional office until 6/27/23.
Child #1 had been attending the preschool classroom during the school day, though the child was confirmed to be of compulsory age to attend school.
Staff Person #1 does not have documentation of current Pediatric First Aid/CPR training evidenced by an expiration date of 2/2023.
In the Older Preschool classroom, 2 sagging, stained ceiling tiles were observed during the inspection.
The facility did not have documentation of an emergency drill completed in the past year.
“Core safety” marks citations about supervision and staff ratios, discipline and caregiver conduct, background checks, child protection and safe sleep, the topics our score weights most. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity. “Follow-up” marks a violation re-cited at a follow-up visit, counted once. How scores work.
Complaint investigations and reported incidents
Pennsylvania’s search lists complaint investigations in which the state found at least one violation (“verified complaints”). It does not say what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it. Incident investigations look into something that happened at the center; self-reported violations are ones the center reported to the state itself.
Daily rates
| Age group | Full time, per day | Part time, per day |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $70.00 | $55.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $60.00 | $50.00 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $55.00 | $45.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $50.00 | $40.00 |
| Young School-Age (K-3rd gr.) | $45.00 | $35.00 |
| Older School-Age (4th gr.-15 yrs.) | $45.00 | $35.00 |
The daily price the center lists in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search for families paying privately. The state notes that rates are subject to change and programs don’t have to share them, so confirm with the center. See what daycare costs in Pennsylvania.
About this center
Common questions
Has Marias Daycare III had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 2 violations since 2021 on the topics Daycare Record treats as core safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). The most recent, on Oct 17, 2023 (supervision): “Staff Person 1 was observed to be caring for children unsupervised. Staff Person 1 had not completed the following pre-service training required prior to caring for children unsupervised: 2022 1-hr Health and Safety…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Marias Daycare III?
Pennsylvania lists 2 complaint investigations since 2021 in which it found at least one violation; the violations are listed above. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Marias Daycare III’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 1, effective Oct 16, 2019. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating program for child care, from STAR 1 to STAR 4. It measures program quality, not inspection results, so read both.
How does Marias Daycare III compare with other daycares in Lancaster?
It is tied for #22 of 73 centers in Lancaster by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 69% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Marias Daycare III last inspected?
Jul 21, 2026 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does Marias Daycare III cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $70.00 for infant, $60.00 for young toddler, $55.00 for older toddler, $50.00 for preschool in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs Marias Daycare III?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Maria Arauz.
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Citations are quoted from Pennsylvania Department of Human Services inspection records (Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services), including each finding and the center’s plan of correction. Rule numbers refer mostly to 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270, the rules for child care centers; a few cite Chapter 20, which covers every certified facility. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; the “core safety” label and the score are Daycare Record’s.
To check the state’s own record, search the center’s name on COMPASS Child Care Provider Search and open its inspection history. Data refreshed Oct 16, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.
Concerned about this center? See how to report a daycare: which state line to call, what to write down and what happens next.