The Growing Tree · East Stroudsburg
The Growing Tree is a certified child care center in East Stroudsburg, PA, with capacity for 191 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 (accredited) rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 8 times and confirmed violations in 1 complaint investigation. The state cited 22 violations, 6 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for building & playground safety (5 of 22). 4 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #11 of 23 centers in East Stroudsburg and has fewer citations per inspection than 61% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. See the code sheet for the date of hire. Staff #1 was hired using a volunteer child abuse clearance dated 11/18/24 and did not have a state police clearance on file. Staff #1 was not hired correctly as required by the CPSL.
A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A physical site review was conducted. Regulation requires cleaning materials, other toxic materials and medications to be stored locked or inaccessible to children. In the front section of Unit 3, nose spray was found in a backpack that was accessible to children. This bottle contained the note that it must be kept out of reach of children and children were viewed receiving care in this area. In the front section of Unit 5 a backpack was found that contained the following items: Motrin, Allegra, Pain and Fever, Moisturizer and Chest Rub. These items contained the note to be kept out of the reach of children. This backpack was found accessible to children and children were observed receiving care in this area.
A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A physical site review was conducted. Regulation states any child that requires medication to have written consent for administration of the medication on file. The following children require medication, but the facility did not have on file written consent for administration of medication: Child #11, #12 and #13.
A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of the facility's diaper changing procedures and process was observed. During these diaper changes, staff did not wash their hands or the children's hands between each diaper change.
An unannounced inspection occurred at the facility on 10/3/25. A review of staff files was conducted. See the code sheet for the date of hire of staff. Staff #1 did not have the correct DHS FBI clearance on file to be hired as a provisional hire to be working in a child care role at the facility per the CPSL. Staff #1 was working in a child care role at the facility at the time of this inspection.
An unannounced inspection occurred at the facility on 10/3/25. A physical site review was conducted. Outlet covers were missing in outlets throughout the facility. These missing outlet covers were identified and discussed with the director at the time of the inspection. In the front of the Pre-K room, the outlet cover plate had come lose, exposing the electrical wires. This outlet was identified and address with the director at the time of the inspection.
A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. Regulation requires staff to participate in a health assessment at least every 24 months. Staff #6 did not participate in a health assessment every 24 months (previous 6/20/22, no current). Staff #6 was observed working in child care at the time of this inspection.
A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. Regulation requires staff to participate in fire safety training on an annual basis. The following staff did not complete fire safety training on an annual basis: Staff #1(previous 7/29/23, current 9/6/24), Staff #2 Previous 9/17/23, current 11/11/24, Staff #3 (previous 7/29/23, current 11/20/24), Staff #4 (previous 8/28/23, current 11/18/24), Staff #5 (previous 6/27/23, current 7/29/24) and Staff #6 (previous 7/29/23, current 8/31/24).
Staff person #1 has not completed mandated reporter training within the last 60 months. This is evidenced by the previously documented mandated reporter training on file being dated May 24, 2018.
Staff person #3 was observed in the School Age classroom supervising 13 young school-aged children by herself. This amount of children requires at least two staff persons.
The emergency plan on file at the facility was not updated to include a continuity of operations.
A hand washing sign was not observed to be posted near a sink in the Pre-Kindergarten, Middle School Age, and Preschool classrooms.
The following seats in each of the buses were found to be torn, with foam exposed: Bus #1: one seat on passenger side; Bus #2: first and second seats on the driver's side and first seat on passenger side; Bus #4: Last seat on the driver's side and fifth seat on the passenger side.
A thermometer was not observed in the refrigerator for the Pre-Kindergarten classroom.
Throughout the facility, the children's perishable food items from home were observed to be in lunch bags in the classroom instead of the facility's refrigerators. The Director confirmed that the children's personal food items are not stored in the facility's refrigerators.
Staff person #1 and staff person #2 did not complete the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire (see code sheet for date of hire): Health and Safety training. Staff person #1 completed the training on 12/15/23 and staff person #2 completed the training on 12/10/23.
Inspection on this date 8/18/22, per interview and document review revealed that staff number 1 referred to child number 1 a school age child as a baby and this was heard by individual number 2 and per interview with individual number 2 would have been heard by the other children in the room.
Inspection on 8/18/22 revealed that staff number 1 has lived outside of Pa. within the past five years and does not have a record of the required out of state background check including clearance request and completed clearance on file.
During renewal inspection on 2/22/22 CR reviewed several staff files. STAFF # 7 had an FBI clearance for Dept. of Education dated 6/10/21. Department of Education clearance is no longer accepted for child care employment.
During renewal inspection on 2/22/22 CR reviewed several staff files. STAFF # 1 (start date 1/24/22), STAFF # 2 (start date 1/24/22), STAFF # 3 (start date 9/9/21), STAFF # 4 (start date 11/1/21), STAFF # 5 (start date 9/24/21), and STAFF # 6 (start date 1/31/22) did not receive emergency plan training at any time since their start dates.
During renewal inspection on 2/22/22 CR observed damaged paint on the blue wall in the OSA room.
During renewal inspection on 2/22/22 CR observed an EpiPen for CHILD # 1 with an expiration date of 1/13/2022.
“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 |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (Under 6 Weeks) | $50.00 | $38.00 |
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $50.00 | $38.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $48.00 | $36.00 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $45.00 | $34.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $40.00 | $30.00 |
| Young School-Age (K-3rd gr.) | $38.00 | $29.00 |
| Older School-Age (4th gr.-15 yrs.) | $38.00 | $29.00 |
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 The Growing Tree had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 6 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 Jan 16, 2026 (background checks): “A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. See the code sheet for the date of hire. Staff #1 was hired using a volunteer child abuse clearance dated 11/18/24 and did not have a…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about The Growing Tree?
Pennsylvania lists 1 complaint investigation 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 The Growing Tree’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4 (accredited), effective Nov 8, 2025. 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 The Growing Tree compare with other daycares in East Stroudsburg?
It is #11 of 23 centers in East Stroudsburg by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 61% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was The Growing Tree last inspected?
Jan 16, 2026 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does The Growing Tree cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $50.00 for newborn, $50.00 for infant, $48.00 for young toddler, $45.00 for older toddler in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs The Growing Tree?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Miracles 3 INC.
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.