Minnesota Child Care Centers Cleared After State Probe Finds No Wrongdoing
Nine Minnesota child care centers once accused of wrongdoing have been cleared by state inspectors, reigniting debate over how complaints are disclosed.
State Investigation Ends: Minnesota Child Care Centers Cleared
St. Paul, Minn.—Parents across Minnesota exhaled a collective sigh of relief Tuesday after state regulators announced that nine child care centers once accused of licensing violations are, in fact, operating within the law.
From Complaint to Clearance
The saga began last winter, when an anonymous hotline tip claimed the centers—scattered from Duluth to Rochester—were over-enrolling toddlers, short-staffing rooms, and falsifying attendance logs. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) launched unannounced inspections, pored over 1,300 pages of sign-in sheets, and interviewed more than 100 employees.
“We take every allegation seriously, but we also owe providers due process,” said DHS Inspector General Maya Patel. “After exhaustive review, we found zero evidence of systemic wrongdoing.”
What the Inspectors Found
- All child-to-staff ratios met or exceeded state mandates.
- Background checks were current for every employee.
- Fire-safety and health inspections were up to date.
The only infractions uncovered were minor paperwork errors—two centers filed immunization forms a week late—resulting in corrective notices, not fines.
Fallout for Providers
Despite the clean bill of health, several directors report losing families during the probe. Little Sprouts Learning Center in Mankato saw enrollment drop 18 %, costing roughly $42,000 in tuition revenue.
“We had to post ‘We’re still open’ on our door because rumors spread we were shutting down,” said owner Dana Erickson. “It’s hard to quantify reputation.”
Policy Ripple Effects
State Senator Alice Johnson, chair of the Early Childhood Committee, says the episode exposes a flaw in Minnesota’s complaint process: providers under investigation are named publicly before findings are final. She plans to introduce a bill next session that would keep providers anonymous unless violations are substantiated.
For now, parents like Minneapolis mother-of-two Keisha Howard are simply grateful. “I never stopped sending my daughter, but I’ll sleep easier tonight knowing her classroom isn’t one scandal away from closure.”