Arvada · Licensed center
Goddard School Arvada - Ward Road
- Large center, licensed for 186 children.
- A Goddard School franchise. The brand is owned by Sycamore Partners, a private-equity firm.
- Shortlist has found no website for it yet.
What the state has found
The state lists 9 visits below. Shortlist has not read the reports behind them, so there is no share of visits that cited something to set beside other providers yet.
State record — Colorado Department of Early Childhood
- Last visit
- February 20, 2026
- On file
- 9 visits since April 2024
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was February 27, 2026. Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish whether it was made.
- Most serious
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood lists each program’s complaints on its Colorado Shines page, with the department’s verdict on each and a report behind it, going back about three years. Older complaints are released only on request. The department does not rank complaints by severity in either place.
Feb 2026 Supervisory visit 4 findings
Supervisory visit · February 20, 2026
2.229.L · Correction due February 20, 2026
In the Get Set classroom, broken crayon pieces were on the art shelf and accessible to children.
Required correction: Immediately, all materials that pose a choking hazard must be inaccessible to children at all times. Corrected at time of visit, the broken crayons were removed from the art shelf making them inaccessible to children. No Response Needed. Correct by 02/20/2026
2.222.A.1.b · Correction due February 20, 2026
In the Toddler 1 jack & jill bathroom, diaper changing supplies were on a low cabinet and accessible to children.
Required correction: Immediately, diaper change supplies but be inaccessible to children at all times. Corrected at time of visit, the supplised were moved up to a high shelf by center director. No Response Needed. Correct by 02/20/2026
2.230.A · Correction due February 20, 2026
In the First Steps classroom a 'rabbit in the hat' stuffed toy was labeled for children ages 3+. In the Toddler 2 classroom, M. and Doug puzzles were labeled for children ages 3+. Both classrooms are toddler rooms with children under 3 years old.
Required correction: Immediately, play equipment must be appropriate for children's ages at all times. Corrected at time of visit, the toys were removed from the classroom by the center director. No Response Needed. Correct by 02/20/2026
2.218.B.3 · Correction due February 27, 2026
Reviewed 4 medications and health care plans stored in the classrooms. One health care plan missing a date of authorization from the parent(s)/guardian(s).
Required correction: Immediately, health care plans must be signed and dated by the parent(s)/guardian(s) and documentation must be available for review at all times. Submit a written statement of compliance to the licensing specialist. Correct by 02/27/2026
Apr 2025 Supervisory visit 1 finding
Supervisory visit · April 4, 2025
2.213.B · Correction due April 4, 2025
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed J.V., file to have an expired Department-approved standard precautions training. The certificate on file was dated: 2.19.2024
Required correction: Obtain a Department-approved standard precautions training for J. V. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 04/04/2025
Dec 2024 Limited Supervisory visit 1 finding
Limited Supervisory visit · December 11, 2024
2.229.C · Correction due December 11, 2024
In the First Steps classroom on top of the sink by the changing table a bottle of Ajax dish soap accessible to children, posing a safety hazard. Also, in the Toddler 1 classroom it was observed a Dawn Platinum Foam dish soap on top of the sink and baby wipes on top of a child size stool accessible to children, posing a safety hazard. In the Preschool 2 classroom it was observed a large bottle of Palmolive dish soap inside an unlocked cabinet under the sink accessible to children, posing a safety hazard.
Required correction: Items labeled "keep out of reach of children" must be inaccessible to children. Correct immediately. The Director corrected the violation at the time of the inspection but placing the Ajax dish soap, the Dawn Foam dish soap the Palmolive dish soap and the baby wipes in a place where the children cannot access. No response is necessary. Correct by 12/11/2024
Apr 2024 Supervisory visit 12 findings
Supervisory visit · April 30, 2024
2.212.G
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed the following staff members files to be missing a medical statement signed and dated by a physician or other health care provider: J.V. - 11.1.2022, M.W. - 1/27/2023, I.D. - 5/24/2021, A.P. - 6/29/2022, N.D. - 7/11/2022, E.F. -1/22/2024, B.F. - 2/6/2023, S.G. - 12.5.2023, R.G. - 9/25/2023, D.R. 5/24/2024, A.C. 1/16/2024, H.C. - 1/16/2024, C.D. -6/2/2022, A.M. - 9/25/2023, L.R. - 1/28/2022, R.S. - 9/17/2023, J.G. - 2/27/2023, M.H. - 1/9/2022, A.G. -9/25/2023, H.K. - 9/1/2023.
Required correction: Obtain a medical statement dated and signed by a health care provider for staff members J. V. M.W. - I. D. Aana P. N.D., E. F. B.F. , S.G. - R. G. D. R. Attna C. H. C. Cyah D. A. M. L.R. , R. S. J. G. M. H. A. G. H. K. Send verification with written response to
2.213.L · Correction due May 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed S.M. file to be missing at least one hour of child development training. S.M., hire date was 8.20.2023.
Required correction: Obtain at least one hour of child development training for staff members S. M- Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 05/30/2024
2.213.B · Correction due April 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed the following staff members files to be missing a Department-approved standard precautions training C.W., M.M.
Required correction: Obtain a Department-approved standard precautions training for staff members C. W., M.M. Correct immediately. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 04/30/2024
2.213.F · Correction due April 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed the following staff members files to be missing a Department-approved introduction to First Aid and CPR module: D.H. -6.11.2021
Required correction: Obtain a Department-approved introduction to First Aid and CPR module for D.H. Correct imediately. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 04/30/2024
2.213.H · Correction due May 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed C.U.'s file to be missing a Department-approved training course: Introduction to the Early Intervention. C.U. hire date was 6.21.2021
Required correction: Obtain a Department-approved training course: Introduction to the Early Intervention for C. U. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 05/30/2024
2.213.I · Correction due May 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed I.D.'s file to be missing a Department-approved Recognizing the impact of Bias on Early Childhood Professionals training. I.D. hire date was 5.27.2021.
Required correction: Obtain a Department-approved Recognizing the impact of Bias on Early Childhood Professionals training. I. D. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 05/30/2024
2.229.L
In the toddler classroom 117 a bucket with sand and many small plastic bugs accessible to children under three (3) years of age, posing a potential ckoking hazard.
2.216.B.1.c.1 · Correction due April 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed the following staff missing an infant/toddler orientation: E.F. - 1/22/2024, A.M. - 4/8/2024, M.M. - 3/28/2021, H.C. - 1/17/2026.
Required correction: Obtain an infant/ toddler orientation for toddler orientation for E. F. A. M. M. M. H.C. . Correct immediately. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 04/30/2024
2.213.G · Correction due April 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed J.G.'s files to be missing a Department-approved training about child abuse prevention. J.G. hire date was 2.27.2023.
Required correction: Obtain a Department-approved training about child abuse prevention for J.G. Correct imediately. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 04/30/2024
2.121.J.1 · Correction due April 30, 2024
Reviewed forty (40) staff files and observed D.R.'s file to be missing documentation of Out of State background check/ Out of State Clearance Letters.
Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that staff member D. R.. have reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of Out of State background check/ Out of State Clearance Letters for staff member D. R. with written response to Specialist upon completion. Document compliance to Specialist Correct by 04/30/2024
2.209.B.4 · Correction due May 30, 2024
Reviewed twenty-four (24) children files and observed two (2) files to be missing a copy of the child's health statement completed by a health care provider.
Required correction: Obtain a copy of the child's health statement completed by a health care provider for two (2) children. Send verification with written response to Specialist. Correct by 05/30/2024
2.209.A.7
Reviewed twenty-four (24) children files and observed three (3) files to be missing a dated written authorization for emergency medical care signed by the parent (s)/guradian(s).
Required correction: Obtain a dated written authorization for emergency medical care signed by the parent (s)/gardian(s) for three
Where this record comes from
The Department of Early Childhood keeps about three years of complaints on a program’s public page. Anything older is released only on request, as a single file covering the whole state. Shortlist asked for that file under the Colorado Open Records Act and renews it yearly; it is what this page shows for complaints older than the department’s own window.
The file this page is built from arrived on October 10, 2026 and covers complaints the department publishes today, and complaints back to January 2023 obtained by records request. The next request goes in October 2027.
The department publishes a report for each of these visits. Shortlist has not read those reports yet, so this page shows when the state came and not what it found.
Ask for this program’s record now
The department will also review one program’s complete file on request, which is more than either source above contains. Leave your email and Shortlist will ask for Goddard School Arvada - Ward Road’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.
Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.
Openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
Details
- Address
- 12720 W 54th Drive
- License
- 1749228, active
- Quality program
- Colorado Shines Level 4
Run Goddard School Arvada - Ward Road? Correct or add anything here, free.
Add what is missingSources and dates
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
Details
- Address, License — Checked July 2026 data.colorado.gov
- Quality program — Checked October 2026 data.colorado.gov
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 goddardschool.com/…/arvada/arvada-ward-road
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 sycamorepartners.com
- Who runs it — Checked September 2026 goddardschool.com/about
The private-equity firm Sycamore Partners lists Goddard Systems as a current investment. sycamorepartners.com
Goddard’s own site says “All Goddard Schools are independently owned and operated.” goddardschool.com
Large means the biggest quarter of Denver-area’s 1,147 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 115 to 402 children. Small is 10 to 40; medium is 41 to 114.