Bothell · Licensed center

Birch Tree Academy - Bothell

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What the state has found

Someone reported concerns to the state, and it found all 3 valid, most recently in July 2026. The state also cited rules at 3 of its 4 licensing inspections since June 2023.

Of the 239 Seattle-area centers with 4 licensing inspections, 33% had rules cited at 3 of them, as this center did. 29% had rules cited at all 4, 7% at none.

Complaints the state found valid

Someone reported a concern. The state investigated and found reasonable cause to believe a licensing rule was broken.

Received Apr 30, 2026Valid complaint, 1 rule citedresolved Jul 25, 2026

  • “Allegation that staff failed to review and follow allergy information before serving food to a child with a known food allergy.”

    The state’s description of the complaint

  • “Licensor conducted staff interviews, reviewed documentation, and reviewed video footage regarding the incident involving a child with a known seafood allergy. Information obtained during complaint inspection confirmed the center was aware of the child's seafood allergy prior to the incident. The child was was served fish during lunch service. One staff member reported asking another staff member whether any children had allergies and was told there were none. Another staff reported focusing on vegetarian meal substiutions. Video footage reviewed showed staff referencing information posted on a classroom cabinet prior to serving lunch. Licensor reviewed the child's records and confirmed the center did not have an Individual Care PLan on file for the child at the time of the incident. The center obtained an ICP after the incident occured. The center failed to obtain and maintain an ICP for a child with a know food allergy. Allegation is Valid.”

    WAC 110-300-0186(1)

Received Oct 17, 2025Valid complaintresolved Nov 13, 2025
The state’s report (PDF)
Received Apr 10, 2023Valid complaintresolved Nov 14, 2023
The state’s report (PDF)

Of the 215 Seattle-area centers licensed for 115 to 323 children, 105 (49%) have no valid complaint in the last three years; 63 (29%) have two or more, as this center does.

Licensing inspections

Dec 3, 20257 citations

  • “It was observed in two rooms that the window blind cords were broken off from their tensioners.”

    WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b)

  • “In a PreK room, chairs were stacked to block the emergency exit.”

    WAC 110-300-0166(3)(c)

  • “It was observed that allergy plans did not always list approved substitute foods.”

    WAC 110-300-0186(1)

  • “It was observed that the medication authorization for diaper creams and other non-medical items were not specific and were not always re-authorized annually.”

    WAC 110-300-0215(3)

3 more from this inspection

  • “In a PreK bathroom, a plunger was observed.”

    WAC 110-300-0260(5)

  • “It was observed that VV and AM did not have current food handler's cards.”

    WAC 110-300-0106(12)

  • “It was observed that one child's immunization was dated more than 12 months ago.”

    WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2)

Jan 22, 20253 citations

  • “It was observed that many classrooms had blind cords that were broken off from the tensioner, or were loose from the blind and hanging down.”

    WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b)

  • “It was observed that a vacuum was accessible to children in a bathroom.”

    WAC 110-300-0260(5)

  • “It was observed that an EpiPen was not stored with the prescription label. It was observed that diaper creams were accessible to children on a low shelf. This was moved during the visit”

    WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i), WAC 110-300-0215(3)(c)

Nov 30, 20231 citation

  • “small shelf located on top of cabinet, in the Narwhal classroom, that is not securely anchored to prevent a fall risk.”

    WAC 110-300-0165(3)(f)

Jun 6, 2023No rules cited
Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
June 15, 2026
On file
4 visits since June 2023 — 1 cited nothing · 3 complaint investigations
Most serious
Serious — Licensor conducted staff interviews, reviewed documentation, and reviewed video footage regarding the incident involving a child with a known seafood allergy. Information obtained during complaint inspection confirmed the center was aware of the child's seafood allergy prior to the incident. The child was was served fish during lunch service. One staff member reported asking another staff member whether any children had allergies and was told there were none. Another staff reported focusing on vegetarian meal substiutions. Video footage reviewed showed staff referencing information posted on a classroom cabinet prior to serving lunch. Licensor reviewed the child's records and confirmed the center did not have an Individual Care PLan on file for the child at the time of the incident. The center obtained an ICP after the incident occured. The center failed to obtain and maintain an ICP for a child with a know food allergy. Allegation is Valid. · June 15, 2026

Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.

Apr 2026 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · Received April 30, 2026 · Resolved July 25, 2026

“Allegation that staff failed to review and follow allergy information before serving food to a child with a known food allergy.”

The state’s description of the complaint

Reported to the state by the program

Serious injury, valid issues and self-report are Washington’s own fields on its complaint listing.

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

Licensor conducted staff interviews, reviewed documentation, and reviewed video footage regarding the incident involving a child with a known seafood allergy. Information obtained during complaint inspection confirmed the center was aware of the child's seafood allergy prior to the incident. The child was was served fish during lunch service. One staff member reported asking another staff member whether any children had allergies and was told there were none. Another staff reported focusing on vegetarian meal substiutions. Video footage reviewed showed staff referencing information posted on a classroom cabinet prior to serving lunch. Licensor reviewed the child's records and confirmed the center did not have an Individual Care PLan on file for the child at the time of the incident. The center obtained an ICP after the incident occured. The center failed to obtain and maintain an ICP for a child with a know food allergy. Allegation is Valid.

Report (PDF)

Dec 2025 Licensing visit 7 findings

Licensing visit · December 3, 2025

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b) · Serious

It was observed in two rooms that the window blind cords were broken off from their tensioners.

Emergency preparation and exiting

WAC 110-300-0166(3)(c) · Serious

In a PreK room, chairs were stacked to block the emergency exit.

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

It was observed that allergy plans did not always list approved substitute foods.

Immunizations and exempt children

WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term

It was observed that one child's immunization was dated more than 12 months ago.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3) · Serious

It was observed that the medication authorization for diaper creams and other non-medical items were not specific and were not always re-authorized annually.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(5) · Serious

In a PreK bathroom, a plunger was observed.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

It was observed that VV and AM did not have current food handler's cards.

Report (PDF)

Oct 2025 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · Received October 17, 2025 · Resolved November 13, 2025

The state’s report (PDF)

Jan 2025 Licensing visit 3 findings

Licensing visit · January 22, 2025

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b) · Serious

It was observed that many classrooms had blind cords that were broken off from the tensioner, or were loose from the blind and hanging down.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(5) · Serious

It was observed that a vacuum was accessible to children in a bathroom.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) / 110-300-0215(3)(c) · Serious

It was observed that an EpiPen was not stored with the prescription label. It was observed that diaper creams were accessible to children on a low shelf. This was moved during the visit

Report (PDF)

Nov 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · November 30, 2023

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(3)(f) · Short Term

110-300-0165(3)(f) small shelf located on top of cabinet, in the Narwhal classroom, that is not securely anchored to prevent a fall risk.

Report (PDF)

Jun 2023 Licensing visit nothing cited Report (PDF)
Apr 2023 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · Received April 10, 2023 · Resolved November 14, 2023

Reported to the state by the program

Serious injury, valid issues and self-report are Washington’s own fields on its complaint listing.

The state’s report (PDF)

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, Working Connections subsidy, cost, ratios and staff, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.

How they teach

Play-based and STEAM

“Our STEM-based preschool program provides an engaging and nurturing environment where children’s natural curiosity drives their learning!”

A day here

Hours
7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week
Meals
Provides AM snack, breakfast, lunch, PM snack, and a late PM snack daily; whole milk (toddlers only) and 1% milk served with breakfast and lunch (sample menu, representative of actual offerings) (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
Sleep
Infants nap on their own personalized schedules (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
Updates for parents
Brightwheel app (menu changes communicated through it) (the brand’s policy for all its schools)

Details

(425) 286-2935

Website
birchtreeacademy.com
Address
9724 Thorsk St.
License
PL-80053, active
Quality program
Early Achievers Enrolled

Nearby

The eight closest of the 12 other licensed centers in ZIP 98011

Programs in Bothell on the Seattle guide

Run Birch Tree Academy - Bothell? Correct or add anything here, free.

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Sources 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.

How they teach

State record

From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.

A day here

Details

Large means the biggest quarter of Seattle-area’s 859 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 115 to 323 children. Small is 6 to 40; medium is 41 to 114.

The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.

Nearby

The other centers’ visit lines are from Washington DCYF’s published reports as Shortlist read them on October 10, 2026.