Northport day care: State no longer referring families to Learning Experience, a target of alleged abuse investigation

A Northport day care facility, facing allegations of child abuse and mistreatment, is at risk of having its license to continue operating revoked while the state is no longer referring families to the center, records show.

The actions center on the Learning Experience, a day care on Fort Salonga Road for children age 6 weeks through kindergarten.

Abuse, corporal punishment allegations

Newsday first reported last week that detectives with the Suffolk County Police Department's Special Victims Unit are investigating allegations, made on April 10, that a now-former Learning Experience employee abused at least one minor at the facility. The identity of the ex-employee has not been disclosed and police said there is no update on the investigation.

The investigation came after inspectors with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services visited the facility on March 26 and April 1 and issued a host of violations, including for corporal punishment and harsh discipline during toilet training, inspection records show.

The facility was also cited for failing to immediately report suspected incidents of child abuse or maltreatment and not establishing and following a written plan for behavior management. Staff was found not to be of "good character and possess suitable personal qualifications" or to "have the energy and emotional stability necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of their positions."

Those violations are now listed as "corrected" following an April 20 follow-up inspection. The Learning Experience is open and licensed to continue operating, officials said.

But the facility continues to face stiff sanctions, including potential closure.

State records show the facility's licensing status is "pending revocation," indicating the program has been notified that the Office of Children and Family Services is moving to rescind its ability to continue operating. A revocation decision, state guidelines indicate, is final.

Any enforcement action, such as a license suspension or fines, will remain pending until the case is resolved or a final decision has been made by an administrative law judge or a court. Details of the appeals process are not made public until a decision is finalized, officials said.

Messages left at the Northport care center and its Florida-based parent company were not returned. 

The day care center opened in 2009 and its current license is in effect through Dec. 10, 2027, state records show.

'Unacceptable' behavior

Records show the facility has been removed from the state's referral list, which is used by local and state agencies when they're contacted by parents seeking information about available day care programs.

A program is removed from the referral list when the Office of Children and Family Services moves to revoke, suspend or deny the renewal of the license or registration, records show. Reinstatement can occur if the program becomes compliant with state regulations and the enforcement action is withdrawn or resolved, according to state guidelines.

State Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James), whose district includes Northport, said the specific allegations, including that at least one teacher made students sit in urine-soaked clothes as punishment for having an accident, is "unacceptable. And I have a feeling that it's not going to be good moving forward for the Learning Experience. ... The owners need to be held accountable."

Mattera said he's been working with Assemb. Keith Brown (R-Northport) and Northport-East Northport Union Free School District Superintendent David Moyer to accommodate parents who want their children removed from the Learning Experience and transferred to other local day care facilities. The Learning Experience is one of the district's Universal Pre-Kindergarten placement sites.

"If anyone wants their children to be moved, they're being moved," Mattera told Newsday. "Other parents are fine with their children remaining there because they like the teachers there."

It's unclear how many students have transferred out of the facility. 

In a letter to parents Friday, Moyer said the district was notified that a "remediation plan addressing the complaint" has been submitted by the Learning Experience to the state for review.

"Please be advised that the School District is closely monitoring the situation and will address any potential impacts to School District families based on the findings of the investigation," Moyer wrote. "At this time, the School District is carefully reviewing all available options, including potential alternative placements for the 2026-27 school year, should any changes become necessary."

 This is not the first time the Learning Experience has been cited for violations involving children. 

Previous facility citations, which records show have since been corrected, include failing to prepare a healthcare plan that protects and promotes the health of children; exceeding capacity in certain childcare age groups; failing to conduct two shelter-in-place drills annually; hand-washing violations; and not properly securing window and door blind cords, ropes, wires or other strangulation hazards.

The Learning Center has more than 600 locations nationwide either open or under development. 

In addition to Northport, the Learning Center has a dozen other Long Island locations, including in Centereach, Deer Park, East Northport, Farmingdale, Huntington, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma, Massapequa, Medford, Oceanside, Plainview and Rocky Point. 

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.