Los Angeles Daycare On Probation After Children Ingest Meth, Still Open
A Winnetka daycare remains open under a three-year probation after state social services officials in February 2026 stayed a planned license revocation following findings that children were exposed to and ingested methamphetamine.[1]
The California Department of Social Services reached the agreement with owner Tampe Management, keeping the Rainbow Early Learning Center operating under probation rather than immediately revoking its license.[1] Parents say they were not told the center was on probation, a disclosure state rules require for current and prospective families.[1]
On May 30, 2024, a 4-year-old girl who attended Rainbow Early Learning Center tested positive for amphetamine after vomiting, sleeplessness and hyperactivity.[1] Around the same time, a 2-year-old from the same daycare tested positive for methamphetamine, and families say the children had no contact outside the facility.[1] A July 2024 CDSS investigation concluded an employee had placed a bag containing methamphetamine in a bathroom cubby and that three children were exposed and allowed to ingest the substances.[1]
CDSS said it would revoke the center's license but agreed to stay that revocation for three years, leaving the facility open while it remains under state supervision.[1] The agency also reported that between 2020 and 2025 hundreds of California childcare centers and family childcare homes were placed on probation but declined to release facility names and addresses under the Public Records Act.[1]
The mainstream summary does not address the broader context of regulatory challenges within California's childcare system, where weak enforcement and persistent non-compliance have become commonplace. A structural explanation highlights that the state's childcare sector is under-resourced, with providers struggling against low pay, high operational costs, and insufficient government subsidies. This dynamic has led regulators like the California Department of Social Services to opt for probationary measures rather than immediate closures, as swift actions could further diminish the already limited supply of childcare options. This context raises questions about the adequacy of oversight and the implications for child safety in facilities like the Rainbow Early Learning Center, which remains operational despite serious allegations of drug exposure.
Additionally, while the summary mentions that hundreds of childcare facilities were placed on probation between 2020 and 2025, it fails to provide the total number of licensed childcare centers in California, which stood at 35,836 in 2023. This statistic underscores the scale of the issue and suggests that the prevalence of probationary statuses may reflect systemic problems rather than isolated incidents. The lack of transparency regarding the names and addresses of facilities on probation further complicates the ability of parents to make informed decisions about their children's care.[2]
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📊 Relevant Data
California had 35,836 licensed child care centers and family child care homes in 2023.
Licensed Child Care Facilities, by Type — KidsData.org (California Child Care Resource and Referral Network)
📌 Key Facts
- On May 30, 2024, a 4-year-old girl who attended Rainbow Early Learning Center in Winnetka tested positive for amphetamine after vomiting, sleeplessness and hyperactivity.
- Around the same time in May 2024, a 2-year-old from the same daycare tested positive for methamphetamine; the families say the children had no contact outside the facility.
- A CDSS investigation in July 2024 found an employee had placed a bag containing meth in a bathroom cubby and that three children were exposed to and allowed to ingest substances containing amphetamine and/or methamphetamine.
- In February 2026, CDSS reached an agreement with owner Tampe Management to revoke the center’s license but stayed that revocation for three years, keeping the daycare open under probation.
- Parents interviewed in April 2026 said they had not been told the center was on probation, even though state rules require disclosure of probationary status to all current and prospective parents.
- CDSS reported that between 2020 and 2025, hundreds of California childcare centers and family childcare homes were placed on probation for health and safety failures, but it declined to release facility names and addresses under the Public Records Act.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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