Noah's Ark Child Care
223 1ST ST NE, MADELIA, MN 56062Childery Rating: 4/5
Data last updated ·
Quality Indicators
See Methodology →- Overall QualityCombines daily care quality (interactions, learning, environment) with structural features like staff-to-child ratios and teacher qualifications.4 / 5
- Process QualityThe quality of daily care — caregiver-child interactions, learning activities, and the emotional climate. Drawn from the state QRIS rating, accreditations, and Head Start CLASS observations.5 / 5
- Structural QualityMeasurable features like staff-to-child ratios, group sizes, license status, and teacher qualifications. Provider-level data when available; otherwise the state regulatory baseline.3 / 5
Why this rating
This daycare earned 4 out of 5 stars overall. Process quality reflects NAEYC accreditation. Structural quality reflects a 100% violation rate and a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes Minnesota's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. Minnesota caps infant ratios at 1:4, toddler ratios at 1:7, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead teachers must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA). Teachers must complete 24 hours of annual training.
Quality Recognitions & Accreditations
- Accreditations
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)Accredited
- National Accreditation Commission (NAC)Not Accredited
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)Not Accredited
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)Not Accredited
Facility Info
- Facility type
- Child Care Center
- Age groups served
- Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age
- Licensed capacity
- 63
- Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
Age Max ratio Max group Infants 1:4 8 Toddlers 1:7 14 Preschool 1:10 20
Teacher Credentials
- Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
Inspection History
Across 5 inspections since 2023, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (15), Infectious Disease Prevention & Control (14), and Emergency Preparedness & Drills (8). Of 74 total findings, 8 were critical.
See All 5 Inspection Visits
Feb 3, 202623 Findings2 Critical21 Important
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.04 subd. 1(b) and (h)
The program did not submit a background study request to DHS when required.
- FacilityStat. 142B.54 subd. 2(e) R. 9503.0140 subp. 17
Hazardous objects were accessible to children.
- Staff QualificationsMinn. R. 9503.0032 subp. 2 9503.0120 item B
Documentation was not available to show that a teacher met qualifications.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0034 subp. 1 9503.0040 subp. 2 item D
A teacher or assistant teacher did not directly supervise an aide.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0040 subp. 2
The correct number of qualified staff were not present.
- Program Plan/Interest AreasMinn. R. 9503.0045 subp. 2
Children did not have daily access to all interest areas.
- Children's RecordsMinn. R. 9503.0090 subp. 2 item B
The program did not document that parent conferences were offered.
- Documentation LogsMinn. R. 9503.0110 subp. 3 item D and E and subp. 4 item B
The program did not have documentation of fire and/or tornado drills.
- Children's RecordsMinn. R. 9503.0125
Children's files did not contain all required items.
- Children's RecordsMinn. R. 9503.0125 item G 9503.0140 subp. 3
Children's files did not contain physical exam documentation. Correction: Correction Documentation Insufficient
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 2
The yearly health consultant's review was not completed. Correction: Correction Documentation Insufficient
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 2
The monthly health consultant's review of infant policies was not completed. Correction: Correction Documentation Insufficient
- Medication/First AidMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 7 item D
Products to control diaper rash were not properly labeled.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 142B.10 subd. 21(b)(1) 142B.65 subd. 1
Staff orientation training did not include all required items.
- Reporting RequirementsMinn. Stat. 142B.54 subd. 1, paragraph (2)
The program did not identify persons responsible for completing internal reviews.
- Risk Reduction PlanMinn. Stat. 142B.54 subd. 3
The Risk Reduction Plan was not reviewed each calendar year.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 142B.65 subd. 3
Child development and learning training did not contain all required items. Correction: Correction Documentation Insufficient
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 142B.65 subd. 9
All staff did not complete ongoing training requirements.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 1
The program did not have a policy to prevent and respond to allergies.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 2
The program did not have a policy for handling and disposing of bodily fluids.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 3(d)
The emergency preparedness plan was not updated yearly.
- Staff TrainingStat. 142B.65 subd. 4 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with first aid training requirements. Correction: Correction Documentation Insufficient
- Staff TrainingStat. 142B.65 subd. 5 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with CPR training requirements.
Nov 13, 202536 Findings2 Critical34 Important
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.04 subd. 1(b) and (h)
The program did not submit a background study for an individual when required, however the program submitted a study before DCYF discovered the error.
- FacilityStat. 142B.54 subd. 2(e) R. 9503.0140 subp. 17
Hazardous objects were accessible to children.
- Staff QualificationsMinn. R. 9503.0032 subp. 2 9503.0120 item B
Documentation was not available to show that a teacher met qualifications.
- Staff QualificationsMinn. R. 9503.0033 subp. 2 9503.0120 item B
Documentation was not available to show that an assistant teacher met qualifications.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0040 subp. 2
The correct number of qualified staff were not present.
- Program Plan/Interest AreasMinn. R. 9503.0045 subp. 2
Children did not have daily access to all interest areas.
- Behavior GuidanceMinn. R. 9503.0055 subp. 5 9503.0115 item G
The separation log was not complete.
- Documentation LogsMinn. R. 9503.0110 subp. 3 item D and E and subp. 4 item B
The program did not have documentation of fire and/or tornado drills.
- Documentation LogsMinn. R. 9503.0110 subp. 3 item I and subp. 4 item C
The program's documentation of accidents, injuries, incidents, and emergencies did not contain all required items.
- Children's RecordsMinn. R. 9503.0125
Children's files did not contain all required items.
- Children's RecordsMinn. R. 9503.0125 item G 9503.0140 subp. 3
Children's files did not contain physical exam documentation.
- Infant and Toddler CareMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 12
Diaper changing procedures were not posted in the diaper changing area.
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 13
Staff did not monitor and assist a child with hand washing.
- Medication/First AidMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 16
The first aid kit did not contain all required items.
- FacilityMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 19
Equipment and furniture were not in good repair.
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 2
The yearly health consultant's review was not completed.
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 2
The monthly health consultant's review of infant policies was not completed.
- Medication/First AidMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 7 item D
Products to control diaper rash were not properly labeled.
- Medication/First AidMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 7 item E
The program did not comply with medication storage requirements.
- Food and WaterMinn. R. 9503.0145 subp. 2
Menus did not comply with the nutritional requirements of the USDA.
- FacilityMinn. R. 9503.0155 subp. 11
Electrical outlets were not tamper-proof or shielded.
- PostingsMinn. Stat. 142B.16 subd. 5 142B.18 subd. 6
A licensing action was not posted in a prominent place.
- Food and WaterMinn. Stat. 142B.41 subd. 13
The program used water bottles or reusable cups to provide water to children and did not have or follow a policy.
- Reporting RequirementsMinn. Stat. 142B.54 subd. 1, paragraph (2)
The program did not identify persons responsible for completing internal reviews.
- Risk Reduction PlanMinn. Stat. 142B.54 subd. 3
The Risk Reduction Plan was not reviewed each calendar year.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 142B.65 subd. 6(a)
All individuals caring for infants did not receive sudden unexpected infant death training.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 142B.65 subd. 9
All staff did not complete ongoing training requirements.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 1
The program did not have a policy to prevent and respond to allergies.
- Children's RecordsMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 1(c)
The Individual Child Care Program Plan for a child with a known allergy was not updated.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 2
The program did not have a policy for handling and disposing of bodily fluids.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 2, paragraph (4)
The program did not have the required bodily fluid disposal supplies available to staff.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 3(d)
The emergency preparedness plan was not updated yearly.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 3(e)
The emergency preparedness plan was not included with other program policies and/or given to parents.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 142B.66 subd. 3(f)
The relocation site and evacuation route from the emergency preparedness plan was not posted.
- Staff TrainingStat. 142B.65 subd. 4 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with first aid training requirements.
- Staff TrainingStat. 142B.65 subd. 5 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with CPR training requirements.
Dec 16, 202412 Findings3 Critical9 Important
- Reporting RequirementsMinn. R. 9503.0130 subp. 1
The program did not comply with the reporting requirements for abuse and neglect.
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.04 subd. 1(b) and (h)
The program did not submit a background study request to DHS when required.
- FacilityStat. 245A.66 subd. 2(e) R. 9503.0140 subp. 17
Hazardous objects were accessible to children.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0034 subp. 1 9503.0040 subp. 2 item D
A teacher or assistant teacher did not directly supervise an aide. Correction: Correction Documentation Insufficient
- Medication/First AidMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 7 item D
Products to control diaper rash were not properly labeled.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 1 245A.04 subd. 14(b)(1)
Staff orientation training did not include all required items.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 2
Child development and learning training did not contain all required items.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 7
All staff did not complete ongoing training requirements.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 3
The emergency preparedness plan did not contain all required items.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 3(d)
The emergency preparedness plan was not updated annually.
- Staff TrainingStat. 245A.40 subd. 3 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with first aid training requirements.
- Staff TrainingStat. 245A.40 subd. 4 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with CPR training requirements.
Nov 1, 20242 Findings1 Critical1 Important
- Reporting RequirementsMinn. R. 9503.0130 subp. 1
The program did not comply with the reporting requirements for abuse and neglect.
- Program PracticesStat. 245A.02 subd. 18 R. 9503.0045 subp. 1 item A
Staff did not supervise the children at all times.
Nov 30, 20231 Finding1 Important
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.13 subd. 2
An individual required to have a background study was allowed to have contact with children before receiving a DHS notice allowing contact.
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