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Childery

St. Martin's Lutheran School Early Learning Center

1200 2ND ST NE, WATERTOWN, SD 57201Childery Rating: 4/5

Data last updated ·

Quality Indicators

See Methodology →
  • Overall Quality
    4 / 5
  • Process Quality
    Not Available
  • Structural Quality
    4 / 5

Why this rating

This daycare earned 4 out of 5 stars overall. Structural quality reflects a 33% violation rate across 7 visits in the last 3 years (most recently inspected May 2026) and a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes South Dakota's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. South Dakota caps infant ratios at 1:5, toddler ratios at 1:5, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead-teacher education isn't regulated. Teachers must complete 10 hours of annual training. No objective process measures (e.g., state quality rating or national accreditation) are available for this daycare. The overall rating reflects structural features only.

Quality Recognitions & Accreditations

Accreditations
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)Not 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
Not Available
Licensed capacity
Not Available
Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
AgeMax ratioMax group
Infants1:520
Toddlers1:520
Preschool1:1020

Teacher Credentials

Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
Not Regulated

Inspection History

4 Inspection Visits Since 2025 · 9 Findings
Most recent: May 14, 2026⤓ Download Inspection History Report (PDF)
9 Important

Across 4 inspections since 2025, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (3), Emergency Preparedness & Drills (2), and Child Transportation Safety (2). None of the 9 findings were critical.

See All 4 Inspection Visits
  1. May 14, 20262 Findings2 Important
    • 67:42:17:18 Allprovidersmustobtainannualtraininginthetopicareasidentifiedin45C.F.R.§98.41,ineffectonSeptember30, 2016,orasidentifiedbythedep…67:42:17:18

      Attimeofinspection,twoproviderfilesweremissingdocumentationofannualtraining.

    • 67:42:17:43 Aprovidershallhave: (1) Awrittenemergencypreparednessandresponseplanforemergenciesresultingfromanaturaldisasteroraman- Causedeve…67:42:17:43

      Theprogrampracticedtherequiredtwoannualfiredrillsandshelter-in-placedrillsbutcompletedonlyonelockdown drillduringthepreviouscalendaryear.

  2. Apr 14, 20263 Findings3 Important
    • Doemployeerecordscontainallrequiredinformation?67:42:17:1567:42:17:15
    • Doestheproviderhavedocumentationshowingtwofireevacuationdrills,twoshelter-in- Placedrills,andtwolockdowndrillsconductedi…67:42:17:43

      Doestheproviderhavedocumentationshowingtwofireevacuationdrills,twoshelter-in- placedrills,andtwolockdowndrillsconductedinthepastcalendaryear…

    • Iftransportationisprovided,doestheprogramhaveproofofliabilityinsuranceforthe vehicle(s)usedtotransportchildren?67:42:17:…67:42:17:45

      Iftransportationisprovided,doestheprogramhaveproofofliabilityinsuranceforthe vehicle(s)usedtotransportchildren?67:42:17:45 Yes Comments Addi…

  3. Aug 11, 20251 Finding1 Important
    • 67:42:17:42 Aprovidershallmaintainarecordforeachchildthatincludes: (1) Thechild'snameanddateofbirth; (2) Theparentorguardian'snameandtelepho…67:42:17:42

      Attimeofinspection,4childfilesweremissingrequiredinformation.

  4. Jul 16, 20253 Findings3 Important
    • Doemployeerecordscontainallrequiredinformation?67:42:17:1567:42:17:15
    • Dochildren'srecordsincludenameandDOBofchild,parent/snamesandcontact Information,emergencycontactinformation,permissionfo…67:42:17:42

      Dochildren'srecordsincludenameandDOBofchild,parent/snamesandcontact information,emergencycontactinformation,permissionforemergencymedicaltre…

    • Iftransportationisprovided,doestheprogramhaveproofofliabilityinsuranceforthe vehicle(s)usedtotransportchildren?67:42:17:…67:42:17:45

      Iftransportationisprovided,doestheprogramhaveproofofliabilityinsuranceforthe vehicle(s)usedtotransportchildren?67:42:17:45 Yes Comments Addi…

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