Obtaining inspection records / violations in DC

[Anonymous]

I am doing research on daycare and would like to see each place's inspection records and violations/citations. I know that it's impossible to be perfect and that many great places will still have violations/citations... I just want to be able to see what they are for each place. Apparently in DC (unlike in other places), you cannot check this info online? I called the agency to inquire, but have not heard back. Does anyone know how to check this information? Did you check inspection records and violations/citations before enrolling your infant, or is this going overboard? Thank you in advance for your feedback.

[Anonymous]

Bump. I would be interested in this info as well!

[Anonymous]

I asked for records for all inspections, which would include any violations. OSSE checks to make sure violations are corrected. I had to email OSSE's FOIA person, which was about 3 years ago. I think it took a few weeks. I requested it for the 5 places we were most interested in. Just don't hold it against the daycare if parents were late turning in medical forms annually--I accidentally did this one year.

I absolutely would request the inspection records, and it's ridiculous that they aren't online.

[Anonymous]

http://osse.dc.gov/service/open-government-and-foia-osse

OSSE FOIA info

[Anonymous]

Yep FOIA, yes think it's ridiculous this isn't more readily available. But no, I don't think checking is going overboard. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if DC wasn't terribly on top of inspections etc. I'd be less concerned about paperwork violations (unless they're repeated/endless and within the daycare's control - like not parents fault - in which case you have to wonder what else the lax attitude/inability to address extends to) than substantive violations, less worried about self-reported ones than complaints/seen during inspection generally, though I suppose not always. But I'd expect most places to have some - at least of the paperwork variety.