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September 16, 2026 Amina Abdulle, Authorized Agent Bright Side Daycare LLC 3424 E Lake St Minneapolis, MN 55406 License Number: 1111869 (Child Care Center) Dear Amina Abdulle: On August 7, 2026, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families Services (DCYF), Division of Licensing, received your request for reconsideration regarding Citations 1, 2, and 3 in the Correction Order issued to you on July 21, 2026. You did not request reconsideration of any other citations; therefore, they are not under review. Reconsideration Determination Citation 1: Menus did not comply with the nutritional requirements of the USDA. Menus did not include the type of milk. Based on a conversation with an administrative staff person, it was determined that not all children under two years of age were offered whole milk. The requirement for children under two years of age is to be served whole milk with dinner. Your Request for Reconsideration. You stated that your menu which states “Children 2 and over offer skim or 1% milk (Whole Milk only for 1-year olds” complies with the required federal regulations. You stated that the USDA’s requirements encourage institutions to consider dietary preferences and the administrator was correct that your program may not offer whole milk to all children under two years old if a parent requests a variance. Applicable Law. Menus. When food is provided by the license holder, menus must comply with the nutritional requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 226.20. Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0145, subpart 2. Meal components. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each meal served in the Program must contain, at a minimum, the indicated components: (1) Fluid milk. Fluid milk must be served as a beverage or on cereal, or a combination of both. Lactose-free and reduced-lactose milk that meet the fat content and flavor specifications for each age group may also be offered. (i) Children 1 year old. Unflavored whole milk must be served. (ii) Children 2 through 5 years old. Whole, reduced-fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent), or fat-free (skim) milk. Milk must be unflavored. (iii) Children 6 years old and older. Whole, reduced-fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent), or fat-free (skim) milk may be served. Milk may be unflavored or flavored. Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations, subtitle B, Chapter II, subchapter A, subpart E, section 226.20. Reconsideration Determination. It was determined through a discussion with an administrative staff person that not all children under two years of age were served whole milk. Children under two years of age must be served whole milk with dinner. This citation is not related to a violation of the menu. This citation is because you did not have any documentation, information or doctor’s notes to justify variance(s) to serve non whole milk to children under 2 years old. You do not refute that not all children under two years of age were served whole milk. Children under two years of age must be served whole milk with dinner. Citation 1 is affirmed. Citation 2: Areas used by the children were not in good repair. The laminate on the side of the counter was peeling away from the side of the counter. (Toddler Room: Toddler classroom) Your Request for Reconsideration. You do not refute that the laminate on the side of the counter was peeling away from the side of the counter in the Toddler class room. You reference Minnesota statutes, section 142B.17, and assert that you should have been issued a fix-it ticket. Applicable Law. Maintenance of areas used by children. The areas used by children must be free from debris, loose flaking, peeling, or chipped paint, loose wallpaper, or crumbling plaster, litter, and holes in the walls, floors, and ceilings. Rugs must have a nonskid backing or be firmly fastened to the floor and be free from tears, curled or frayed edges, and hazardous wrinkles. Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0140, subpart 20. Reconsideration Determination. You do not refute that the laminate on the side of the counter was peeling away from the side of the counter in the Toddler class room. The areas used by children must be free from debris, loose flaking, peeling, or chipped paint, loose wallpaper, or crumbling plaster, litter, and holes in the walls, floors, and ceilings. Citation 2 is affirmed. You reference Minnesota statutes, section 142B.17, and assert that you should have been issued a fix-it ticket. A fix-it ticket is not applicable in this case. Please contact your Licensor with any additional questions. Citation 3: The required in-service training had not been completed for 3 of 5 (SP1, SP8 and SP9) individuals (director, staff persons, substitutes, or unsupervised volunteers) for the previous concluded calendar year. In-service training did not include the required number of in-service training hours for the previous concluded calendar year (SP1, SP8 and SP9). Your Request for Reconsideration. You stated, “the year would expire at the end of the month twelve months after they were hired (e.g., a year for someone hired on August 4, 2026, would expire at the end of the day on August 31, 2027). The citation is incorrect on all three employees.” Regarding SP1, “SP1 was hired on November 17, 2025…The date by which she must complete in-service training is therefore November 17, 2026, a date that has not yet arrived.” Regarding SP8, “SP8 was hired on March 17, 2025…Attached is her In-Service Training Record showing that she completed 24 hours of in-service training within one year of her date of hire. The second year of employment has not ended yet…It should also be noted that SP8 was on leave for approximately seven months during her current year of employment, so her required hours of in-service training will be prorated.” Regarding SP9, “SP9 was hired on July 8, 2025… The attached In-Service Training Record shows that she completed 24 hours of in-service training by July 31, 2025. Your inspection occurred on July 9, 2026, which was before the end of July.” Applicable Law. In service-training. (a) A license holder must ensure that the center director, staff persons, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers complete in-service training each calendar year. (b) The center director and staff persons who work more than 20 hours per week must complete 24 hours of in-service training each calendar year. Staff persons who work 20 hours or less per week must complete 12 hours of in-service training each calendar year. Substitutes and unsupervised volunteers must complete at least two hours of training each year, and the training must include the requirements of paragraphs (d) to (g). (c) The number of in-service training hours may be prorated for center directors and staff persons not employed for an entire year. (d) Each year, in-service training must include: (1) the center's procedures for maintaining health and safety according to section 142B.66 and Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0140, and handling emergencies and accidents according to Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0110; (2) the reporting responsibilities under chapter 260E and Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0130; (3) at least one-half hour of training on the standards under section 142B.46 and on reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death as required under subdivision 6, if applicable; and (4) at least one-half hour of training on the risk of abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children as required under subdivision 7, if applicable. (e) Each year, or when a change is made, whichever is more frequent, in-service training must be provided on: (1) the center's risk reduction plan under section 142B.54, subdivision 2; and (2) a child's individual child care program plan as required under Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0065, subpart 3. (f) At least once every two calendar years, the in-service training must include: (1) child development and learning training under subdivision 3; (2) pediatric first aid that meets the requirements of subdivision 4; (3) pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation training that meets the requirements of subdivision 5; (4) cultural dynamics training to increase awareness of cultural differences; and (5) disabilities training to increase awareness of differing abilities of children. (g) At least once every five years, in-service training must include child passenger restraint training that meets the requirements of subdivision 8, if applicable. (h) The remaining hours of the in-service training requirement must be met by completing training in the following content areas of the Minnesota Knowledge and Competency Framework: (1) Content area I: child development and learning; (2) Content area II: developmentally appropriate learning experiences; (3) Content area III: relationships with families; (4) Content area IV: assessment, evaluation, and individualization; (5) Content area V: historical and contemporary development of early childhood education; (6) Content area VI: professionalism; (7) Content area VII: health, safety, and nutrition; and (8) Content area VIII: application through clinical experiences. (i) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given them. (1) "Child development and learning training" means training in understanding how children develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially and learn as part of the children's family, culture, and community. (2) "Developmentally appropriate learning experiences" means creating positive learning experiences, promoting cognitive development, promoting social and emotional development, promoting physical development, and promoting creative development. (3) "Relationships with families" means training on building a positive, respectful relationship with the child's family. (4) "Assessment, evaluation, and individualization" means training in observing, recording, and assessing development; assessing and using information to plan; and assessing and using information to enhance and maintain program quality. (5) "Historical and contemporary development of early childhood education" means training in past and current practices in early childhood education and how current events and issues affect children, families, and programs. (6) "Professionalism" means training in knowledge, skills, and abilities that promote ongoing professional development. (7) "Health, safety, and nutrition" means training in establishing health practices, ensuring safety, and providing healthy nutrition. (8) "Application through clinical experiences" means clinical experiences in which a person applies effective teaching practices using a range of educational programming models. (j) The license holder must ensure that documentation, as required in subdivision 10, includes the number of total training hours required to be completed, name of the training, the Minnesota Knowledge and Competency Framework content area, number of hours completed, and the director's approval of the training. (k) In-service training completed by a staff person that is not specific to that child care center is transferable upon a staff person's change in employment to another child care program. Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.65, subdivision 9. Reconsideration Determination. The Licensor noted that SP1 had not completed the required in-service training requirements for the previous concluded calendar year. You stated that “the year would expire at the end of the month twelve months after they were hired.” Required number of in-service training hours must be completed for the previous concluded calendar year (emphasis added) not “the end of the month twelve months after they were hired.” You do not dispute that SP1 had not completed the required in-service training requirements for the previous concluded calendar year. Citation 3 is affirmed regarding SP1. Regarding SP8, on reconsideration, you indicated that SP8 was on leave for seven months during his/her current year of employment but there was no documentation on site during the site visit to show that SP8 was on leave for seven months. Furthermore, the Licensor noted that SP8 had not completed the required in-service training requirements for the previous concluded calendar year. You stated that “the year would expire at the end of the month twelve months after they were hired.” Required number of in-service training hours must be completed for the previous concluded calendar year (emphasis added) not “the end of the month twelve months after they were hired.” You do not dispute that SP8 had not completed the required in-service training requirements for the previous concluded calendar year. Citation 3 is affirmed regarding SP8. Regarding SP9, the Licensor noted that SP9 had not completed the required in-service training requirements for the previous concluded calendar year. You stated that “the year would expire at the end of the month twelve months after they were hired.” Required number of in-service training hours must be completed for the previous concluded calendar year (emphasis added) not “the end of the month twelve months after they were hired.” You do not dispute that SP9 had not completed the required in-service training requirements for the previous concluded calendar year. Citation 3 is affirmed regarding SP9. Disposition The Commissioner has reviewed the relevant laws and all the information you submitted in response to the Correction Order. Citations 1, 2, and 3 are affirmed. This is a final agency decision. Previously Ordered Corrective Action. In the original Correction Order, you were ordered to correct the violation(s) cited, and submit documentation of such action to your licensor. A request for reconsideration does not stay any provisions or requirements of the correction order. Minnesota Statutes, 142B.16, subdivision 2, paragraph (a). If you have not done so already, please immediately comply with the previously ordered corrective actions for all uncontested and affirmed violations. The Commissioner appreciates your response and encourages you to continue to work cooperatively with your licensor to ensure the safety and well-being of the children you serve. Sincerely,
Hlee Vang, Attorney Legal Counsel’s Office Office of Inspector General
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