Virginia Moves to Revoke Goddard School License
The state cites repeated high-risk violations discovered during inspections at the Alexandria facility.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Child Care
Live Poll
Do you trust that local authorities provide enough information about safety violations at neighborhood daycares?
The Virginia Department of Social Services issued a Notice of Intent to Revoke the License for the Goddard School of Alexandria Old Town on August 27, 2026. This action follows a string of documented safety and health violations reported during state inspections conducted throughout the year.
Why it matters
The decision to revoke the license stems from recurring high-risk incidents that compromised the safety and well-being of children in the center's care. Officials identified failures in physical safety, staff training, and mandatory reporting protocols that persisted across multiple months of oversight.
State inspectors reported mouse droppings in 6 classrooms and noted that staff lacked emergency medical training for 7 children. Inspections also documented physical handling incidents involving an 8-month-old infant and a 3-year-old child.
The players
Virginia Department of Social Services
This state agency is responsible for overseeing and licensing childcare facilities to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
Goddard School of Alexandria Old Town
This local childcare center is part of a national network of approximately 650 schools.
The details
State records indicate that the facility failed to notify parents of communicable diseases and allowed staff to omit injury details in reports. Additionally, inspectors found uncovered electrical outlets in rooms occupied by children and observed a situation where a child was permitted to consume a known allergen from the floor.
Timeline
April 2026: Inspections began and mouse droppings were found in six classrooms.
May 2026: Staff members were found to lack training for administering emergency medication.
July 2026: An inspection revealed a staff member swatted an eight-month-old child.
August 27, 2026: The Virginia Department of Social Services issued the Notice of Intent to Revoke the License.
November 19, 2026: The school's operating license is set to expire.
Culture Shift
The revocation notice follows a documented pattern of non-compliance with Virginia's child day care center licensing standards. This enforcement highlights the state's increasing scrutiny of safety protocols in private educational environments to ensure they meet modern childhood welfare expectations.
Families currently enrolled at the facility must arrange alternative care as the state pursues the revocation process. Parents should contact the Virginia Department of Social Services to verify the current standing of the school before making future enrollment commitments.
The takeaway
Maintaining transparency regarding health and safety incidents is a critical responsibility for all licensed childcare providers. Parents are encouraged to review official state inspection reports regularly to ensure their chosen facility remains in compliance with safety standards.
Further reading
For more information on state regulatory requirements, visit the Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Patch.
Live Poll
Do you trust that local authorities provide enough information about safety violations at neighborhood daycares?
