WINNETKA — Tampe Management, the owner of the Rainbow Early Learning Center in Winnetka, reached an agreement with the California Department of Social Services in February 2026. This agreement included the revocation of the facility's license.

A July 2024 investigation by the department determined that an employee had placed a small bag containing methamphetamine in a bathroom cubby. This investigation also found that three children were exposed to and ingested substances containing amphetamine or methamphetamine. State authorities initiated an investigation into the daycare facility in May 2024 after two children exhibited unusual behavior upon returning from the daycare. Both children were transported to a hospital and tested positive for drugs.

Blood tests for a 4-year-old child revealed a positive result for amphetamine. Jose Aguilar stated his 4-year-old daughter exhibited vomiting, insomnia, loss of appetite, constant talking, and hyperactivity after attending the daycare in May 2024. A 2-year-old child from the facility also tested positive for methamphetamine. Attorney Ese Omofoa, who represents the Bekir family in a lawsuit against the daycare, said the affected children did not have family contact or spend time together outside the daycare. "There were symptoms that these children were exposed to dangerous drugs, and you know, staff, no one really took it seriously. Parents weren't notified. Medical personnel wasn't contacted to look into this." Omofoa said.

The facility director confirmed the employee responsible for the incident was terminated. The department stated the terminated employee is prohibited from employment in, presence in, and contact with clients at any licensed facility. The license revocation for the Rainbow Early Learning Center is suspended for three years while Tampe Management operates the facility under probationary conditions. State regulations require facilities to inform current and prospective parents of their probationary status.

Dominic Gamali, a parent with a daughter enrolled at the daycare, stated, "Under no circumstances should people be able to get off easy. I feel these establishments should be completely shut down." Both children involved in the drug exposure cases now attend different schools. Aguilar said his daughter continues to experience difficulty focusing and requires nightly parental sleep monitoring. "It's really hard for me. We don't sleep the same like normal before because I have to check my daughter every day." Aguilar said.

The department is investigating another Tampe Management facility after a lawsuit alleged a child was left in a locked vehicle for approximately one hour. Staff at the additional facility declined to answer questions. Between 2020 and 2025, 393 childcare centers and family childcare homes were placed on probationary status for health and safety compliance failures, according to data from the department.

The department operates a public online search tool for checking childcare facility probation status. Officials stated facility names and addresses on probation are exempt from Public Records Act requests.