NH daycare appeals state license revocation

DOVER, N.H. —

A daycare in Dover is appealing the state’s decision to revoke its childcare licenses after state officials say the center failed to turn over evidence requested as part of an investigation.

The Child Care Licensing Unit, under the Department of Health and Human Services, said Kid’s Culture Childcare failed to turn over surveillance video requested during a 2025 investigation after reports that a 4-year-old girl had been touched inappropriately by a 5-year-old boy.

Kid’s Culture Childcare & Learning Center operates four locations.

DHHS said the license revocation was not based on a child safety violation, but on the daycare’s failure to provide requested records from its Dover-North location.

Court documents show Kid’s Culture CEO Erin Kniphfer reviewed the video but declined to provide it to investigators, saying she determined there was no incident that warranted further investigation.

Documents also show Kniphfer asked the CCLU whether the center would be cited if investigators saw something in the video unrelated to the original investigation.

The CCLU said it appeared Kniphfer was trying to expand her business at the time.

The final decision states:

“The inquiry from Ms. Knipher, coupled with the fact that Appellant had access to and reviewed a portion of the video from June of 2025 prior to ultimately denying an ability to access and share the video, and Appellant’s desire to expand its daycare facility, justifies the CCLU’s concern that Appellant was attempting to hide something from CCLU.”

The CCLU imposed a $1,700 fine and revoked its care license.

Under New Hampshire law, a childcare license can be revoked if a licensee refuses or fails to submit a report or make records available to DHHS when those records are required for an investigation of the facility for licensing purposes.

Court documents show Kniphfer disagreed that the footage was a required record, telling the CCLU the center was not required to provide it.

Kid’s Culture filed initial appeals and is now challenging the ruling in Merrimack Superior Court.

Under state law, the centers can remain open while the appeal is pending.

In a statement from Kniphfer’s attorney, Brian Quirk of Shaheen & Gordon, to WMUR:

“Kids Culture respectfully disagrees with the administrative decision and appealed that ruling to the New Hampshire superior court. We look forward to the court process.”

Quirk also shared a statement on behalf of Kniphfer:

“The safety and well-being of the children we serve has always been and continues to be our highest priority.”

Jake Leon, the director of communications for DHHS, shared the following statement with News 9:

“The license revocation process has concluded with the Administrative Appeals Unit ruling that supported the decision to revoke the provider’s childcare license. With the ruling complete, the attached files are publicly available. DHHS is committed to ensuring that all families in New Hampshire have access to safe, high-quality childcare.”