Parents trusted BrightPath Daycare in Avon to keep their toddlers safe. Instead, a former employee there now faces criminal charges for sexually assaulting young boys, ages 3 to 5, in six separate incidents. Every one of those incidents was recorded by the center’s own security cameras.

That detail should stop everyone cold. The cameras were rolling, but cameras alone did not protect these children. Footage that nobody watches is not a safety system.

Families have now filed at least 11 civil lawsuits against BrightPath’s parent company, accusing it of negligence. The newest suit alleges the worker also photographed children in his care and shared those images with others. The center closed in May, but closing one building does not fix the gaps that allowed this to happen.

The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, which licenses childcare programs, and the Connecticut General Assembly have the power to act. They should require licensed centers that use cameras to have trained staff review footage on a regular schedule, report warning signs right away, and keep records inspectors can check. They should also strengthen background checks, increase unannounced inspections, and require parent companies to report abuse allegations to families and regulators without delay.

BrightPath’s parent company should also commit to full transparency with affected families and to paying for counseling and support for every child involved.

No parent should have to wonder whether anyone is watching. Sign the petition to demand real oversight in Connecticut daycares before another child is harmed.