State officials have failed to collect fines from nearly one in five child care providers who have been sanctioned for breaking rules.

An analysis by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed the state Department of Early Care and Learning has not moved aggressively to collect those financial penalties.

Records show that state officials failed to collect $299 from a provider that left a 2-year-old alone at a park after a field trip. It also did not collect a fine when a child care worker beat a 4-year-old with a shoe.

Agency commissioner Bobby Cagle said he was not surprised by the rate of uncollected fines. But he said it is not satisfactory.

The newspaper previously reported that Georgia is less aggressive than other states in revoking the license of daycare providers.

Tags: child care, Department of Early Care and Learning, daycare