The Maryland State Department of Education did not perform legally required inspections and criminal background checks at numerous private day care centers and preschools across the state, according to a state audit released Tuesday.

More than a third of the child care facilities checked were missing at least one of their required inspections between July 2008 and June 2011, according to a review of inspection reports of 60 facilities throughout the state. (Read the complete audit in the embedded viewer below this story.)