JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- State child welfare workers said they're looking into a complaint that a Jacksonville Head Start teacher crossed the line with child discipline. The investigation is focused on a center in Fort Caroline.

The mother of a 5-year-old student at the Fort Caroline Head Start program said she didn't want her identity revealed, but she did want to talk about a shocking phone call she received from the Department of Children and Families.

"I took it pretty hard. I really did," she said. "I cried because my baby is at school and I'm thinking she's in good hands. She's supposed to be learning."

She said the person on the other end of call claimed one of the teachers may have been abusing her daughter, a student at the Fort Caroline Head Start program, and has been removed from the classroom.

The mother said she never suspected anything was wrong.

"It's no telling how long it's been going on, but they did say it was more than one victim, more than one student, and that's what I'm afraid of," she said.

The DCF confirmed it has been investigating a case of "inappropriate discipline" from the childcare facility for about a week. Officials there said they won't call it abuse, and they won't release further more details.

DCF spokesman John Harrell said it's against regulations for anyone in childcare centers to physically discipline children, but he stressed that isn't necessarily what happened at the Fort Caroline Head Start center.

The investigation is being conducted to find out what happened.

"We're looking into this issue. We would not encourage anyone to panic. We're dealing with this appropriately, and we are actively investigating," Harrell said.

As the investigation continues, the mother of the 5-year-old had advice for other parents.

"Watch who your child is around, really," she said.

Officials at the Fort Caroline Head Start center told Channel 4 they have no comment.