Palo Alto · Licensed center

Learning Center, the

What these mean, and where they come from

Medium means the middle half of Bay Area’s 439 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 31 to 75 children. Small is 8 to 30; large is 76 to 312.

How they teach

Play-based and emergent curriculum

“Our program is child-centered and play-based in nature with the goal of fostering emotional, social, cognitive and physical growth.”In their words, July 2026.tlcpaloalto.org

“The emergent curriculum builds on children’s experiences, connects home life to school, and, we hope, gives children a sense of ownership and excitement about learning that begins a life-long love of learning.”In their words, July 2026.tlcpaloalto.org

One of 82 Bay Area providers that describe a play-based approach, out of 164 that describe any approach at all.

What it costs

Application fee $100.

Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, ratios and staff, sick and biting policies.

What the state has found

Routine visits: 3 of 5 cited something

Bay Area centers: the state cites something at about 1 in 4 routine visits.

From California CDSS Community Care Licensing’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — California CDSS Community Care Licensing

Last visit
September 3, 2025
On file
5 visits since April 2022 — 2 cited nothing · 1 complaint investigation
Most serious
No finding carrying a severity level in the last 24 months.

California CDSS publishes the full investigation narrative for a complaint, including its disposition, and classifies a citation Type A — an immediate risk to a child — or Type B.

Aug 2025 Complaint Unsubstantiated

Complaint · August 28, 2025

Unsubstantiated

ALLEGATION(S): One (1) Personal Right's allegation: Facility staff are not preventing physical altercation between day care children. INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: On 09/03/2025 at 9:30am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Jialing “Julianne” Zhu conducted an UNANNOUNCED COMPLAINT SITE INSPECTION. LPA met with Director P.E. LPA advised director the nature of the inspection: a complaint regarding Children’s Personal Rights was filed against the facility. Present during the inspection were eight (8) fingerprint-cleared staff and 34 children (8 toddlers and 26 preschoolers). LPA made observations when children were playing in the outdoor areas and inside the classroom. LPA conducted interviews with the Director and staff. LPA also obtained and reviewed children’s files(s) and incident reports aka “ouch reports.” Although the allegation may have happened or is valid and based on LPA's observations and other evidence obtained during today's inspection, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated. Report was reviewed, exit interview was conducted, and Appeal Rights were provided with Director P.E. A Notice of Site Visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Unsubstantiated Estimated Days of Completion:

Individual employees are shown by initials. The state’s report, linked above, names them in full.

State report

Apr 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited
Mar 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · March 13, 2024

HSC 1596.8662(b)(1) · Type B

(1) On or before March 30, 2018, a person who, on January 1, 2018, is a licensed child day care provider, administrator, or employee of a licensed child day care facility shall complete the mandated reporter training provided pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), and shall complete renewal mandated reporter training every two years following the date on which he or she completed the initial mandated reporter training. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. LPA observed 5 staff member with a invaild mandated reporter certificate, director stated that she forgot about the mandated reporter training.

State report

Mar 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · March 22, 2023

HSC 1596.8662(b)(1) · Type B

(1) On or before March 30, 2018, a person who, on January 1, 2018, is a licensed child day care provider, administrator, or employee of a licensed child day care facility shall complete the mandated reporter training provided pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), and shall complete renewal mandated reporter training every two years following the date on which he or she completed the initial mandated reporter training. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. S1 Mandated reported traning expired on 3/7/23, Director stated that S1 forgort to renew mandated reporter

State report

Oct 2022 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · October 7, 2022

CCR 101700.3(b)(1) · Type B

101700.3(b)(1) Lead Testing Written Directive- A result with values of 5.5 ppb or greater shall be deemed an Action Level Exceedance. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above, which is a potential health and safety risk to persons in care.

State report

Apr 2022 Licensing visit nothing cited

How the comparison is built

Routine visits: across Bay Area centers, the state cites something at about 1 in 4 routine visits (2,260 visits).

A day here

Meals
Healthy morning and afternoon snack plus a hot lunch (organic milk served with lunch/snacks; lunch includes a vegetable, fruit, protein, and complex carbohydrates) (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
Hours
7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, 5 days a week
Schedule
full-time, with 2, 3, or 5 day/week options (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
Closed
Closed for Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break (Dec 21–Jan 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Summer Break, and additional TLC Holidays

Details

(650) 325-6683

Address
459 Kingsley Ave
License
430702587, active
Ages they serve
18 months through entry into Kindergarten
Established
1977

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Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

All checked July 2026.

How they teach

How they teach

What it costs

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

A day here

Details