North Carolina DCDEE cited something at 8 of the 13 visits below. Across Charlotte centers it cites something at about 57% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Charlotte with Charlotte and never with another state.
Not yet reported: ages served, hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.
This provider does not publish pricing.
North Carolina DCDEE describes every citation in the licensor’s own words and records the correction in that same text — the only one of the six states that publishes whether a violation was fixed. It attaches no rule number and no report document.
Unannounced visit · July 28, 2026
Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. In Space 1A a plastic bag storing shoes was accessible to children. In Space 2B bubble wrap was in the art center accessible to children.
Violation corrected during visit
Unannounced visit · August 13, 2025
A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date. I observed two (2) expired diaper creams in space #2B and #6, this is a repeat violation.
Violation corrected during visit
Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. Drills were not conducted every three (3) months, I observed a drill conducted on 12/19/24 then on 4/7/25.
Violation corrected during visit
Unannounced visit · March 4, 2025
All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. In space #3, I observed materials in the dramatic center that were bitten and in need of replacement. In space #2A, I observed three (3) areas on an interactive wall board that were chipped and in need of repair.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/11/2025
Unannounced visit · August 16, 2024
Lavatories were not kept clean, in good repair and kept free of storage. A toilet lid was soiled in the bathroom between spaces #4 and #5.
Violation corrected during visit
All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. A chalkboard on the preschool playground had nails sticking out from on top of the boards.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/29/2024
A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In space #6B, I observed a topical ointment that needed physician directions/permission to apply to children under 2 years old.
Violation corrected during visit
A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date. I observed an expired topical ointment dated for 6/2024 in space #4.
Violation corrected during visit
Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. I observed all of the incident reports for the month of July 2024 not filed in the designated children's files.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/29/2024
Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. Two (2) staff files had 5.5 hours completed for he first two weeks of employment.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/29/2024
The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The mulch on the preschool playground did not meet the required depth.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/29/2024
Unannounced visit · May 31, 2024
Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. Although staff did complete a scratch and dent form for an injury that occurred on March 21, 2024, the form did not include all the information required in the rule.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/6/2024
Unannounced visit · February 21, 2024
All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. In space #5, I observed wooden frames with broken wood edges and splinters.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/29/2024
A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In space #6B, I observed a lotrimin ointment that was on file for an infant child, this ointment cannot be administered to children under the age of 2 unless directed by the doctor. A homemade ointment with the listed components (hydrocortisone, destitin and lotrimin) were on file for an infant child, the lotrimin can not be administered to children under the age of 2 unless directed by the doctor.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/29/2024
When medication was administered, documentation was not completed or maintained for 6 months and/or the documentation did not include the required information. One (1) child had an expired medication permission form dated for 2/13/24.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/29/2024
Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. The playground inspection for Dec 2023 was not completed.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/29/2024
The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Two (2) staff did not complete the recognizing and responding training within ninety (90) days of employment.
Violation corrected during visit
Unannounced visit · August 28, 2023
The discipline policy was not followed. On 8/18/23, a teacher did not follow the discipline policy. The teacher delegated discipline to another child and proceeded to hit a child on the shoulder after the child did not hit his peer.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/8/2023
Unannounced visit · August 17, 2023
No longer displayed by the state
All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. In space #4, I observed a chair with rust on the back legs.
Violation corrected during visit
No longer displayed by the state
A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date. In space #1a, I observed an expired diaper cream.
Violation corrected during visit
No longer displayed by the state
All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. C.H did not have an updated health questionnaire on file.
Violation corrected during visit
No longer displayed by the state
Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care. In space #6a, I observed an energy drink can on the counter.
Violation corrected during visit
Cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, sick and biting policies.
Ask which of these findings were serious.North Carolina DCDEE records the correction in its own words, but never says how serious it was.
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.
Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.
Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.
Do you run Dogwood Lane Children's Academy? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.