First Ward Child Development Center

Center · Charlotte · 600 East 7th St

What kind of place is this?

Size 161 children licensed In the middle half for Charlotte centers, where the middle half licenses 50–162. Measured across 598 Charlotte centers, 2026-08-17.

How this compares

North Carolina DCDEE cited something at 10 of the 12 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.

Will it fit our family?

Accepts subsidy Yes

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Five Star License
License status Active
Website fwcdc.org

State record — North Carolina DCDEE

Last visit
June 29, 2026
On file
12 visits since January 2024 — 2 cited nothing, 2 of those unannounced
Fixed?
All 37 record a correction, in the licensor’s own words.
Most serious
North Carolina DCDEE does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.

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.

Jun 2026 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · June 29, 2026

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. Drill was completed but form was incomplete and missing information.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Mar 2026 Unannounced visit 8 findings

Unannounced visit · March 31, 2026

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Space six activity plan was dated for March 23-27, 2026, in space nine there was no pm activity plan for wrap around care.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on

Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas. Space nine did not have a allergy list posted.

Violation corrected during visit

When children 3 years and older were in care, screen time was not used to stimulate a developmental domain; was not limited to 30 minutes a day and no more than a total of two and a half hours per week, per child; and/or was not documented on a cumulative log or the activity plan that is available for review. Space six did not have evidence of this occurring.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on

Screen time was offered to children under three years of age. In space six the computer was on and it was stated that the children use the computer as a whole group. The classroom has six two year old's.

Violation corrected during visit

Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible. Space eight had a broken tray, playgrounds had a broken chair, and broken waffle cube(large fine motor put together). The climbing structure on the Nc prek playground, steps are peeling and is very rusted.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on

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. Space six had plastic bags, plastic wrap from construction paper cover, and hard plastic smaller than a domino bug science toys.

Violation corrected during visit

Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. Several children files has not been updated since 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on

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. One new hire completed this training on 4/17/2024 and was hired on 11/18/2025.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on

DCDEE facility lookup

Nov 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · November 21, 2025

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. Incident reports were not kept in the child's folder.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Jun 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Apr 2025 Unannounced visit 7 findings

Unannounced visit · April 4, 2025

Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. Space four did not have any evidence of this requirement posted.

Violation corrected during visit

Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. Space four (L. Barnes), form was incomplete, and did not have an end date.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/18/2025

Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization. Space one had asthma medication dated February 2025

Violation corrected during visit

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. space one(EHS) had plastic bags down at children reach, space four, had uncovered trash can with exposed plastic bags.

Violation corrected during visit

Application did not include the names of individuals to whom the center may release the child, as authorized by the person who signs the application. There was no one listed on the application.

Violation corrected during visit

Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services. Five children files did not have the M.A.P. attached to the application. Four were corrected on site.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/18/2025

Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. several staff did not complete the training within five years.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/18/2025

DCDEE facility lookup

Sep 2024 Unannounced visit 5 findings

Unannounced visit · September 25, 2024

Safe pick-up and delivery procedures were not communicated to parents and/or were not posted where they can be seen by the parents. The safe arrival and departure procedures were not posted.

Violation corrected during visit

Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. In space number two (#2) one child's sage sleep check was not able to be checked as it wasn't in the child's folder.

Violation corrected during visit

All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review. T.L's file was not completed or able to be reviewed.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/3/2024

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last emergency drill was in May of 2024 and a new drill was not completed or documented within the three month time line.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/3/2024

Prescribed medicines, that are pharmaceutical samples, was not stored in the manufacturers original packaging, was not labeled with the child's name, and/or written instructions did not include the required information. A child in space number six (#6) prescribed medication was not in its original packaging and did not have written instructions on how to use the medication.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/3/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Jul 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · July 25, 2024

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Thee was not a current lesson plan posted.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/1/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Apr 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · April 19, 2024

Corporal punishment was used. [Omit item 0903 for religious sponsored centers operating under GS 110-106 with an exemption on file with the Division.] A staff member hit a three year old child on their bottom as a form of discipline.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/26/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Apr 2024 Unannounced visit 9 findings

Unannounced visit · April 11, 2024

Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child's home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child. All cups that are from someone's home should be labeled.

Violation corrected during visit

Smoking materials were not kept in locked storage. A teachers backpack was not locked up and it had a lighter and cigars inside her purse.

Violation corrected during visit

Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. A teachers backpack was not locked and sitting in the children's cubbies area. There were some vitamins/or other type of medication in the bag.

Violation corrected during visit

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 three their were several plastic bags with seeds and other materials. In space 6 there was a plastic bag in a unlocked cabinet.

Violation corrected during visit

The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily. There was no policy posted in space two or three.

Violation corrected during visit

Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. Several children did not have evidence of updated emergency medical care information in the office files or in the classrooms.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/23/2024

Application for enrollment did not include all required information. The section regarding fears, behaviors and health care concerns were not completed for several children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/23/2024

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. There were two cans and one bottle of soda in space nine.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/23/2024

Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services. a child whose application stated their was a peanut allergy had no action plan, and another child did not have one for asthma.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/23/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Feb 2024 Unannounced visit 2 findings

Unannounced visit · February 27, 2024

Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. The menu stated the children were being served peaches and there were served honeydew.

Violation corrected during visit

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Classroom 5 had an uncovered outlet near the block center.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Jan 2024 Unannounced visit 2 findings

Unannounced visit · January 19, 2024

Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. A staff member used profanity, multiple times in front of multiple children, age four.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/26/2024

A child was yelled at, shamed, humiliated, frightened, threatened or bullied. Two staff members treatened at least two children, ages three and four, with using a yardstick as a form of discipline. A staff member yelled at children, age four, using profanity, on multiple occassions.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/26/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Jan 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited

Before you tour

First Ward Child Development Center hasn’t published

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.

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.

What kind of place is this

Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.

Will it fit our family

Not yet reported: ages served, hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.

Licensing and contact

State record

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 First Ward Child Development Center? 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.