Jacobs Ladder Child Development Center

Center · Troutman · 571 South Main Street

What kind of place is this?

Size 71 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 11 of the 17 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 Three Star License
License status Active

State record — North Carolina DCDEE

Last visit
February 11, 2026
On file
17 visits since November 2023 — 6 cited nothing, 5 of those unannounced
Fixed?
All 49 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.

Feb 2026 Unannounced visit 7 findings

Unannounced visit · February 11, 2026

Lavatories were not kept clean, in good repair and kept free of storage. In space 2 the tile is coming off the wall and needs to be repaired.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/6/2026

Children did not wash their hands upon arrival at the center, after each visit to the toilet, before eating, before and after water activity play, after outside play, and after handling animals or animal cages. Child did not wash hands after handling body fluids.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/25/2026

Diaper changing surfaces were not kept free of storage. In space 2 the diaper changing table had materials stored on table (papers, pens, clip board, and other items).

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/25/2026

All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. The walls in space 2, 3, and 4 need to be cleaned and in good repair. Walls have chipping paint.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/25/2026

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The incident log was not kept current for the center.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/25/2026

Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. Staff with the hire date of 3/14/25 did not have a medical report on file prior to employment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/25/2026

The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. Staff with the hire date of 9/30/25 Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/25/2026

DCDEE facility lookup

Sep 2025 Unannounced visit 4 findings

Unannounced visit · September 17, 2025

All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Employees with the hire date of 3/14/25 and 3/31/25 did not have First Aid with in 90 days of hire.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/13/2025

All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Staff members with the hire date of 3/31/25 and 3/14/25 did not have CPR within 90 days of hire.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/13/2025

A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. Facility was not registered in the ABCMS provider portal.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/13/2025

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. Employee with the hire date 3/31/25 did not complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment within 90 days of hire.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/1/2025

DCDEE facility lookup

Mar 2025 Unannounced visit 8 findings

Unannounced visit · March 11, 2025

A current schedule was not posted for each group of children for reference. A current schedule was not posted in space 1.

Violation corrected during visit

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. Playground equipment needs to be cleaned. Slide has plastic that is cracked this needs to be repaired. Sand box the wood around the box needs to be replaced.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/26/2025

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. Gloves in space 2 bathroom were on a shelf where children 1 and 2 years of age can reach them.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/26/2025

On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. Employee with hire date 4/12/24 did not have a TB test before the first day of work.

Violation corrected during visit

Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. Staff with hire dates 6/4/24 and 7/12/21 did not complete the number of on-going training hours according to education and experience.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/26/2025

Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. Employee hire date 04/12/24 did not have a medical or health exam on file before the first day of employment.

Violation corrected during visit

The EPR Plan did not include the date of the last revision of the plan. EPR plan did not have a revision date.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/28/2025

The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. Employee hire date 4/12/24 completed training on 6/4/24

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Oct 2024 Unannounced visit 4 findings

Unannounced visit · October 9, 2024

Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. Last fire drill was conducted 8/30/24.

Violation corrected during visit

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. Staff member was eating food in the classroom that did not meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/22/2024

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. Last emergency drill was conducted on 6/13/24.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/22/2024

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. One employee with the hire date of 5/14/24 has not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. An employee with the hire date of 8/19/2013 does not have a certificate on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/22/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Aug 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Jul 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Jul 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · July 1, 2024

Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met. Space 2 the staff/child ratio was not in compliance when I entered the classroom. There were 9 children to one teacher.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

May 2024 Announced visit nothing cited
May 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Apr 2024 Unannounced visit 11 findings

Unannounced visit · April 16, 2024

Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. Menu was not current in 2 classrooms.

Violation corrected during visit

Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. One authorization form for a child's medication was not completed.

Violation corrected during visit

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. Incident logs were not current and up to date.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/30/2024

All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. 6 staff members do not have current First Aid on File.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/1/2024

All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. 6 staff members do not have current CPR on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/1/2024

Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. Four staff have not received the number of training hours according to their education and experience.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/8/2024

Emergency and identifying information, including the child's name, photograph, emergency contact information and/or a copy of the emergency medical care information form was not in the vehicle for each child being transported. Van 2 did not have emergency information on the van for children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/30/2024

Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. Two children files did not have a medical exam on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/30/2024

Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. There was one child's file did not have an immunization record on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/30/2024

The EPR Plan did not include the date of the last revision of the plan. The EPR Plan has not been revised since August 2022.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/30/2024

All staff did not review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff. Documentation of the review was not maintained on file. Facility has not reviewed the EPR plan with staff since 4-6-23.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/30/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Apr 2024 Unannounced visit 5 findings

Unannounced visit · April 2, 2024

Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met. In space 4 the ratio is 1/6 and there were 15 children in the classroom with 2 teachers. The youngest child was one years of age.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/15/2024

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. The playground equipment needs to be cleaned and repaired. Playground toys are covered with a mildew substance. This was on the riding toys and slide equipment. Screws need to be tighten on the slide equipment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/15/2024

Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. The medical report was dated after hire date. The hire date of the employee was 3/4/24.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/15/2024

On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. TB test was dated after hire date. The employee hire date was 3/4/24. TB was dated 3/5/24.

Violation corrected during visit

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. Staff member hired on 3/4/24 was qualified in ABCMS system to work with children, but did not have a qualification letter on file at the facility as required.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/15/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Feb 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · February 19, 2024

Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met. On February 19, 2024, a staff member was responsible for 17 children, with the youngest child being 3 years old.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Feb 2024 Unannounced visit 3 findings

Unannounced visit · February 5, 2024

Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met. On February 5, 2024, a staff member was alone with 28 children, ages from 1-5 years old.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/15/2024

Children were not adequately supervised at all times. A staff member left several 2 and 3 year old children unattended during nap time.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/15/2024

Children between 12 and 24 months of age were grouped with children 3 years of age or older. On February 5, 2024, several one year old children were grouped with children over the age of three.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/15/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Jan 2024 Unannounced visit 4 findings

Unannounced visit · January 24, 2024

Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. : In space 3, the staff/child ratio form is not correct for the ages of children enrolled in the classroom. The form should be updated to state that the youngest child in the classroom is two years of age, and the staff/child ratio and maximum number of children allowed in the space should be updated to reflect the age of the youngest child enrolled in that space.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/6/2024

Diaper changing surfaces were not kept free of storage. In Space 2 the changing table used to change children had books, papers, and other material that were not used for the diapering process.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/6/2024

Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. In Space 4 a table used by the children in the dramatic play area was broken. The leg was falling off the table.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/6/2024

Discipline was not appropriate for the child's age and development. I observed that a student was in time out. I was in the classroom for 10 mins and the student was in the timeout chair for more than the appropriate time for the age of the student.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/6/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Jan 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Dec 2023 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Nov 2023 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · November 21, 2023

Children were not adequately supervised at all times. Children were left unattended by the teacher while she went in the hallway bathroom to check on a student. The student that was in the bathroom was left alone unattended in the hallway bathroom.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/5/2023

DCDEE facility lookup

Before you tour

Jacobs Ladder 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 Jacobs Ladder 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.