The Learning Tree Academy.

Center · Charlotte · 5500 Starkwood Drive

What kind of place is this?

Size 70 children licensed In the middle half for Charlotte centers, where the middle half licenses 50–162. Measured across 598 Charlotte centers, 2026-08-17.
Established 2016
Approach faith-based, creative-curriculum

In the program’s own words

“Our commitment to serving God by serving others.” tltacademy.com, July 2026
“The Creative Curriculum includes developmentally appropriate goals and objectives for children within four main categories of interest: social/emotional, physical, cognitive and language.” tltacademy.com, July 2026

How this compares

North Carolina DCDEE cited something at 6 of the 9 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 tltacademy.com

State record — North Carolina DCDEE

Last visit
July 24, 2026
On file
9 visits since October 2023 — 3 cited nothing, 1 of those unannounced
Fixed?
All 29 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.

Jul 2026 Unannounced visit 3 findings

Unannounced visit · July 24, 2026

Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas. There was no evidence of this requirement in the classroom.

Violation corrected during visit

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. The metal, merry go rounds on both playgrounds are chipping paint. (mainly the red and orange one on the top/handle bars:

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/7/2026

The EPR Plan did not include the location of the Ready to Go File and or the required information. Children and staff information was not included int the file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/7/2026

DCDEE facility lookup

Mar 2026 Announced visit nothing cited
Jul 2025 Unannounced visit 5 findings

Unannounced visit · July 30, 2025

The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. Due to repairs and renovations staff records were not accessible for review.

Violation corrected during visit

Daily records of arrival and departure times for children at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. The upper preschool/space 3 and space 4 did not have all children documented as present or the arrival time.

Violation corrected during visit

Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. The last documented fire drill was May 25, 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 had a box with plastic bags and plastic wrapped diapers near the wall.

Violation corrected during visit

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last documented was March, 2025

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Apr 2025 Unannounced visit 3 findings

Unannounced visit · April 9, 2025

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference Space 1(toddlers) had a plan dated 3/28/24) space 4 (preschool) di not have evidence of a plan in the classroom.

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. Space four, had an uncovered outlet near the cozy corner.

Violation corrected during visit

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 staff started on 9/10/24 and completed the training on 3/6/25. Another staff started on 8/15/24 and training was taking on 12/7/2020.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Sep 2024 Announced visit nothing cited
Jul 2024 Unannounced visit 9 findings

Unannounced visit · July 31, 2024

Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. provider did not send proper inspection form within one week.

Violation corrected during visit

Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. posted menu stated tortillas, ground beef, salad, beans, children were served pasta with ground beef, green beans, and applesauce.

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. several dinosaurs on the two/three year old playground and a seat on the bike (merry go round) were broken or cracked. Vinyl chair in space 1(toddlers) is peeling.

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. space 5 was missing an outlet cover near the block center.

Violation corrected during visit

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. New staff started on 7/22/24

Violation corrected during visit

Vehicles used to transport children enrolled in the child care center did not comply with all applicable State and federal laws and regulations. Van 1 (kah-4778) expired on March 31, 2024. Van 2 (3843) tag will expire on 7/31/2024.

Violation corrected during visit

First aid kit and/or fire extinguisher was not located in vehicle; kit and/or extinguisher was not mounted or secured if in passenger area. Van(KAH-4778) did not have a fire extinguisher or first aid kit.

Violation corrected during visit

The medical action plan was not updated on an annual basis or when changes to the plan were made by the child's parent or health care professional. Last updated file was 5/5/23.

Violation corrected during visit

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. staff started on 8/8/23 and there was no record of training being taken prior to 7/31/24.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

May 2024 Unannounced visit 3 findings

Unannounced visit · May 16, 2024

Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center was not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. There were no consistent documentation of children arrival and departure times. Some records were not dated, many were missing departure times.

Violation corrected during visit

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Space 5, Space 1, had March and April activity plans posted.

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. space 5 was missing a outlet cover near the book center.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Mar 2024 Unannounced visit 6 findings

Unannounced visit · March 12, 2024

Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. The menu posted on the Information board in the main entrance and exit area was dated for the incorrect week.

Violation corrected during visit

All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. The door to the kitchen, that has direct access to a Pre K classroom was open and unlocked. The teacher closed the door and when the Assistant Director arrived she locked the door. Since the door was open there was a product labeled "keep out of reach of children" which was not above five (5) feet since the room was not locked.

Violation corrected during visit

Each employee's personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. Staff member K.C. stated that she had reviewed and signed off on the personnel and operational policies but it was not on site, and I was not able to review.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/12/2024

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. Staff member K.C. stated that she had reviewed the EPR plan during her orientation but it was not maintained in her file so I was not able to review.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/12/2024

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 member K.C. stated that she has completed the training and signed the policy but it was not in her file so it was not able to review.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/12/2024

Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. The provider took down the paper authorizing the medication to be given. The child no longer requires the medication.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Oct 2023 Unannounced visit nothing cited

Before you tour

The Learning Tree Academy. 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

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 The Learning Tree 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.