Chicago · Licensed center
Alpha Learning Center
A center in Chicago, licensed for 63 children. The state cited something at 12 of 14 routine visits (Chicago-area centers: about 5 in 6).
Medium center. Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.
Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, sick and biting policies.
What the state has found
Routine visits: 12 of 14 cited something
Across Chicago-area centers, the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine visits (19,088 visits).
From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Illinois DCFS
- Last visit
- January 30, 2026
- On file
- 14 visits since July 2010 — 2 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was March 2, 2026. Illinois DCFS does not publish whether it was made.
- Most serious
- Illinois DCFS does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
Illinois DCFS cites each subsection of a rule separately, so one audit of a filing cabinet can produce ten citations. It publishes the rule’s title and a correction deadline, but no description of what was observed.
Jan 2026 Monitoring visit 16 findings
Monitoring visit · January 30, 2026
Nutrition and Meal Service
7 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(a) through (l) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(a) · 407.330(f)(3) · 407.330(g)(1) · 407.330(h) · 407.330(i) · 407.330(k) · 407.330(l)
Napping and Sleeping
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(b)(1) through (d)(3) · Violation corrected on site · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(b)(1) · 407.350(b)(1)(e) · 407.350(d)(3)
General Requirements for Personnel
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(f)
Health Requirements for Children
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4) through (5) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4) · 407.310(a)(5)
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · Violation substantiated
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(p)(2) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2025 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · October 2, 2025
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(a) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2023 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · July 18, 2023
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Apr 2022 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · April 19, 2022
Application for Renewal of License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(b) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2021 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · November 22, 2021
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2021 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · November 8, 2021
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(c) · Violation corrected
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2020 Monitoring visit 14 findings
Monitoring visit · October 26, 2020
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (5) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(5)
General Requirements for Personnel
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (7) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7)
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(b) through (c) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(b) · 407.150(c)
Provisions Pertaining to the License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(5)(b) · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected
Hand Washing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c) · Violation corrected on site
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) · Violation corrected on site
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2019 Monitoring visit 13 findings
Monitoring visit · October 18, 2019
Equipment and Materials
5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) through (5)(e) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(4)(b) · 407.380(j)(4)(d) · 407.380(j)(4)(n) · 407.380(j)(5)(e)
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (c) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(c)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8) · Violation corrected
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m) · Violation corrected
Hand Washing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c) · Violation substantiated
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2018 Monitoring visit 11 findings
Monitoring visit · August 2, 2018
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370 through (e)(7) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370 · 407.370(e) · 407.370(e)(7)
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (2) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · 407.120(a)(2)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (f)(8) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(f)(8)
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · Violation corrected on site
Special Requirements for School-Age Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(c) · Violation corrected
Nutrition and Meal Service
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(m) · Violation corrected on site
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2016 Monitoring visit 13 findings
Monitoring visit · August 2, 2016
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) through (i)(2) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(1)(h) · 407.250(i)(2)
Personnel Records
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (3) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3)
General Requirements for Personnel
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6)
Health Requirements for Children
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6)
Application for Renewal of License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(b) · Violation corrected
Cited: CCASEC4
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2015 Monitoring visit 14 findings
Monitoring visit · August 25, 2015
General Requirements for Personnel
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (7) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(4) through (f)(1) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(4) · 407.370(e)(10) · 407.370(f)(1)
Equipment and Materials
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(g) through (j) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(g) · 407.380(j)
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b) · Violation corrected on site
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(a) · Violation corrected on site
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected on site
Program Requirements for All Ages
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d) · Violation corrected on site
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(g) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2010 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · July 9, 2010
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(6)
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(10) · Violation corrected
Equipment and Materials
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 465760 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Details
- Phone
- 7734454252
- Website
- alphalearningctr.com
- Address
- 8422 S Damen Ave
- License
- pending renewal application (rn)
Do you run Alpha Learning 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.
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.
State record
Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.
Details
- Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 · sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "ALPHA LEARNING CENTER" under Provider Name and 60620 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 465760).
- Website — Checked August 2026 · alphalearningctr.com