Chicago · Licensed center

Bright Beginnings Early Learning Center

A play-based center in Chicago, licensed for 31 children. The state cited something at 11 of 11 routine visits (Chicago-area centers: about 5 in 6).

How they teach

Play-based

“By combining play-based learning with meaningful connection, we prepare children with the confidence, care, and foundational skills they need to thrive in preschool and beyond”In their words. brightbeginningschicago.com, August 2026

One of 70 Chicago-area providers that describe a play-based approach, out of 129 that describe any approach at all.

Who cares for your child

Ratio not published

Elin Valentin (Director/Owner), 15 years in early childhood. Two other staff are named on their site, with no start years given.

What it costs

From $2,440 a month

Chicago-area comparison hidden until they say which age this price is for.

Part-time $1,645 to $2,075 a month.

Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: a typical day, sick and biting policies.

What the state has found

Routine visits: 11 of 11 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
December 11, 2024
On file
11 visits since February 2017 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was January 10, 2025. 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.

Dec 2024 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · December 11, 2024

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) through (f)(2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(f)(2)

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2023 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · December 5, 2023

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d) · Violation corrected

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2022 Monitoring visit 13 findings

Monitoring visit · November 17, 2022

Personnel Records

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (e)(5) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(e)(4) · 407.120(e)(5)

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) through (2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) · 407.70(e)(2)

Application for Renewal of License

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(f) · Violation corrected

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(h) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected

Cited: CCASEC4

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2021 Monitoring visit 11 findings

Monitoring visit · December 6, 2021

Personnel Records

6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(5) · 407.120(a)(6)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Child Care Director

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m) · Violation corrected

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(b) · Violation corrected

Cited: CCASEC4

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

Cited: FHSEC305

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2020 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · September 15, 2020

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 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 21, 2019

Personnel Records

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (e)(5) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(e)(4) · 407.120(e)(5)

Organization and Administration

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1) · 407.70(e)(2) · 407.70(e)(3)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected on site

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected

Cited: CCASEC4

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

Cited: FHSEC305

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2019 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · April 8, 2019

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · Violation corrected

Napping and Sleeping

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2018 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · September 11, 2018

Personnel Records

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected on site

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2017 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · December 7, 2017

Personnel Records

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3)

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected

Cited: CCASEC4

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2017 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · March 9, 2017

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2017 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · February 2, 2017

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Cited: CCASEC4

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 554434 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

A day here

Schedule
full-week (5 days), part-week (3-4 days)

Details

Phone
7736986488
Website
brightbeginningschicago.com
Address
2902 N Central Park
License
pending renewal application (rn)
Ages
6 weeks - 48 months
Established
2017

Do you run Bright Beginnings Early Learning Center? Shortlist has no ratios, policies or daily routine 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.

How they teach

Who cares for your child

What it costs

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

A day here

Details