Chicago · Licensed center
Guidepost Montessori At Lincoln Park
At a glance
- Large center, licensed for 136 children.
What to know
The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 7 of its 10 licensing inspections since December 2020.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Mar 20, 20261 citation
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)
Sep 9, 202514 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(i)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(8)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3)
Hand Washing
Hand Washing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(a)(3)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(q)(2)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(l)(1)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(d)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)
- Mar 25, 2025Nothing cited
- Mar 7, 2025Nothing cited
Sep 14, 202317 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(a)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
- Apr 2, 2023Nothing cited
Feb 28, 20231 citation
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(8)
Sep 15, 20226 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(d)(4)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b)
Aug 31, 20216 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(1)
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)(2)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Dec 16, 20203 citations
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
The state cited rules at 7 of this center's 10 inspections. Most Chicago-area centers inspected 10 or more times had rules cited at some but not all of theirs, as this center did: 78% of 868.
How all 868 Chicago-area centers inspected 10 or more times compare
Of the 868 Chicago-area centers the state inspected 10 or more times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- Some78%This center
- All22%
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Illinois DCFS
- Last visit
- March 20, 2026
- On file
- 10 visits since December 2020 — 3 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was June 19, 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.
Mar 2026 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · March 20, 2026
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 592278 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2025 Monitoring visit 14 findings
Monitoring visit · September 9, 2025
General Requirements for Personnel
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (i) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(i)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) through (q)(2) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) · 407.370(q)(2)
Equipment and Materials
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(d) through (5) · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(d) · 407.380(j)(5)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(8) · Violation substantiated
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation substantiated
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3) · Violation substantiated
Hand Washing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(a)(3) · Violation substantiated
Nutrition and Meal Service
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(l)(1) · Violation corrected on site
Medications
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) · Violation corrected on site
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 592278 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2023 Monitoring visit 17 findings
Monitoring visit · September 14, 2023
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(a) through (4)(a) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(a) · 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(2) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)
General Requirements for Personnel
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (d) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(d)
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)
Medications
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1) through (e) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1) · 407.360(e)
Equipment and Materials
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) through (5) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(5)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · Violation corrected
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 592278 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Feb 2023 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · February 28, 2023
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(8) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 592278 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2022 Monitoring visit 6 findings
Monitoring visit · September 15, 2022
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (4) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7) · Violation substantiated
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation substantiated
Medications
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(d)(4) · Violation substantiated
Equipment and Materials
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 592278 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2021 Monitoring visit 6 findings
Monitoring visit · August 31, 2021
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)
Health Requirements for Children
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1) · 407.310(a)(6)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 592278 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Dec 2020 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · December 16, 2020
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) through (i)(2) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · 407.250(i)(2)
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 592278 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Details
- Phone
- (949) 354-2259
- Address
- 2301 N Clark St, Chicago, 60614
- Chain
- Guidepost Montessori
- Run by
- Guidepost Global Education — as of October 2025, may have changed since
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.
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
From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked November 8, 2026.
Details
- Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT LINCOLN PARK" under Provider Name and 60614 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 592278).
- Website, Chain — Checked October 2026 guidepostmontessori.com
- Ages on the license — Checked November 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT LINCOLN PARK" under Provider Name and 60614 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 592278).
- Run by — Checked October 2026 guidepostmontessori.com
Guidepost says its schools are run by Guidepost Global Education, a new, independent company formed in spring 2025, before the former operator, Higher Ground Education, filed for bankruptcy, and that none of its schools were part of that Chapter 11 case. On October 28, 2025, Guidepost said 83 schools remained open. It says the company has its own owners but does not name them. guidepostmontessori.com
Large means the biggest quarter of Chicago-area’s 1,948 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 119 to 487 children. Small is 8 to 48; medium is 49 to 118.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.