Gurnee · Licensed center
Kindercare Learning Centers 301326
At a glance
- Large center, licensed for 121 children.
- KinderCare: public company; majority holder Partners Group (private equity).
Company news
KinderCare, the company that runs this center, reported in a federal filing that it permanently closed 49 of its early childhood centers in the six months ending July 4, 2026. It ran 1,567 of these centers at the end of that period. In the same filing, it reported closing 7 in the same six months of 2025.
The filing is about the company. It does not name which centers closed.
KinderCare’s quarterly report to the SEC, filed August 13, 2026. Shortlist last read it on November 8, 2026.
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 11 of its 20 licensing inspections since March 2012.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Aug 11, 20262 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(j)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)
Feb 25, 20261 citation
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1)
Jan 7, 20257 citations
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(5)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(f)(2)
- Jun 5, 2024Nothing cited
Jan 30, 20246 citations
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCA7A.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCA7A.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
- Jan 25, 2023Nothing cited
- Oct 28, 2021Nothing cited
- Oct 19, 2021Nothing cited
Oct 6, 20211 citation
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(e)
- Jul 7, 2021Nothing cited
Jan 15, 20201 citation
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Mar 1, 20193 citations
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
- Sep 21, 2017Nothing cited
- Mar 1, 2017Nothing cited
- Oct 19, 2016Nothing cited
Jan 6, 20161 citation
Program Requirements for All Ages
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(r)
Oct 17, 20131 citation
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
- Sep 24, 2013Nothing cited
Oct 17, 20122 citations
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(f)
Outdoor Play Area
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(f)
Mar 2, 20129 citations
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3)
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)(b)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)
Napping and Sleeping
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c)
The state cited rules at 11 of this center's 20 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
- August 11, 2026
- On file
- 20 visits since March 2012 — 9 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was November 6, 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.
Aug 2026 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · August 11, 2026
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(j) · Violation substantiated
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Feb 2026 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · February 25, 2026
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2025 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · January 7, 2025
Personnel Records
6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (f)(2) · 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) · 407.120(f)(2)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2024 Monitoring visit 6 findings
Monitoring visit · January 30, 2024
General Requirements for Personnel
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8) through (f) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(f)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m) · Violation corrected
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCA7A.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · 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 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2021 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · October 6, 2021
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(e) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2020 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · January 15, 2020
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Mar 2019 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · March 1, 2019
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(a)(2) · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2016 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · January 6, 2016
Program Requirements for All Ages
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(r) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2013 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · October 17, 2013
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2012 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · October 17, 2012
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(f) · Violation corrected
Outdoor Play Area
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(f) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Mar 2012 Monitoring visit 9 findings
Monitoring visit · March 2, 2012
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) through (3) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) · 407.370(e)(2) · 407.370(e)(3)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (2)(b) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(2)(b)
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 · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3) · Violation corrected
Napping and Sleeping
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c) · Violation corrected on site
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 135606 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Details
- Phone
- (847) 360-1122
- Address
- 4574 Brookhaven, Gurnee, 60031
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 August 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERS 301326" under Provider Name and 60031 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 135606).
- Website, Who runs it — Checked October 2026 kindercare.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 "KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERS 301326" under Provider Name and 60031 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 135606).
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 sec.gov/…/klc-20260704.htm
From KinderCare's quarterly report to the SEC, filed August 13, 2026. sec.gov
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.