Chicago · Licensed center
Little Explorers Academy Inc
At a glance
- Medium center, licensed for 52 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 12 of its 17 licensing inspections since September 2019.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
- Sep 16, 2026Nothing cited
Jul 28, 20257 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC7.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC7.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
Jul 31, 202414 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(l)(1)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(h)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(i)
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 11, 2023Nothing cited
Sep 8, 20233 citations
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(h)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(g)
Jul 20, 202311 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)
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)
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(4)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)
May 12, 20234 citations
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(i)(1)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(2)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(g)
Mar 16, 20236 citations
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(2)
Program Requirements for All Ages
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(p)
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Napping and Sleeping
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(b)
Jan 27, 20234 citations
Qualifications for Child Care Director
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(j)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c)
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
- Sep 22, 2022Nothing cited
- Sep 13, 2021Nothing cited
Aug 4, 20214 citations
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Staffing Structure
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)
Jul 1, 20213 citations
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)(1)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1)
- Jul 16, 2020Nothing cited
Nov 4, 20192 citations
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)
Oct 10, 20192 citations
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(f)
Sep 23, 20196 citations
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)
Outdoor Play Area
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(e)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(3)
The state cited rules at 12 of this center's 17 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
- September 16, 2026
- On file
- 17 visits since September 2019 — 5 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was August 28, 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.
Jul 2025 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · July 28, 2025
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)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · Violation corrected
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2) · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC7.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2024 Monitoring visit 14 findings
Monitoring visit · July 31, 2024
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (b) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(6) · 407.120(b)
Equipment and Materials
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(h) through (i) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(h) · 407.380(j)(4)(i)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · Violation corrected
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · Violation corrected
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(l)(1) · Violation corrected
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation corrected
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5) · Violation corrected
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1) · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · September 8, 2023
Health Requirements for Children
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(g) through (h) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(g) · 407.310(h)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2023 Monitoring visit 11 findings
Monitoring visit · July 20, 2023
General Requirements for Personnel
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (i) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(i)
Personnel Records
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (e)(4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(e)(4)
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d) · Violation corrected
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24) · Violation corrected
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d) · Violation corrected
Nutrition and Meal Service
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(4) · Violation corrected
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
May 2023 Monitoring visit 4 findings
Monitoring visit · May 12, 2023
Health Requirements for Children
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(1) through (2) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(1) · 407.310(i)(2)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(g) · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Mar 2023 Monitoring visit 6 findings
Monitoring visit · March 16, 2023
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(b) through (c)(2) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(b) · 407.250(c)(2)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected on site
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · Violation corrected on site
Program Requirements for All Ages
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(p) · Violation corrected
Napping and Sleeping
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(b) · Violation corrected on site
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2023 Monitoring visit 4 findings
Monitoring visit · January 27, 2023
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(j) · Violation corrected
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2021 Monitoring visit 4 findings
Monitoring visit · August 4, 2021
Nutrition and Meal Service
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g) through (j) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g) · 407.330(j)
Staffing Structure
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2021 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · July 1, 2021
Grouping and Staffing
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) through (d)(1) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · 407.190(d)(1)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2019 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · November 4, 2019
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n) · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2019 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · October 10, 2019
Grouping and Staffing
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) through (f) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · 407.190(f)
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2019 Monitoring visit 6 findings
Monitoring visit · September 23, 2019
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c) through (i)(2)(b) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c) · 407.250(i)(1)(h) · 407.250(i)(2)(b)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(3) · Violation corrected
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation corrected
Outdoor Play Area
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(e) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Details
- Phone
- (773) 306-0740
- Address
- 6640 W Archer Ave, Chicago, 60638
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, sick and biting policies, and who owns it. 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 "LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY INC" under Provider Name and 60638 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 580722).
- 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 "LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY INC" under Provider Name and 60638 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 580722).
Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,948 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.