Chicago · Licensed center
Paulo Freire Center
- Large center, licensed for 184 children.
What these mean, and where they come from
Large means the biggest quarter of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 119 to 487 children. Small is 8 to 48; medium is 49 to 118.
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: 16 of 22 cited something
Chicago-area centers: the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine 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
- November 4, 2025
- On file
- 22 visits since June 2010 — 6 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was March 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.
Jan 2025 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · January 8, 2025
Program Requirements for All Ages
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(p) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Dec 2024 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · December 20, 2024
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Dec 2024 Monitoring visit 5 findings
Monitoring visit · December 10, 2024
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (e)(5) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(e)(1) · 407.120(e)(2) · 407.120(e)(5)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · October 5, 2023
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (b) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(b)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 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 15, 2021
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Dec 2018 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · December 11, 2018
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2017 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · November 7, 2017
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jun 2017 Monitoring visit 8 findings
Monitoring visit · June 7, 2017
Staffing Structure
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1) through (g) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1) · 407.90(g)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (c)(3) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(c)(3)
Health Requirements for Children
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(b) through (r) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(b) · 407.310(r)
Provisions Pertaining to Permits
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.65(a)(4) · Violation corrected
Cited: CCASEC7
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2016 Monitoring visit 5 findings
Monitoring visit · November 30, 2016
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a) through (f)(2) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a) · 407.370(e)(3) · 407.370(f)(2)
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b) · Violation corrected
Medications
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2015 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · November 30, 2015
General Requirements for Personnel
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) through (d) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(d)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2013 Monitoring visit 10 findings
Monitoring visit · October 1, 2013
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (3) · Rule cited again
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (f)(23) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(f)(23)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (h) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(d) · Violation corrected
Qualifications for Child Care Director
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(j) · Violation corrected
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) · Violation corrected
Outdoor Play Area
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(l)(1) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2012 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · November 20, 2012
Equipment and Materials
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(i) through (j)(5) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(i) · 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(5)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k) · Violation corrected
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)(4) · Violation corrected
Substitutes
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.170(a) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2011 Monitoring visit 4 findings
Monitoring visit · November 8, 2011
Medications
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) through (f) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) · 407.360(f)
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b) · Violation corrected
Equipment and Materials
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(i) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2010 Monitoring visit 20 findings
Monitoring visit · October 22, 2010
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(6)
Equipment and Materials
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(5) · 407.380(j)(6)
Outdoor Play Area
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) through (4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) · 407.390(i)(1)(b) · 407.390(i)(4)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (h) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(1)(h)
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)
Volunteers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(b) · Violation corrected
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation corrected
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(g) · Violation corrected
Napping and Sleeping
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(d) · Violation corrected
Medications
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(2) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jun 2010 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · June 24, 2010
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(m) · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(2) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jun 2010 Monitoring visit 4 findings
Monitoring visit · June 4, 2010
Outdoor Play Area
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) through (4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) · 407.390(i)(1)(b) · 407.390(i)(4)
Napping and Sleeping
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(j) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
How the comparison is built
Routine visits: across Chicago-area centers, the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine visits (19,088 visits).
Details
- Website
- paulofreirefamilycenter.com
- Address
- 1653 W 43rd St
- License
- pending renewal application (rn)
Do you run Paulo Freire Center? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Adding it is free and takes about ten minutes.
Add what is missingSources 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.
All checked July 2026.
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 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "PAULO FREIRE CENTER" under Provider Name and 60609 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 393018).
- Website paulofreirefamilycenter.com