Chicago · Licensed center

Shining Star Early Learning Academy

shiningstaryouth.com

At a glance

Medium center, licensed for 105 children.

What to know

License: 6 weeks to 5 years (state). They serve: ages 6 weeks to 6 years old (their website).

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 14 of its 20 licensing inspections since February 2010.

See each inspection

Licensing inspections

Jan 16, 20266 citations
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(h)
- Nutrition and Meal Service
  Nutrition and Meal Service
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(l)(1)
Feb 21, 20241 citation
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Feb 6, 2024Nothing cited
Jan 5, 20236 citations
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures
  Diapering and Toileting Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(4)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
- A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
  A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
Feb 1, 20221 citation
- Nutrition and Meal Service
  Nutrition and Meal Service
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)(2)
Sep 8, 2021Nothing cited
Apr 2, 2021Nothing cited
Jan 27, 20212 citations
- Grouping and Staffing
  Grouping and Staffing
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)
- Nutrition and Meal Service
  Nutrition and Meal Service
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(l)(1)
Nov 5, 2020Nothing cited
Sep 25, 2020Nothing cited
Jan 23, 20185 citations
- Background Checks for Personnel
  Background Checks for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)
Jan 31, 20173 citations
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)
- Health Requirements for Children
  Health Requirements for Children
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
- Background Checks for Personnel
  Background Checks for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Jan 16, 20154 citations
- 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)(1)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(4)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Jan 27, 20148 citations
- Staffing Structure
  Staffing Structure
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(b)
- General Requirements for Personnel
  General Requirements for Personnel
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
- 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(a)(5)
- Staffing Structure
  Staffing Structure
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)
Sep 26, 20125 citations
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(21)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(2)
- Nutrition and Meal Service
  Nutrition and Meal Service
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(h)
- Outdoor Play Area
  Outdoor Play Area
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)
- Outdoor Play Area
  Outdoor Play Area
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(l)(1)
May 16, 2012Nothing cited
Sep 29, 20101 citation
- Grouping and Staffing
  Grouping and Staffing
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Jul 9, 201011 citations
- Equipment and Materials
  Equipment and Materials
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
- Personnel Records
  Personnel Records
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
- 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)(4)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  Physical Plant/Indoor Space
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(3)
Mar 12, 20101 citation
- Grouping and Staffing
  Grouping and Staffing
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Feb 11, 20104 citations
- Grouping and Staffing
  Grouping and Staffing
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
- Organization and Administration
  Organization and Administration
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(3)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(h)(8)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
  89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)

The state cited rules at 14 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: January 16, 2026
On file: 20 visits since February 2010 — 6 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was February 16, 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.

Jan 2026 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · January 16, 2026

General Requirements for Personnel

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) through (h) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(h)

Personnel Records

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2024 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · February 21, 2024

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2024 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2023 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · January 5, 2023

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)

Organization and Administration

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(4) · 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 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2022 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · February 1, 2022

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)(2) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2021 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Apr 2021 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2021 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · January 27, 2021

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d) · Violation corrected

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2020 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Sep 2020 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2018 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · January 23, 2018

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · Violation corrected

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2017 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · January 31, 2017

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) · Violation corrected

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2015 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · January 16, 2015

Personnel Records

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

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

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(4) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2014 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · January 27, 2014

Personnel Records

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (5) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(5)

Staffing Structure

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(b) through (d) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(b) · 407.90(d)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2012 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · September 26, 2012

Outdoor Play Area

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i) through (l)(1) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i) · 407.390(l)(1)

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(21) · Violation corrected

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(2) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2012 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Sep 2010 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · September 29, 2010

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2010 Monitoring visit 11 findings

Monitoring visit · July 9, 2010

Personnel Records

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1) through (2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1) · 407.250(i)(2)

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1) · 407.310(a)(4)

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) through (3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · 407.370(f)(3)

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2010 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · March 12, 2010

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2010 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · February 11, 2010

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (h)(8) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(h)(8)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(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 495161 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Who cares for your child

Gicele Wray-Lindley (Founder) since 2004.

22 years · Chicago-area median 16, among 26 that publish

Details

Phone: (773) 995-7827
Address: 338 E 103rd St, Chicago, 60628
Established: 2009

We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, a typical day, sick and biting policies, and who owns it. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.

Run Shining Star Early Learning Academy? Correct or add anything here, free.

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.

Who cares for your child

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 "SHINING STAR EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY" under Provider Name and 60628 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 495161).
Website — Checked August 2026 shiningstaryouth.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 "SHINING STAR EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY" under Provider Name and 60628 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 495161).
Ages they serve, Established — Checked August 2026 shiningstaryouth.com

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.