Chicago · Licensed center

Small Stride Academy

Medium center, licensed for 103 children.

What these mean, and where they come from

Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.

What it costs

From $823 a month

Chicago-area comparison hidden until they say which age this price is for.

Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: teaching approach, ratios and staff, sick and biting policies.

What the state has found

Routine visits: 11 of 14 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: January 27, 2026
On file: 14 visits since April 2010 — 3 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was February 26, 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 9 findings

Monitoring visit · January 27, 2026

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) through (i)(4)(a) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) · 407.250(i)(3) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8) through (f) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(f)

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) through (e)(4) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(e)(4)

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Cited: FHSEC305

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2024 Monitoring visit 14 findings

Monitoring visit · June 6, 2024

General Requirements for Personnel

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (i) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(f) · 407.100(i)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) through (i)(4)(a) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(14) · 407.250(i)(3) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) through (k)(8) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · 407.70(k)(8)

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11) through (f)(2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11) · 407.370(f)(2)

Grouping and Staffing

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

Cited: FHSEC305

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2023 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · June 8, 2023

Qualifications for Child Care Director

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2023 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Aug 2022 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · August 3, 2022

Personnel Records

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

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(f)(2)

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2021 Monitoring visit 9 findings

Monitoring visit · June 1, 2021

General Requirements for Personnel

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(2) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(f)

Personnel Records

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

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

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)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2020 Monitoring visit 15 findings

Monitoring visit · June 19, 2020

General Requirements for Personnel

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(2) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(f)

Personnel Records

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (4) · Violation corrected

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

Health Requirements for Children

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

Cited: CCASEC4

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

Cited: FHSEC305

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2019 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · June 27, 2019

General Requirements for Personnel

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(2) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(f)

Grouping and Staffing

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

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · Violation corrected

Cited: CCASEC4

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2018 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jul 2018 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jun 2018 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · June 7, 2018

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(f) · Violation corrected

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · 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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2013 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · June 5, 2013

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2010 Monitoring visit 10 findings

Monitoring visit · May 19, 2010

Personnel Records

3 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)(6)

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)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Qualifications for Child Care Director

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(k) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2010 Monitoring visit 9 findings

Monitoring visit · April 6, 2010

Volunteers

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(a) through (e) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(a) · 407.180(b) · 407.180(c) · 407.180(d) · 407.180(e)

Organization and Administration

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

Confidentiality of Records and Information

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.80(c) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Outdoor Play Area

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(o) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 398740 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).

A day here

Meals: breakfast, lunch, and snack provided
Hours: 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM, 5 days a week, year round

Details

7732390040

Website: smallstrideacademy.com
Address: 10317 S Western Ave
License: pending renewal application (rn)
Ages they serve: ages 2 years old to 5 years old

Do you run Small Stride Academy? Shortlist has no ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Adding it is free and takes about ten minutes.

Add what is missing

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.

What it costs

Monthly tuition — Checked August 2026 smallstrideacademy.com

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

A day here

Meals, Hours, Calendar — Checked August 2026 smallstrideacademy.com

Details

Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "SMALL STRIDE ACADEMY" under Provider Name and 60643 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 398740).
Website — Checked August 2026 smallstrideacademy.com
Ages they serve — Checked August 2026 smallstrideacademy.com