North Chicago · Licensed center
Step By Step Day Care Inc.
At a glance
- Medium center, licensed for 115 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 all 10 of its licensing inspections since August 2023.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Aug 14, 202612 citations
Outdoor Play Area
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(m)
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(c)(6)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)
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)(3)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
Jul 30, 20261 citation
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(g)
Apr 21, 20261 citation
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Feb 25, 20267 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(j)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(l)
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(j)(3)
Nov 24, 20251 citation
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d)
Aug 28, 20258 citations
Application for Renewal of License
Application for Renewal of License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(b)
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)(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)(2)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
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 23, 20251 citation
Staffing Structure
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1)
Sep 3, 202412 citations
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(c)
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(c)(1)
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)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
Sep 1, 20232 citations
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Aug 1, 202314 citations
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d)
Outdoor Play Area
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(m)
Students and Youth Aides
Students and Youth Aides
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.160(b)
Napping and Sleeping
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(i)(4)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)(1)
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)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
The state cited rules at all 10 of this center's inspections. Most Chicago-area centers inspected 10 or more times had fewer: 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%
- All22%This center
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Illinois DCFS
- Last visit
- August 14, 2026
- On file
- 10 visits since August 2023 — all of them cited findings
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was September 14, 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 12 findings
Monitoring visit · August 14, 2026
General Requirements for Personnel
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (f) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(f)
Personnel Records
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (b) · Violation substantiated · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(6) · 407.120(b)
Health Requirements for Children
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) through (3) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(a)(3)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · Violation substantiated
Outdoor Play Area
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(m) · Violation substantiated
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation substantiated
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2026 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · July 30, 2026
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(g) · Violation corrected on site
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Apr 2026 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · April 21, 2026
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 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Feb 2026 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · February 25, 2026
Organization and Administration
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(j) through (n)(3) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(j) · 407.70(n)(3)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b) · Violation corrected
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(l) · 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(j)(3) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2025 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · November 24, 2025
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d) · Violation corrected on site
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2025 Monitoring visit 8 findings
Monitoring visit · August 28, 2025
General Requirements for Personnel
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (8) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(c)(8)
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(6)
Application for Renewal of License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(b) · 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 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2025 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · January 23, 2025
Staffing Structure
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2024 Monitoring visit 12 findings
Monitoring visit · September 3, 2024
General Requirements for Personnel
6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(f)
Personnel Records
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (c) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(c)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
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 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2023 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · September 1, 2023
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b) · Rule cited again
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d) · Violation corrected on site
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2023 Monitoring visit 14 findings
Monitoring visit · August 1, 2023
Personnel Records
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (b) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(6) · 407.120(b)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation corrected
Students and Youth Aides
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.160(b) · 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(d) · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected
Nutrition and Meal Service
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)(1) · Violation corrected
Napping and Sleeping
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(i)(4) · Violation corrected on site
Medications
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) · Violation corrected
Outdoor Play Area
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(m) · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
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 609249 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Details
- Phone
- (847) 473-4838
- Address
- 2525 Sherman Ave, North Chicago, 60064
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 August 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "STEP BY STEP DAY CARE INC." under Provider Name and 60064 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 609249).
- 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 "STEP BY STEP DAY CARE INC." under Provider Name and 60064 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 609249).
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.