Saint Charles · Licensed center
The Learning Experience
At a glance
- Medium center, licensed for 107 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 9 of its 10 licensing inspections since July 2025.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Nov 4, 20262 citations
Staffing Structure
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1)
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 30, 20267 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(d)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(10)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Staffing Structure
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1)
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, 20269 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(3)
Program Requirements for All Ages
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(r)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(3)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1)
Grouping and Staffing
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(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.
May 13, 202617 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)(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(c)(7)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8)
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)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(5)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(m)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(2)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
Feb 5, 20268 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(3)
Program Requirements for All Ages
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(r)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(3)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(d)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(h)
Staffing Structure
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1)
Oct 28, 202515 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i)
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)(8)
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)(4)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(h)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)(1)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)(5)
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)(6)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(1)
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
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 29, 2025Nothing cited
Sep 24, 20255 citations
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Hand Washing
Hand Washing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c)(1)
Staffing Structure
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1)
Staffing Structure
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(2)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
Aug 27, 20257 citations
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
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)(6)
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(o)
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 15, 20252 citations
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
The state cited rules at 9 of this center's 10 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
- November 4, 2026
- On file
- 10 visits since July 2025 — 1 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was December 4, 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.
Nov 2026 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · November 4, 2026
Staffing Structure
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1) · Repeat violation
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Repeat violation
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2026 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · September 30, 2026
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6) through (10) · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6) · 407.370(e)(10)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(d) · Violation corrected
Staffing Structure
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1) · Violation substantiated
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d) · Rule cited again
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Repeat violation
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2026 Monitoring visit 9 findings
Monitoring visit · July 31, 2026
General Requirements for Personnel
4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(1) through (d) · Rule cited again · Repeat violation
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(1) · 407.100(a)(3) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(d)
Medications
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1) through (c)(3) · Rule cited again
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1) · 407.360(c)(3)
Grouping and Staffing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected on site
Program Requirements for All Ages
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(r) · Rule cited again
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Repeat violation
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
May 2026 Monitoring visit 17 findings
Monitoring visit · May 13, 2026
General Requirements for Personnel
5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (d) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(d)
Personnel Records
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(6)
Nutrition and Meal Service
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j) through (m) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j) · 407.330(k)(5) · 407.330(m)
Medications
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1) through (c)(2) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)(1) · 407.360(c)(2)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · Violation corrected on site
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
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 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Feb 2026 Monitoring visit 8 findings
Monitoring visit · February 5, 2026
General Requirements for Personnel
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(1) through (d) · Violation corrected · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(1) · 407.100(a)(3) · 407.100(d)
Medications
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(3) through (d)(4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(3) · 407.360(d)(4)
Staffing Structure
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1) · Violation corrected
Program Requirements for All Ages
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(r) · Violation corrected
Nutrition and Meal Service
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(h) · Violation corrected on site
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Oct 2025 Monitoring visit 15 findings
Monitoring visit · October 28, 2025
General Requirements for Personnel
5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (d) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(c)(8) · 407.100(d)
Nutrition and Meal Service
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(h) through (k)(1) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(h) · 407.330(j)(1) · 407.330(k)(1)
Organization and Administration
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) through (i) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · 407.70(i)
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) through (6) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(6)
Guidance and Discipline
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) through (5) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · 407.270(a)(5)
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 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2025 Monitoring visit 5 findings
Monitoring visit · September 24, 2025
Staffing Structure
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1) through (2) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(1) · 407.90(a)(2)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Rule cited again
Hand Washing
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c)(1) · Violation corrected on site
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Rule cited again
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Aug 2025 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · August 27, 2025
General Requirements for Personnel
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) through (7) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(o) · 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
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Rule cited again
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 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jul 2025 Monitoring visit 2 findings
Monitoring visit · July 15, 2025
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected on site
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 640527 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
What staff are paid
- Infant Teacher
- $18 to $20 an hourJob posting, October 2026
- Two's Teacher
- $18 to $20 an hourJob posting, October 2026
- Preschool Teacher
- $18 to $20 an hourJob posting, July 2026
- Preschool Teacher
- $19 to $21 an hourJob posting, December 2025
Details
- Phone
- (331) 286-3127
- Address
- 2435 W Main St, Saint Charles, 60175
- Chain
- The Learning Experience
- Owner
- The Learning Experience brand is owned by Harvest Partners, a private-equity firm. Most of its schools are owned by franchisees.
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, and sick and biting policies. 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.
What staff are paid
- Infant Teacher — Checked October 2026 tle-careers.careerplug.com
- Two's Teacher — Checked October 2026 tle-careers.careerplug.com
- Preschool Teacher — Checked October 2026 tle-careers.careerplug.com/jobs/3516267
- Preschool Teacher — Checked October 2026 tle-careers.careerplug.com/jobs/3189467
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 "THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE" under Provider Name and 60175 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 640527).
- Website, Chain — Checked October 2026 thelearningexperience.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 "THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE" under Provider Name and 60175 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 640527).
- Owner — Checked October 2026 harvestpartners.com
The private-equity firm Harvest Partners lists The Learning Experience as a current investment, made in July 2025, and describes it as a franchisor and operator of early childhood education schools. So a single center may be run by a franchisee or by the company. harvestpartners.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.