Bellevue · Licensed center
International Friends School
At a glance
- Large Reggio Emilia–inspired center, licensed for 151 children.
- Hours 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Run by a nonprofit. A board oversees it, and there are no owners taking profit.
From their website, read September 2026:
“Toddler Program Overview” — “Teacher-Student Ratio 1:5 Class Size: 15 Students (max)”
The state’s rule
Washington sets the most children one adult may care for by age, and the largest group size, in WAC 110-300-0356(5).
Infants (birth through 11 months): one adult for every four.
Toddlers (12 through 29 months): one adult for every seven.
Preschoolers (30 months through 6 years, not in kindergarten): one adult for every ten.
School-age children: one adult for every fifteen.
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 3 of its 4 licensing inspections since June 2023. It lists no valid complaint about this center.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Mar 25, 20263 citations
Safety requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“(2)(d) There were two rolls of plastic bags in the bathroom of the Panda classroom that were in a unlocked drawer that were accessible to the children. There were also rolls of plastic bags in an unlocked cabinet by the sink in this classroom that were also accessible to the children. There was a bag that had diapers in the second bathroom of the Panda classroom that were on a shelf that was accessible to the children. There was a roll of plastic bags under a sink in the Fire Dragon classroom that were accessible to the children.”
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d)
Storage of hazardous and maintenance suppliesSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“(1)(a) The 3-step bottles (including a sanitizer) in the Fire Dragon classroom were placed low by a sink and were accessible to the children. The 3-step bottles (including a sanitizer) in the Golden Dragon classroom were placed on a counter that was accessible to the children. There were Kirkland brand cleansing wipes labeled "keep out of the reach of children" in the bathrooms of the Panda, S.D., and Golden Dragon classrooms that were accessible to the children. There was also packs of the same wipes in an unlocked cabinet by the sink in the Panda classroom.”
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a)
Safety requirementsShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
“(2)(c) There was a cord to a decorative light-up tree in the Panda classroom that was accessible to the children and could form a loop. There were multiple misc. cords and a charger on a counter in the Sea Dragon classroom that were accessible to the children and could form a loop. There was a cord to pencil sharpener and a glue gun on a counter in the Golden Dragon classroom that were accessible to the children and could form a loop. There were also misc. cords that were connected to the TV that were accessible to the children and could form a loop. There were two thicker cords, chargers, cords connected to the TV and a cord connected to a computer in the A101 classroom that were accessible to the children and could form a loop.”
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(c)
Feb 6, 20253 citations
Training requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“(12) A staff member's food handlers card is expired.”
WAC 110-300-0106(12)
Storage of hazardous and maintenance suppliesSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“(1)(a) There was a bottle of drano and three step bottles in a cupboard under a sink that was unlocked and accessible to the children in the Pre-K 2 classroom. There was a bag of wipes labeled "keep out of the reach of children" accessible to the children in the Preschool classroom.”
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a)
Safety requirementsShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
“(2)(c) There were cords connected to a projector, tree and power strip in Pre-K 2, cords by the door of the Preschool room, and a cord that was connected to a diffuser in the Toddler classroom that were accessible to the children. (3)(d) There was a combined washer and dryer in a room in the bathroom of the Preschool classroom that was accessible to the children. (3)(g) The step stool in the bathroom of the Preschool room has a grip area that is peeling back and can cause a tripping hazard.”
WAC 110-300-0165(3)(g)
Apr 29, 20242 citations
Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning spaceSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“Tire swing on playground needs 9 inches of wood chips under the fall area 6 ft around the equipment.”
WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b)
Training requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“(11) Staff members S. and Y. will need to complete/update 1st aid / CPR (10) Staff members S. and Y. will need to update Blood Borne Pathogens Training (12) Staff member Y.K. will need to obtain a Food Handlers Permit (3) Staff member Y.K. will need to complete Child Care Basics”
WAC 110-300-0106(12)
- Jun 23, 2023Nothing cited
The state cited rules at 3 of this center's 4 inspections. Seattle-area centers inspected 4 times split about evenly: about a third had fewer, a third the same, and a third more (272 centers).
How all 272 Seattle-area centers inspected 4 times compare
Of the 272 Seattle-area centers the state inspected 4 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- None7%
- 1 of 415%
- 2 of 417%
- 3 of 433%This center
- All 429%
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Washington DCYF
- Last visit
- March 25, 2026
- On file
- 4 visits since June 2023 — 1 cited nothing
- Most serious
- Serious —
(2)(d) There were two rolls of plastic bags in the bathroom of the Panda classroom that were in a unlocked drawer that were accessible to the children. There were also rolls of plastic bags in an unlocked cabinet by the sink in this classroom that were also accessible to the children. There was a bag that had diapers in the second bathroom of the Panda classroom that were on a shelf that was accessible to the children. There was a roll of plastic bags under a sink in the Fire Dragon classroom that were accessible to the children.
· March 25, 2026
Washington DCYF publishes each citation in the licensor’s own words, with a risk level.
Mar 2026 Licensing visit 3 findings
Licensing visit · March 25, 2026
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(c) · Short Term
(2)(c) There was a cord to a decorative light-up tree in the Panda classroom that was accessible to the children and could form a loop. There were multiple misc. cords and a charger on a counter in the Sea Dragon classroom that were accessible to the children and could form a loop. There was a cord to pencil sharpener and a glue gun on a counter in the Golden Dragon classroom that were accessible to the children and could form a loop. There were also misc. cords that were connected to the TV that were accessible to the children and could form a loop. There were two thicker cords, chargers, cords connected to the TV and a cord connected to a computer in the A101 classroom that were accessible to the children and could form a loop.
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d) · Serious
(2)(d) There were two rolls of plastic bags in the bathroom of the Panda classroom that were in a unlocked drawer that were accessible to the children. There were also rolls of plastic bags in an unlocked cabinet by the sink in this classroom that were also accessible to the children. There was a bag that had diapers in the second bathroom of the Panda classroom that were on a shelf that was accessible to the children. There was a roll of plastic bags under a sink in the Fire Dragon classroom that were accessible to the children.
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious
(1)(a) The 3-step bottles (including a sanitizer) in the Fire Dragon classroom were placed low by a sink and were accessible to the children. The 3-step bottles (including a sanitizer) in the Golden Dragon classroom were placed on a counter that was accessible to the children. There were Kirkland brand cleansing wipes labeled "keep out of the reach of children" in the bathrooms of the Panda, S.D., and Golden Dragon classrooms that were accessible to the children. There was also packs of the same wipes in an unlocked cabinet by the sink in the Panda classroom.
Feb 2025 Licensing visit 3 findings
Licensing visit · February 6, 2025
WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious
(12) A staff member's food handlers card is expired.
WAC 110-300-0165(3)(g) · Short Term
(2)(c) There were cords connected to a projector, tree and power strip in Pre-K 2, cords by the door of the Preschool room, and a cord that was connected to a diffuser in the Toddler classroom that were accessible to the children. (3)(d) There was a combined washer and dryer in a room in the bathroom of the Preschool classroom that was accessible to the children. (3)(g) The step stool in the bathroom of the Preschool room has a grip area that is peeling back and can cause a tripping hazard.
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious
(1)(a) There was a bottle of drano and three step bottles in a cupboard under a sink that was unlocked and accessible to the children in the Pre-K 2 classroom. There was a bag of wipes labeled "keep out of the reach of children" accessible to the children in the Preschool classroom.
Apr 2024 Licensing visit 2 findings
Licensing visit · April 29, 2024
Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space
WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) · Serious
Tire swing on playground needs 9 inches of wood chips under the fall area 6 ft around the equipment.
WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious
(11) Staff members S. and Y. will need to complete/update 1st aid / CPR (10) Staff members S. and Y. will need to update Blood Borne Pathogens Training (12) Staff member Y.K. will need to obtain a Food Handlers Permit (3) Staff member Y.K. will need to complete Child Care Basics
Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.
What it costs
- Application fee
- $150
- Siblings
- Youngest child pays full tuition; second enrolled child receives a 5% tuition discount; oldest enrolled child receives a 10% tuition discount
A day here
8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Meals, outdoors and diapers
- Meals
- Toddler tuition includes 3 meals a day; snacks once a day (twice a day for extended-day students); PreSchool and up do not include lunch (optional hot lunch program)
- Outdoors
- Outdoor play every day, in all weather
- Diapers
- Diapers and wipes provided for all Toddler program students
How they teach
Reggio Emilia–inspired and bilingual
“The Koi Curriculum occurs in a 90% Mandarin immersion environment.”
Details
- Phone
- (425) 559-2949
- Address
- 556 124th Ave NE, Bellevue, 98005
- License
- PL-78903
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, Working Connections subsidy, tuition, 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.
Children per adult
- Children per adult — Checked September 2026 ifschool.org
How they teach
- Approach — Checked October 2026 ifschool.org
What it costs
- Application fee — Checked September 2026 ifschool.org
- Sibling discount — Checked September 2026 ifschool.org
State record
From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked November 3, 2026.
Washington’s four risk levels, highest first: Immediate, Serious, Short Term, Long Term. Deadlines from DCYF procedure PRO 10.1.21.
Ages
A day here
- Meals, Diapers, Hours — Checked September 2026 ifschool.org
- Outdoors — Checked September 2026 ifschool.org
Details
- Phone — Checked September 2026 findchildcarewa.org
- Website — Checked July 2026 ifschool.org
- Address, License — Checked June 2026 data.wa.gov
- Ages on the license — Checked November 2026 findchildcarewa.org
- Ages they serve — Checked September 2026 ifschool.org
- Who runs it — Checked September 2026 projects.propublica.org
Large means the biggest quarter of Seattle-area’s 855 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 116 to 323 children. Small is 6 to 40; medium is 41 to 115.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.