Charlotte · Licensed center
Alliance Center For Education At Oaklawn
- Medium play-based center, licensed for 72 children.
- Run by a nonprofit. A board oversees it, and there are no owners taking profit.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 7 of its 8 licensing inspections since September 2023.
Of the 75 Charlotte-area centers with 8 licensing inspections, 17% had rules cited at 7 of them, as this center did. 1% had rules cited at all 8.
Licensing inspections
Mar 18, 20266 citations
“Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The signed discipline policy for four (4) children did not list the date of enrollment.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One (1) employee, C.G., had two (2) health and safety trainings older than five years and one (1) employee, Y.W., had six (6) trainings older than five years.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2026
“All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Ceiling tiles in Space 4 were water stained.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2026
“Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible. Broken plastic linking toys were observed on the EHS playground.”
Violation corrected during visit
2 more from this inspection
“Emergency and identifying information, including the child's name, photograph, emergency contact information and/or a copy of the emergency medical care information form was not in the vehicle for each child being transported. One (1) child who was routinely transported did not have a picture attached to his emergency medical care information.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One (1) child who was routinely transported to and from the facility did not have a permission to transport on file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2026
Aug 21, 20258 citations
“A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. A child's emergency medication was stored in the director's locked office. Metal posts securing the plastic barrier around the preschool playground were not flush with the barrier posing a safety hazard.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/15/2025
“The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. Litter was observed in the sensory/sand table on the EHS playground.”
Violation corrected during visit
“All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. The metal cabinet in Space 3 did not lock and room sanitizer spray and a cleaning product that had multiple safety warnings were store inside.”
Violation corrected during visit
“All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Two (2) staff's First Aid training expired in March 2024.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/3/2025
4 more from this inspection
“All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Two (2) staff's CPR training expired in March 2024.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/3/2025
“Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. The permission to transport on file did not include where the child was transported, expected time of departure and arrival, or the transportation provider.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/15/2025
“Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. Six (6) children did not have the date of enrollment completed on the signed discipline statement.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. Two (2) staff did have health and safety training certificates on file for review.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/3/2025
Mar 17, 20251 citation
“The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One (1) staff member needed to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Child Maltreatment by January 20, 2025. This training has not been completed.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2025
Sep 11, 20241 citation
“Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. A child's prescription medication and medical grade food supplement were stored unlocked on a shelf above five (5) feet.”
Violation corrected during visit
Aug 27, 20248 citations
“Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. Staff/child ratio information was not posted in Space 4.”
Violation corrected during visit
“A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. The lesson plan in Space 3 was not completed and posted.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. Two (2) broken slats with exposed screws were on top of the toy shed on the toddler playground.”
Violation corrected during visit
“All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One (1) employee had First Aid training on file from an unapproved agency.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/18/2024
4 more from this inspection
“All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One (1) employee had a CPR certificate on file from an unapproved agency.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/18/2024
“Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The signed discipline policy for two (2) children did not include the date of enrollment.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/6/2024
“Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last documented shelter-in-place drill or lockdown drill was March 2024. Another drill should have occured in June 2024.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/6/2024
“Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One (1) employee did not have documentation of completing health and safety trainings within the first year of employment.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/13/2024
Apr 26, 20243 citations
“All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. The kitchen door was observed opened today. I observed aerosol cans in unlocked cabinets.”
Violation corrected during visit
“All vehicles used to transport children were not free of hazards. . The rear left tire was observed with insufficient tread depth and the front right tire had insufficient tread depth on bus #63.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/29/2024
“A written statement from each child's parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available. The off-premise permissions did not indicate what spaces would be used for therapy in the Ivory Baker Recreation Center adjacent to Oaklawn. Forms indicated outdoor unlicensed space used for fire drills and community walks.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/2/2024
Sep 5, 20232 citations
“Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child; Space 1.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Documentation of staff's on-going training was not on file and/or was not current. Staff (G.M.) did not have documentation log of ongoing training.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/13/2023
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — North Carolina DCDEE
- Last visit
- March 18, 2026
- On file
- 8 visits since September 2023 — 1 cited nothing, 1 of those unannounced
- Fixed?
- All 29 record a correction, in the licensor’s own words.
- Most serious
- North Carolina DCDEE does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
North Carolina DCDEE describes every citation in the licensor’s own words and records the correction in that same text — the only one of the six states that publishes whether a violation was fixed. It attaches no rule number and no report document.
Mar 2026 Unannounced visit 6 findings
Unannounced visit · March 18, 2026
Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The signed discipline policy for four (4) children did not list the date of enrollment.
Violation corrected during visit
Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One (1) employee, C.G., had two (2) health and safety trainings older than five years and one (1) employee, Y.W., had six (6) trainings older than five years.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2026
All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Ceiling tiles in Space 4 were water stained.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2026
Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible. Broken plastic linking toys were observed on the EHS playground.
Violation corrected during visit
Emergency and identifying information, including the child's name, photograph, emergency contact information and/or a copy of the emergency medical care information form was not in the vehicle for each child being transported. One (1) child who was routinely transported did not have a picture attached to his emergency medical care information.
Violation corrected during visit
Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One (1) child who was routinely transported to and from the facility did not have a permission to transport on file.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60002805 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2025 Unannounced visit 8 findings
Unannounced visit · August 21, 2025
A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. A child's emergency medication was stored in the director's locked office. Metal posts securing the plastic barrier around the preschool playground were not flush with the barrier posing a safety hazard.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/15/2025
The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. Litter was observed in the sensory/sand table on the EHS playground.
Violation corrected during visit
All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. The metal cabinet in Space 3 did not lock and room sanitizer spray and a cleaning product that had multiple safety warnings were store inside.
Violation corrected during visit
All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Two (2) staff's First Aid training expired in March 2024.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/3/2025
All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Two (2) staff's CPR training expired in March 2024.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/3/2025
Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. The permission to transport on file did not include where the child was transported, expected time of departure and arrival, or the transportation provider.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/15/2025
Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. Six (6) children did not have the date of enrollment completed on the signed discipline statement.
Violation corrected during visit
Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. Two (2) staff did have health and safety training certificates on file for review.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/3/2025
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60002805 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Mar 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · March 17, 2025
The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One (1) staff member needed to complete the Recognizing and Responding to Child Maltreatment by January 20, 2025. This training has not been completed.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/31/2025
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60002805 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Sep 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · September 11, 2024
Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. A child's prescription medication and medical grade food supplement were stored unlocked on a shelf above five (5) feet.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60002805 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2024 Unannounced visit 8 findings
Unannounced visit · August 27, 2024
Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. Staff/child ratio information was not posted in Space 4.
Violation corrected during visit
A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. The lesson plan in Space 3 was not completed and posted.
Violation corrected during visit
Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. Two (2) broken slats with exposed screws were on top of the toy shed on the toddler playground.
Violation corrected during visit
All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One (1) employee had First Aid training on file from an unapproved agency.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/18/2024
All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One (1) employee had a CPR certificate on file from an unapproved agency.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/18/2024
Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. The signed discipline policy for two (2) children did not include the date of enrollment.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/6/2024
Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last documented shelter-in-place drill or lockdown drill was March 2024. Another drill should have occured in June 2024.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/6/2024
Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One (1) employee did not have documentation of completing health and safety trainings within the first year of employment.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/13/2024
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60002805 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Apr 2024 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · April 26, 2024
All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. The kitchen door was observed opened today. I observed aerosol cans in unlocked cabinets.
Violation corrected during visit
All vehicles used to transport children were not free of hazards. . The rear left tire was observed with insufficient tread depth and the front right tire had insufficient tread depth on bus #63.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/29/2024
A written statement from each child's parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available. The off-premise permissions did not indicate what spaces would be used for therapy in the Ivory Baker Recreation Center adjacent to Oaklawn. Forms indicated outdoor unlicensed space used for fire drills and community walks.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/2/2024
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60002805 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Sep 2023 Unannounced visit 2 findings
Unannounced visit · September 5, 2023
No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026
Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child; Space 1.
Violation corrected during visit
No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026
Documentation of staff's on-going training was not on file and/or was not current. Staff (G.M.) did not have documentation log of ongoing training.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/13/2023
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60002805 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
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.
Openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
How they teach
Play-based
“learning through creative play”
Who cares for your child
Jared Keaton (Chief Executive Officer) since 1998, Brian Luckadoo (Chief Financial Officer) since 2007 and Elisha Wilson (Early Childhood Education Director), 25 years in early childhood.
Of 745 Charlotte-area providers, 30 publish how long a named staff member has been there; the longest tenure at each of those has a median of 22 years.
Details
- Website
- ac4ed.org
- Address
- 1920 Stroud Park Court
- License
- 60002805, active
- Quality program
- Five Star License
- Ages they serve
- Early Head Start ages birth to 3; Head Start & Pre-Kindergarten ages 3 to 5
- Established
- 1940
Run Alliance Center For Education At Oaklawn? Correct or add anything here, free.
Add what is missingSources 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.
How they teach
- Approach — Checked July 2026 ac4ed.org
Who cares for your child
State record
From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.
Details
- Phone, Address, License, Quality program — Checked July 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 60002805 under License Number, and open the result.
- Website — Checked July 2026 ac4ed.org
- Ages they serve — Checked July 2026 ac4ed.org
- Established — Checked July 2026 ac4ed.org
- Who runs it — Checked September 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 60002805 under License Number, open the result and expand Owner Information: the licensee is listed as Primary Owner.
Medium means the middle half of Charlotte-area’s 591 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 51 to 162 children. Small is 11 to 50; large is 163 to 528.