Concord · Licensed center
Concord Children's Academy
- Large Creative Curriculum center, licensed for 195 children.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 6 of its 15 licensing inspections since October 2023.
Of the 256 Charlotte-area centers with 10 or more licensing inspections, more than 99% had rules cited at some but not all of them, as this center did. Fewer than 1% had rules cited at all of them.
Licensing inspections
Jul 21, 20263 citations
“A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Spaces 4, 9, and 12b the permission to administer sunscreens/diaper ointments had expired.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Questionable medication instructions from parents were followed without signed written dosage instructions received from physician or authorized health professional. In Space 3a/b there was a hydrocortisone cream with the label indicating to contact a physician for use on children under 2. This was a room for infants therefore, a physicians signature would be required to administer.”
Violation corrected during visit
“A drug or medicine was administered in a manner not authorized by the child's parent, physician or other authorized health professional. In Space 12a an Epi pen and the accompanying Medical Action Plan had expired.”
Violation corrected during visit
Jul 7, 20261 citation
“A child was handled in a rough way, including shaking, pushing, shoving, pinching, slapping, biting, kicking, or spanking. On June 26, 2026 a teacher lifted a child up by their upper arm in a moment of frustration.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/7/2026
Aug 19, 20251 citation
“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. There was incomplete emergency information and/or photographs missing for six children.”
Violation corrected during visit
Sep 24, 20244 citations
“Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. In Spaces 5 and 11 there were parent signatures missing on the permission to administer forms for diaper creams. In Space 5 the name of the ointment was missing from the form.”
Violation corrected during visit
“A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Space 5 there was diaper cream with no permission to administer form. In Space 6 there was sunscreen with no permission to administer form.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Emergency information did not name childs health care professional. Two children's files did not contain the choice of hospital. One child's file did not contain the choice of a health care provider.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/7/2024
“Application for enrollment did not include all required information. Two children's files were missing information regarding special health care concerns, fears, or other important information the provider may need to know to best care for the child.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/7/2024
Mar 1, 20243 citations
“A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. On February 28, 2024, an eight-month-old child was placed in a high chair located next to a counter where a bottle warmer was located. Although the bottle warmer was out of reach of the child, it was sitting on a tray that was accessible to the child. The child pulled the tray and the contents of the bottle warmer spilled onto the child causing burns to the child’s right shoulder, arm, leg, and abdomen.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/7/2024
“A First Aid information sheet was not posted in a place for referral and/or the information sheet did not include all the required information. On February 28, 2024, a staff member did not utilize the first aid poster in the classroom. The staff member wiped a burn on an eight-month-old child with a baby wipe.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/7/2024
“There was a substantiation of child maltreatment. Pursuant to its investigation, the Division has confirmed sufficient information to determine child maltreatment.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 9/10/2024
Oct 19, 20238 citations
“Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. In Space 11 a prescription diaper ointment did not have the container with the pharmaceutical label.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In Space 6 the name of the diaper cream was missing from the permission to administer form.”
Violation corrected during visit
“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. Four staff did not have current CPR certification on file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/1/2023
“A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. The activity plan in the school age classroom was dated October 2-6, 2023.”
Violation corrected during visit
4 more from this inspection
“Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 8 an emergency medication was stored in a cubby which was not five feet up.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Balloons were accessible to children. In Space 12a a Mylar balloon was on a shelf in the classroom.”
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. Four staff did not have certification in First Aid training.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/1/2023
“Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff required to receive ten hours of on-going training hours had only received five hours.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/1/2023
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — North Carolina DCDEE
- Last visit
- July 21, 2026
- On file
- 15 visits since October 2023 — 9 cited nothing, 9 of those unannounced
- Fixed?
- All 20 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.
Jul 2026 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · July 21, 2026
A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Spaces 4, 9, and 12b the permission to administer sunscreens/diaper ointments had expired.
Violation corrected during visit
Questionable medication instructions from parents were followed without signed written dosage instructions received from physician or authorized health professional. In Space 3a/b there was a hydrocortisone cream with the label indicating to contact a physician for use on children under 2. This was a room for infants therefore, a physicians signature would be required to administer.
Violation corrected during visit
A drug or medicine was administered in a manner not authorized by the child's parent, physician or other authorized health professional. In Space 12a an Epi pen and the accompanying Medical Action Plan had expired.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 13000549 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Jul 2026 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · July 7, 2026
A child was handled in a rough way, including shaking, pushing, shoving, pinching, slapping, biting, kicking, or spanking. On June 26, 2026 a teacher lifted a child up by their upper arm in a moment of frustration.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/7/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 13000549 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · August 19, 2025
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. There was incomplete emergency information and/or photographs missing for six children.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 13000549 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Sep 2024 Unannounced visit 4 findings
Unannounced visit · September 24, 2024
Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. In Spaces 5 and 11 there were parent signatures missing on the permission to administer forms for diaper creams. In Space 5 the name of the ointment was missing from the form.
Violation corrected during visit
A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Space 5 there was diaper cream with no permission to administer form. In Space 6 there was sunscreen with no permission to administer form.
Violation corrected during visit
Emergency information did not name childs health care professional. Two children's files did not contain the choice of hospital. One child's file did not contain the choice of a health care provider.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/7/2024
Application for enrollment did not include all required information. Two children's files were missing information regarding special health care concerns, fears, or other important information the provider may need to know to best care for the child.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/7/2024
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 13000549 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Mar 2024 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · March 1, 2024
A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. On February 28, 2024, an eight-month-old child was placed in a high chair located next to a counter where a bottle warmer was located. Although the bottle warmer was out of reach of the child, it was sitting on a tray that was accessible to the child. The child pulled the tray and the contents of the bottle warmer spilled onto the child causing burns to the child’s right shoulder, arm, leg, and abdomen.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/7/2024
A First Aid information sheet was not posted in a place for referral and/or the information sheet did not include all the required information. On February 28, 2024, a staff member did not utilize the first aid poster in the classroom. The staff member wiped a burn on an eight-month-old child with a baby wipe.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/7/2024
There was a substantiation of child maltreatment. Pursuant to its investigation, the Division has confirmed sufficient information to determine child maltreatment.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 9/10/2024
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 13000549 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Oct 2023 Unannounced visit 8 findings
Unannounced visit · October 19, 2023
Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. In Space 11 a prescription diaper ointment did not have the container with the pharmaceutical label.
Violation corrected during visit
Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In Space 6 the name of the diaper cream was missing from the permission to administer form.
Violation corrected during visit
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. Four staff did not have current CPR certification on file.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/1/2023
A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. The activity plan in the school age classroom was dated October 2-6, 2023.
Violation corrected during visit
Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 8 an emergency medication was stored in a cubby which was not five feet up.
Violation corrected during visit
Balloons were accessible to children. In Space 12a a Mylar balloon was on a shelf in the classroom.
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. Four staff did not have certification in First Aid training.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/1/2023
Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff required to receive ten hours of on-going training hours had only received five hours.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/1/2023
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 13000549 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, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
How they teach
Creative Curriculum and play-based
“The Preschool educational curriculum is built on the Creative Curriculum program that is recommended by the NC Division of Child Development.”
Who cares for your child
Mrs. Blair (Assistant Director) since 2011, Mrs. Catherine (Director) thirteen years there and Ms. Melissa (Administrative Assistant), 10 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.
A day here
- Meals
- Meals and snacks are included in tuition for children one year and older, using fresh/frozen produce with rotating monthly menus
Details
- Website
- concordchildrensacademy.com
- Address
- 1951 Derita Road
- License
- 13000549, active
- Quality program
- Five Star License
- Ages they serve
- 8 weeks through 5th grade (afterschool)
Run Concord Children's Academy? 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 concordchildrensacademy.com/about-us
- Approach — Checked July 2026 concordchildrensacademy.com/our-program
Who cares for your child
State record
From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.
A day here
- Meals — Checked July 2026 concordchildrensacademy.com
Details
- Phone, Address, License, Quality program — Checked July 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 13000549 under License Number, and open the result.
- Website — Checked July 2026 concordchildrensacademy.com
- Ages they serve — Checked July 2026 concordchildrensacademy.com
Large means the biggest quarter of Charlotte-area’s 591 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 163 to 528 children. Small is 11 to 50; medium is 51 to 162.