Gastonia · Licensed center
Fair Chance Learning Academy LLC
- Medium Creative Curriculum center, licensed for 80 children.
- Run by a for-profit business, which holds the license.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 4 of its 8 licensing inspections since August 2025.
Of the 74 Charlotte-area centers with 8 licensing inspections, 15% had rules cited at 4 of them, as this center did. 1% had rules cited at all 8.
Licensing inspections
Aug 26, 20262 citations
“Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. In Space #1, there was no Permission to Administer Medication form for one (1) tube of Aquaphor Baby 3 in 1 Diaper Rash Cream.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/5/2026
“Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. No sleep checks were documented on August 25, 2026, for one (1) infant, six (6) months of age, who was present and slept on August 25, 2026, per teacher report.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/5/2026
Feb 11, 20262 citations
“Children between 12 and 24 months of age were grouped with children 3 years of age or older. In space #3 at 11:26am, I observed one teacher caring for two toddlers, one year of age, five children, two years of age, three children, three years of age, and one child, four years of age. Per the administrator's report, the two toddlers, one year of age were grouped with three children, three years of age and one child, four years of age due to staffing issues.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 2/17/2026
“Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. In space #1, on January 29, 2026, one infant, nine months of age was placed on their tummy to sleep at 3:47pm per the infant sleep chart. On January 30, 2026, one infant, nine months of age was placed on the tummy to sleep at 10:15am and placed on their side to sleep at 2:47pm.On February 9, 2026, one infant, nine months of age was placed on their side to sleep at 4:50pm. A waiver was not on file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 2/17/2026
Jan 5, 20266 citations
“Staff did not wash their hands thoroughly before beginning work, before/after handling food, before bottle feeding or serving to other children, after toileting or handling body fluids, after diaper changing and after handling soiled items. While caring for children on playground #2, the lead teacher did not wash her hands or use a hand antiseptic after wiping a child's runny nose.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
“Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. The menu posted in the kitchen and at the entrance of the facility was dated December 15, 2025, through December 19, 2025.”
Violation corrected during visit
“The activity plan did not provide at least 4 different activities daily listed in GS 110-91(12): art/creative play; books; blocks; manipulatives; and family living and dramatic play, including one of which is outdoors if weather conditions permit. The activity plan posted in space #3, and space #4, dated January 5, 2026, through January 9, 2026, did not provide at least four different activities daily. One activity, books, was offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Two activities, books and art were offered on Tuesday, and two activities, books and dramatic play were offered on Thursday.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
“An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence) The written feeding plan was not posted in space #3 for one toddler, thirteen months of age.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
2 more from this inspection
“Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization. In space #3, the leftover medication, Lotrimin AF, was stored in the locked cabinet above the sink and not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed or the authorization ended. The medication authorization on file was valid from December 8, 2025, until December 12, 2025.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
“Potential biocontaminants were not stored properly (locked storage, removed from premises, inaccessible to children, or covered plastic lined receptacle). One child, three years of age was on playground #2. The child was crying and had a runny nose. The child was wearing a jacket and the lead teacher used the child's jacket to wipe the child's nose. The child continued to wear the jacket that was used to wipe the bodily fluid.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
Nov 5, 20253 citations
“A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. A signed statement regarding the parent's receipt of the summary of the North Carolina Child Care Law was not on file for one (1) child with an enrollment date of September 22, 2025.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/13/2025
“Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. One (1) container of Members Mark Baby Wipes stored in the plastic packaging, was observed on top of the toilet paper dispenser in the bathroom between space #2, and space #3. The plastic packaging was accessible to two (2) children, two years of age in attendance in space #3. The plastic packaging listed the following warnings: "to avoid danger of suffocation, keep plastic bags away from babies, children, and pets. Do not leave this bag in cribs, beds, carriage, or playpens with an unattended baby of child. THIS PACKAGE IS NOT A TOY. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN."”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/13/2025
“Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance. In space #3, the daily attendance record was not maintained for two (2) children in attendance on November 4, 2025, and November 5, 2025.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/13/2025
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — North Carolina DCDEE
- Last visit
- August 26, 2026
- On file
- 8 visits since August 2025 — 4 cited nothing, 2 of those unannounced
- Fixed?
- All 13 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.
Aug 2026 Unannounced visit 2 findings
Unannounced visit · August 26, 2026
Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. In Space #1, there was no Permission to Administer Medication form for one (1) tube of Aquaphor Baby 3 in 1 Diaper Rash Cream.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/5/2026
Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. No sleep checks were documented on August 25, 2026, for one (1) infant, six (6) months of age, who was present and slept on August 25, 2026, per teacher report.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/5/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000647 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Feb 2026 Unannounced visit 2 findings
Unannounced visit · February 11, 2026
Children between 12 and 24 months of age were grouped with children 3 years of age or older. In space #3 at 11:26am, I observed one teacher caring for two toddlers, one year of age, five children, two years of age, three children, three years of age, and one child, four years of age. Per the administrator's report, the two toddlers, one year of age were grouped with three children, three years of age and one child, four years of age due to staffing issues.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 2/17/2026
Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. In space #1, on January 29, 2026, one infant, nine months of age was placed on their tummy to sleep at 3:47pm per the infant sleep chart. On January 30, 2026, one infant, nine months of age was placed on the tummy to sleep at 10:15am and placed on their side to sleep at 2:47pm.On February 9, 2026, one infant, nine months of age was placed on their side to sleep at 4:50pm. A waiver was not on file.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 2/17/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000647 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Jan 2026 Unannounced visit 6 findings
Unannounced visit · January 5, 2026
Staff did not wash their hands thoroughly before beginning work, before/after handling food, before bottle feeding or serving to other children, after toileting or handling body fluids, after diaper changing and after handling soiled items. While caring for children on playground #2, the lead teacher did not wash her hands or use a hand antiseptic after wiping a child's runny nose.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. The menu posted in the kitchen and at the entrance of the facility was dated December 15, 2025, through December 19, 2025.
Violation corrected during visit
The activity plan did not provide at least 4 different activities daily listed in GS 110-91(12): art/creative play; books; blocks; manipulatives; and family living and dramatic play, including one of which is outdoors if weather conditions permit. The activity plan posted in space #3, and space #4, dated January 5, 2026, through January 9, 2026, did not provide at least four different activities daily. One activity, books, was offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Two activities, books and art were offered on Tuesday, and two activities, books and dramatic play were offered on Thursday.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence) The written feeding plan was not posted in space #3 for one toddler, thirteen months of age.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization. In space #3, the leftover medication, Lotrimin AF, was stored in the locked cabinet above the sink and not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed or the authorization ended. The medication authorization on file was valid from December 8, 2025, until December 12, 2025.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
Potential biocontaminants were not stored properly (locked storage, removed from premises, inaccessible to children, or covered plastic lined receptacle). One child, three years of age was on playground #2. The child was crying and had a runny nose. The child was wearing a jacket and the lead teacher used the child's jacket to wipe the child's nose. The child continued to wear the jacket that was used to wipe the bodily fluid.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 1/10/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000647 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Nov 2025 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · November 5, 2025
A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. A signed statement regarding the parent's receipt of the summary of the North Carolina Child Care Law was not on file for one (1) child with an enrollment date of September 22, 2025.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/13/2025
Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. One (1) container of Members Mark Baby Wipes stored in the plastic packaging, was observed on top of the toilet paper dispenser in the bathroom between space #2, and space #3. The plastic packaging was accessible to two (2) children, two years of age in attendance in space #3. The plastic packaging listed the following warnings: "to avoid danger of suffocation, keep plastic bags away from babies, children, and pets. Do not leave this bag in cribs, beds, carriage, or playpens with an unattended baby of child. THIS PACKAGE IS NOT A TOY. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN."
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/13/2025
Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance. In space #3, the daily attendance record was not maintained for two (2) children in attendance on November 4, 2025, and November 5, 2025.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/13/2025
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000647 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, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
How they teach
Creative Curriculum
“our curriculum The Creative Curriculum is based on the belief that children learn best by doing. It provides a framework for teachers to create a learning environment that is both stimulating and supportive.”
Details
- Address
- 252 Wilmot Drive
- License
- 36000647, active
- Quality program
- Four Star License
- Established
- 2025
Run Fair Chance Learning Academy LLC? 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 fairchancelearningacademy.com
State record
From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked October 11, 2026.
Details
- Phone, Address, License, Quality program — Checked July 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 36000647 under License Number, and open the result.
- Website — Checked July 2026 fairchancelearningacademy.com
- Established — Checked July 2026 fairchancelearningacademy.com
- Who runs it — Checked September 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 36000647 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.