Chicago · Licensed center

First Academy

Medium center, licensed for 74 children.
Shortlist has found no website for it yet.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 10 of its 14 licensing inspections since August 2012.

Of the 859 Chicago-area centers with 10 or more licensing inspections, 78% had rules cited at some but not all of them, as this center did. 22% had rules cited at all of them.

Licensing inspections

Jan 30, 20259 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)

5 more from this inspection

Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(m)
Special Requirements for School-Age Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(c)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(p)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(p)(3)

Nov 20, 20233 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(b)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

Jul 25, 20234 citations

Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(l)(2)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Provisions Pertaining to the License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(a)
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(e)

Jul 21, 20233 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100

Dec 19, 202225 citations

Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(n)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6)

21 more from this inspection

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(p)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(f)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(3)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(d)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(i)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(k)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(l)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(m)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(e)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(h)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(g)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(h)

Dec 8, 2022No rules cited

Jun 21, 20228 citations

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(q)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(1)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)(1)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)

4 more from this inspection

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(5)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(c)(5)
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(9)(b)

Mar 1, 20226 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)

2 more from this inspection

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)

Oct 18, 2021No rules cited

May 21, 2021No rules cited

Nov 5, 2020No rules cited

Mar 14, 20165 citations

Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(b)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)

1 more from this inspection

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(3)

Feb 28, 201312 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)

8 more from this inspection

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(e)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)

Aug 14, 201215 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(k)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)

11 more from this inspection

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(i)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(f)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(b)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Provisions Pertaining to the License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: January 30, 2025
On file: 14 visits since August 2012 — 4 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was March 1, 2025. 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.

Jan 2025 Monitoring visit 9 findings

Monitoring visit · January 30, 2025

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) through (p)(3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) · 407.370(f)(2) · 407.370(p)(2) · 407.370(p)(3)

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for School-Age Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(c)(2) · Violation corrected

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3) · Violation corrected

Outdoor Play Area

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(m) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · November 20, 2023

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120 · Violation corrected

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(b) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2023 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · July 25, 2023

Provisions Pertaining to the License

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(a) · Violation substantiated

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Child Care Director

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(l)(2) · Violation corrected

Program Requirements for All Ages

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(e) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · July 21, 2023

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100 · Violation substantiated

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6) · Violation substantiated

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2022 Monitoring visit 25 findings

Monitoring visit · December 19, 2022

Equipment and Materials

11 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(f) through (j)(4)(n) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(f) · 407.380(g) · 407.380(h) · 407.380(j) · 407.380(j)(3) · 407.380(j)(4)(d) · 407.380(j)(4)(i) · 407.380(j)(4)(k) · 407.380(j)(4)(l) · 407.380(j)(4)(m) · 407.380(j)(4)(n)

Personnel Records

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (e)(4) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(e)(1) · 407.120(e)(4)

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) through (p) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) · 407.370(e)(6) · 407.370(p)

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2) through (5) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2) · 407.340(a)(5)

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d) · Violation substantiated

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(e) · Violation substantiated

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated

Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(h) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2022 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jun 2022 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · June 21, 2022

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(1) through (q)(2) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(1) · 407.370(e)(3) · 407.370(e)(5) · 407.370(e)(9)(b) · 407.370(q)(2)

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(c)(5) · Violation substantiated

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)(1) · Violation substantiated

Napping and Sleeping

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2022 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · March 1, 2022

Personnel Records

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (4) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · Violation substantiated

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a) · Violation substantiated

Health Requirements for Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2021 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

May 2021 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Nov 2020 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Mar 2016 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · March 14, 2016

Guidance and Discipline

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) through (c) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · 407.270(b) · 407.270(c)

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) through (3) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · 407.370(f)(3)

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2013 Monitoring visit 12 findings

Monitoring visit · February 28, 2013

Personnel Records

7 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (b) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(5) · 407.120(a)(6) · 407.120(b)

Health Requirements for Children

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4) · 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6)

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(e)(2) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Aug 2012 Monitoring visit 15 findings

Monitoring visit · August 14, 2012

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

6 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) through (i)(1)(i) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · 407.250(i)(1)(b) · 407.250(i)(1)(f) · 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(1)(h) · 407.250(i)(1)(i)

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) through (5) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(a)(5)

Provisions Pertaining to the License

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g) · Violation corrected on site

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · Violation corrected

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d) · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(k) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 508557 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.

Details

7736810077

Address: 2459 W Peterson Ave
License: pending renewal application (rn)

Run First Academy? Correct or add anything here, free.

Add what is missing

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.

All checked July 2026.

State record

From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked October 9, 2026.

Details

Phone, Address, License sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "FIRST ACADEMY" under Provider Name and 60659 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 508557).

Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.