Crystal Lake · Licensed center

Kiddie Academy Child Care Learning Ctr

Large center, licensed for 144 children.
A Kiddie Academy franchise. The brand is owned by Essential Brands, Inc., a privately held company.
Shortlist has found no website for it yet.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 19 of its 26 licensing inspections since March 2014.

Of the 860 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

Apr 8, 20261 citation

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6)

Feb 27, 20269 citations

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(e)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(a)

5 more from this inspection

Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)(1)(b)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(7)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(m)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)

Jan 20, 20267 citations

Provisions Pertaining to the License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(b)

3 more from this inspection

Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6)

Jul 14, 20253 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(11)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(g)

Mar 17, 20254 citations

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Apr 15, 20244 citations

Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(a)

Nov 6, 2023No rules cited

Feb 22, 20233 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(f)

Nov 16, 2022No rules cited

Sep 2, 20228 citations

Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(2)
Hand Washing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(a)(2)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(2)
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(f)(5)

4 more from this inspection

Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(e)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(p)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(l)
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(p)

Jun 28, 2022No rules cited

Mar 17, 20225 citations

Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(l)(1)

1 more from this inspection

Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(c)(2)

Jan 12, 2022No rules cited

Mar 16, 20212 citations

Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(3)

Mar 11, 20204 citations

Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(e)(1)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

Mar 1, 20192 citations

Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(l)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)

Oct 26, 2018No rules cited

Mar 29, 20183 citations

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(e)(1)

Aug 23, 20174 citations

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(e)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

Jul 6, 20175 citations

Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(2)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(e)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)

1 more from this inspection

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(1)

Jan 25, 20171 citation

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

Feb 26, 2016No rules cited

Jan 20, 20161 citation

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)

Dec 23, 2015No rules cited

Jan 26, 20154 citations

Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(b)(1)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(p)(3)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b)

Mar 17, 20143 citations

Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(j)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(5)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: April 8, 2026
On file: 26 visits since March 2014 — 7 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was March 27, 2026. 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.

Apr 2026 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · April 8, 2026

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6) · Rule cited again

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2026 Monitoring visit 9 findings

Monitoring visit · February 27, 2026

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(f)

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d) through (f)(1)(b) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(d) · 407.260(f)(1)(b)

Qualifications for Child Care Director

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

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(e) · Violation corrected

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(7) · 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 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2026 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · January 20, 2026

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) through (6) · Violation corrected

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

Provisions Pertaining to the License

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

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8) · Violation corrected

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g) · Violation corrected on site

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2025 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · July 14, 2025

Guidance and Discipline

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6) through (g) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6) · 407.270(g)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(a)(11) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2025 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · March 17, 2025

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) through (6) · Violation corrected

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h) · Violation corrected

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2024 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · April 15, 2024

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) · Violation corrected

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(a) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2023 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Feb 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · February 22, 2023

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24) · Violation corrected

Outdoor Play Area

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2022 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Sep 2022 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · September 2, 2022

Program Requirements for All Ages

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(f)(5) through (p) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(f)(5) · 407.200(p)

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(2) · Violation corrected

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(e) · Violation corrected

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(2) · Violation corrected

Hand Washing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(a)(2) · Violation corrected

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2022 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Mar 2022 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · March 17, 2022

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d) · Rule cited again

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(c)(2) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

Outdoor Play Area

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2022 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Mar 2021 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · March 16, 2021

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(3) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2020 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · March 11, 2020

Grouping and Staffing

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) through (e)(1) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · 407.190(e)(1)

Staffing Structure

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2019 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · March 1, 2019

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · Violation corrected

Outdoor Play Area

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(l) · Violation corrected on site

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2018 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Mar 2018 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · March 29, 2018

Staffing Structure

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) through (e)(1) · Violation corrected · Rule cited again

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) · 407.90(e)(1)

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · Rule cited again

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Aug 2017 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · August 23, 2017

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(e) · Violation corrected

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Rule cited again

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2017 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · July 6, 2017

Staffing Structure

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(2) through (e)(1) · Violation corrected on site

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(2) · 407.90(e)(1)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · Violation corrected

Health Requirements for Children

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2017 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · January 25, 2017

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2016 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2016 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · January 20, 2016

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 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2015 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2015 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · January 26, 2015

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

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

Napping and Sleeping

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(b)(1) · Violation corrected

Equipment and Materials

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 521423 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Showing 25 of 26 records. The rest are in the state record linked above.

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

8158930924

Address: 720 Cog Cir
License: license issued (il)

Run Kiddie Academy Child Care Learning Ctr? 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.

State record

From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.

Details

Phone, Address, License — Checked August 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "KIDDIE ACADEMY CHILD CARE LEARNING CTR" under Provider Name and 60014 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 521423).
Who runs it — Checked October 2026 kiddieacademy.com/academies/crystal-lake
Who runs it — Checked October 2026 kiddieacademy.com/about-us

Kiddie Academy's own site says the founding Miller family continues to own and operate Kiddie Academy, and that other families own and operate the academies in their communities. kiddieacademy.com

Large means the biggest quarter of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 119 to 487 children. Small is 8 to 48; medium is 49 to 118.