Chicago · Licensed center

Little Explorers Academy Inc

Medium center, licensed for 52 children.
Shortlist has found no website for it yet.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 12 of its 17 licensing inspections since September 2019.

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

Sep 16, 2026No rules cited

Jul 28, 20257 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2)

3 more from this inspection

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC7.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

Jul 31, 202414 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)

10 more from this inspection

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(l)(1)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(h)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(6)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(i)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

Sep 11, 2023No rules cited

Sep 8, 20233 citations

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(h)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(g)

Jul 20, 202311 citations

Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(4)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)

7 more from this inspection

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(i)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(24)
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)

May 12, 20234 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(1)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(g)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(2)

Mar 16, 20236 citations

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(b)
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(b)

2 more from this inspection

Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(p)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(2)

Jan 27, 20234 citations

Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(j)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)

Sep 22, 2022No rules cited

Sep 13, 2021No rules cited

Aug 4, 20214 citations

Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(j)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)

Jul 1, 20213 citations

Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)(1)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)

Jul 16, 2020No rules cited

Nov 4, 20192 citations

Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)

Oct 10, 20192 citations

Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(f)

Sep 23, 20196 citations

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(e)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)(b)

2 more from this inspection

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(3)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: September 16, 2026
On file: 17 visits since September 2019 — 5 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was August 28, 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.

Sep 2026 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jul 2025 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · July 28, 2025

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)

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Child Care Director

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

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

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

A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC7.

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

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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2024 Monitoring visit 14 findings

Monitoring visit · July 31, 2024

Personnel Records

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

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

Equipment and Materials

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(h) through (i) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(h) · 407.380(j)(4)(i)

Organization and Administration

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

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Child Care Director

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2023 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Sep 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · September 8, 2023

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(g) through (h) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(g) · 407.310(h)

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2023 Monitoring visit 11 findings

Monitoring visit · July 20, 2023

General Requirements for Personnel

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (i) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(i)

Personnel Records

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

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

Grouping and Staffing

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(4) · Violation corrected

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2023 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · May 12, 2023

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(1) through (2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(1) · 407.310(i)(2)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2023 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · March 16, 2023

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(b) through (c)(2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(b) · 407.250(c)(2)

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

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

Program Requirements for All Ages

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

Napping and Sleeping

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2023 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · January 27, 2023

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(j) · Violation corrected

Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.150(c) · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2022 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Sep 2021 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Aug 2021 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · August 4, 2021

Nutrition and Meal Service

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g) through (j) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g) · 407.330(j)

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) · 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 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2021 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · July 1, 2021

Grouping and Staffing

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

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2020 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Nov 2019 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · November 4, 2019

Organization and Administration

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2019 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · October 10, 2019

Grouping and Staffing

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

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a) · 407.190(f)

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2019 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · September 23, 2019

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c) through (i)(2)(b) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c) · 407.250(i)(1)(h) · 407.250(i)(2)(b)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(3) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Outdoor Play Area

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 580722 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

7733060740

Address: 6640 W Archer Ave
License: pending renewal application (rn)

Run Little Explorers Academy Inc? 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 10, 2026.

Details

Phone, Address, License sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "LITTLE EXPLORERS ACADEMY INC" under Provider Name and 60638 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 580722).

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.