Chicago · Licensed center

Paulo Freire Center

Large center, licensed for 184 children.
Run by a nonprofit. A board oversees it, and there are no owners taking profit.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 16 of its 22 licensing inspections since June 2010.

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

Nov 4, 2025No rules cited

Jan 8, 20251 citation

Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(p)

Dec 20, 20241 citation

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

Dec 10, 20245 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(1)

1 more from this inspection

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)

Oct 5, 20233 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)

Mar 3, 2022No rules cited

Nov 15, 20211 citation

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)

Nov 2, 2021No rules cited

Feb 17, 2021No rules cited

Dec 17, 2019No rules cited

Oct 30, 2019No rules cited

Dec 11, 20181 citation

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)

Nov 7, 20171 citation

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)

Jun 7, 20178 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(b)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(c)(3)
Provisions Pertaining to Permits
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.65(a)(4)

4 more from this inspection

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(r)
Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(g)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC7.

Nov 30, 20165 citations

Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a)

1 more from this inspection

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

Nov 30, 20153 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)

Oct 1, 201310 citations

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(l)(1)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(d)

6 more from this inspection

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(j)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(23)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)

Nov 20, 20127 citations

Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Substitutes
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.170(a)

3 more from this inspection

Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(i)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)

Nov 8, 20114 citations

Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(i)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(b)
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e)
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(f)

Oct 22, 201020 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Volunteers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(b)

16 more from this inspection

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(2)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(6)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(b)
Special Requirements for School-Age Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.220(c)
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(a)(6)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(4)

Jun 24, 20102 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(i)(2)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(m)

Jun 4, 20104 citations

Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a)
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(j)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(b)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(4)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: November 4, 2025
On file: 22 visits since June 2010 — 6 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was March 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.

Nov 2025 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2025 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · January 8, 2025

Program Requirements for All Ages

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2024 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · December 20, 2024

Grouping and Staffing

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Dec 2024 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · December 10, 2024

Personnel Records

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

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(e)(1) · 407.120(e)(2) · 407.120(e)(5)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · October 5, 2023

Personnel Records

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

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

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2022 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Nov 2021 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · November 15, 2021

Personnel Records

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2021 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Feb 2021 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Dec 2019 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Oct 2019 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Dec 2018 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · December 11, 2018

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2017 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · November 7, 2017

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2017 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · June 7, 2017

Staffing Structure

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1) through (g) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(1) · 407.90(g)

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (c)(3) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(c)(3)

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(b) through (r) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(b) · 407.310(r)

Provisions Pertaining to Permits

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.65(a)(4) · Violation corrected

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

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2016 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · November 30, 2016

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

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

Personnel Records

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

Medications

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(b) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2015 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · November 30, 2015

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) through (d) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(d)

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 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2013 Monitoring visit 10 findings

Monitoring visit · October 1, 2013

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (3) · Rule cited again

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (f)(23) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(f)(23)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (h) · Violation corrected

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

Organization and Administration

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

Qualifications for Child Care Director

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e) · 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 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2012 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · November 20, 2012

Equipment and Materials

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(i) through (j)(5) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(i) · 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(5)

Organization and Administration

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

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Personnel Records

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

Substitutes

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.170(a) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2011 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · November 8, 2011

Medications

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) through (f) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) · 407.360(f)

Personnel Records

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

Equipment and Materials

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2010 Monitoring visit 20 findings

Monitoring visit · October 22, 2010

Personnel Records

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (6) · Violation corrected

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

Equipment and Materials

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · 407.380(j)(5) · 407.380(j)(6)

Outdoor Play Area

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) · 407.390(i)(1)(b) · 407.390(i)(4)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (h) · Violation corrected

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

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)

Volunteers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(b) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Special Requirements for School-Age Children

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

Napping and Sleeping

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

Medications

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(c)(2) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2010 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · June 24, 2010

Organization and Administration

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

Health Requirements for Children

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2010 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · June 4, 2010

Outdoor Play Area

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(1)(a) · 407.390(i)(1)(b) · 407.390(i)(4)

Napping and Sleeping

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 393018 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

7738266260

Website: paulofreirefamilycenter.com
Address: 1653 W 43rd St
License: pending renewal application (rn)

Run Paulo Freire Center? 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 July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "PAULO FREIRE CENTER" under Provider Name and 60609 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 393018).
Website — Checked July 2026 paulofreirefamilycenter.com
Who runs it — Checked October 2026 projects.propublica.org

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.