Chicago · Licensed center

Spark Montessori

Medium Montessori center, licensed for 70 children.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at all 11 of its licensing inspections since March 2019.

Of the 859 Chicago-area centers with 10 or more licensing inspections, 22% had rules cited at all of them, as this center did.

Licensing inspections

Jan 16, 20263 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)

Feb 28, 20258 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

4 more from this inspection

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(i)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)

Feb 14, 20247 citations

Substitutes
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.170(a)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

3 more from this inspection

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(3)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Jan 23, 20235 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

1 more from this inspection

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

Nov 5, 202012 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(4)
Qualifications for Child Care Director
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(m)
Provisions Pertaining to the License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)

8 more from this inspection

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Nov 12, 201910 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(3)

6 more from this inspection

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Sep 26, 20197 citations

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)(4)
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

3 more from this inspection

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Jul 16, 20191 citation

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

May 28, 20193 citations

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(3)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)

Apr 25, 20192 citations

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(k)(1)

Mar 14, 20197 citations

Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)

3 more from this inspection

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: January 16, 2026
On file: 11 visits since March 2019 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was February 16, 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.

Jan 2026 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · January 16, 2026

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2025 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · February 28, 2025

General Requirements for Personnel

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) through (i) · Violation corrected · Rule cited again

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(2) · 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(f) · 407.100(i)

Background Checks for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Rule cited again

Personnel Records

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

Program Requirements for All Ages

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2024 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · February 14, 2024

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) through (4)(a) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(4)(a)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Substitutes

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

Health Requirements for Children

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

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

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2023 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · January 23, 2023

Personnel Records

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

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

General Requirements for Personnel

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

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

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

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

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2020 Monitoring visit 12 findings

Monitoring visit · November 5, 2020

Health Requirements for Children

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

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

Personnel Records

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

Qualifications for Child Care Director

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

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

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · 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 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Nov 2019 Monitoring visit 10 findings

Monitoring visit · November 12, 2019

Personnel Records

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

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

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

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · Violation corrected on site

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

Medications

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) · 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 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Sep 2019 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · September 26, 2019

Personnel Records

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

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

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

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

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · 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 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2019 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · July 16, 2019

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 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2019 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · May 28, 2019

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

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

Personnel Records

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2019 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · April 25, 2019

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2019 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · March 14, 2019

Personnel Records

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

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

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

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · 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 574839 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

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

How they teach

Montessori

“Spark Montessori's Primary Program is the core to a Montessori education and is designed to meet the unique needs of children aged 3 through 6 years old.”

A day here

Hours: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week
Schedule: full-week (5 day), part-week (2-3 day, Toddler only), and half-day (Primary) (the brand’s policy for all its schools)

Details

7737907155

Website: sparkmontessori.org
Address: 4326 N California Ave
License: license issued (il)
Ages they serve: 15 months through 6 years old
Ownership: For-profit

Run Spark Montessori? 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.

How they teach

Approach — Checked August 2026 sparkmontessori.org

State record

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

A day here

Hours, Schedule — Checked August 2026 sparkmontessori.org

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 "SPARK MONTESSORI" under Provider Name and 60618 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 574839).
Website — Checked August 2026 sparkmontessori.org
Ages they serve — Checked August 2026 sparkmontessori.org
Ownership — Checked October 2026 data.cityofchicago.org

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.