Chicago · Licensed center

Start Early - Educare Chicago

Large play-based center, licensed for 204 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 13 of its 16 licensing inspections since July 2010.

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

Mar 19, 20264 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(10)
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(m)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Jun 17, 20257 citations

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(3)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(7)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(e)

3 more from this inspection

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(q)(1)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

Feb 2, 20248 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(q)(2)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(f)

4 more from this inspection

Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.

Mar 10, 20231 citation

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

Feb 14, 2020No rules cited

Jan 9, 20201 citation

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

Oct 19, 20171 citation

Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6)

Feb 21, 2017No rules cited

Jan 31, 20172 citations

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

Feb 10, 20164 citations

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2)

Feb 4, 20143 citations

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e)

Oct 25, 20131 citation

Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(c)(6)

Jan 31, 20133 citations

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

Mar 5, 2012No rules cited

Feb 15, 20114 citations

Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(3)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(2)

Jul 20, 20102 citations

Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(h)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(9)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: March 19, 2026
On file: 16 visits since July 2010 — 3 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was April 19, 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.

Mar 2026 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · March 19, 2026

Personnel Records

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

Program Requirements for All Ages

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(10) · Violation corrected

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 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jun 2025 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · June 17, 2025

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(3) through (q)(1) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(3) · 407.370(f)(2) · 407.370(q)(1)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(7) · Violation corrected on site

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(e) · Violation corrected on site

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 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2024 Monitoring visit 8 findings

Monitoring visit · February 2, 2024

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7) through (f) · Rule cited again · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(f)

Organization and Administration

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

Personnel Records

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(f) · 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 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2023 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · March 10, 2023

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Rule cited again

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2020 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2020 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · January 9, 2020

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2017 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · October 19, 2017

Guidance and Discipline

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2017 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Jan 2017 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · January 31, 2017

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(f) · 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 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2016 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · February 10, 2016

Personnel Records

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

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2014 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · February 4, 2014

Personnel Records

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(2) · Violation corrected

Medications

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2013 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · October 25, 2013

Guidance and Discipline

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jan 2013 Monitoring visit 3 findings

Monitoring visit · January 31, 2013

Personnel Records

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

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2012 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Feb 2011 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · February 15, 2011

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)(2) · Violation corrected

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2010 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · July 20, 2010

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(c)(9) · Violation corrected

Health Requirements for Children

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 348098 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, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.

How they teach

Play-based

“Combining play-based learning, research-backed curriculum and individualized support.”

A day here

Hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 5 days a week, year round
Meals: Two USDA guideline-approved meals and snacks provided daily
Diapers: Helps families obtain diapers, pull-ups, wipes, and infant formula/food
Updates for parents: ClassDojo

Details

7739242334

Website: educarechicago.org
Address: 5044 S Wabash Ave
License: license issued (il)

Run Start Early - Educare Chicago? 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 educarechicago.org

State record

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

A day here

Meals, Diapers, Updates for parents, Hours, Calendar — Checked August 2026 educarechicago.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 "START EARLY - EDUCARE CHICAGO" under Provider Name and 60615 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 348098).
Website — Checked August 2026 educarechicago.org
Who runs it — Checked October 2026 usaspending.gov

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.