Chicago · Licensed center

Tess M Mckenzie Early Learning Campus

What the state has found

The state cited rules at all 6 of its licensing inspections since April 2024.

Of the 133 Chicago-area centers with 6 licensing inspections, 38% had rules cited at all 6, as this center did.

Licensing inspections

Feb 26, 202616 citations

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3)

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)

  • Physical Plant/Indoor Space

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(d)(3)

  • Health Requirements for Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(d)

12 more from this inspection

  • Napping and Sleeping

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(e)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

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

  • Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

  • Diapering and Toileting Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(b)

  • Equipment and Materials

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(k)

  • Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(c)(5)

  • Organization and Administration

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(l)

  • Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(7)

  • General Requirements for Personnel

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

  • Staffing Structure

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(e)(1)

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

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

Feb 27, 202510 citations

  • Health Requirements for Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(d)

  • Physical Plant/Indoor Space

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11)

  • Napping and Sleeping

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(a)

  • Health Requirements for Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)

6 more from this inspection

  • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)

  • Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)

  • Grouping and Staffing

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)

  • Background Checks for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

  • Qualifications for Child Care Director

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(j)

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

Oct 2, 20249 citations

  • Background Checks for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110

  • Equipment and Materials

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)

  • Diapering and Toileting Procedures

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(i)

  • Physical Plant/Indoor Space

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11)

5 more from this inspection

  • Napping and Sleeping

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c)

  • Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(8)

  • 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)

Jul 26, 20241 citation

  • General Requirements for Personnel

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

May 9, 20242 citations

  • Guidance and Discipline

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(b)

  • Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)

Apr 2, 20245 citations

  • General Requirements for Personnel

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(i)

  • Program Requirements for All Ages

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d)

  • Physical Plant/Indoor Space

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(t)(2)

  • Nutrition and Meal Service

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(g)(1)

1 more from this inspection

  • Physical Plant/Indoor Space

    89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit
February 26, 2026
On file
6 visits since April 2024 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was March 26, 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.

Feb 2026 Monitoring visit 16 findings

Monitoring visit · February 26, 2026

Staffing Structure

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(a)(3) through (e)(1) · Violation substantiated

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

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (7) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · 407.100(c)(7)

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(c)(5) through (f)(7) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(c)(5) · 407.210(f)(7)

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

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

Organization and Administration

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

Grouping and Staffing

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

Health Requirements for Children

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

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(b) · Violation substantiated

Napping and Sleeping

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(e) · Violation substantiated

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)(k) · Violation substantiated

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

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

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

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 624981 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2025 Monitoring visit 10 findings

Monitoring visit · February 27, 2025

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) through (d) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(d)

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Qualifications for Child Care Director

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

Grouping and Staffing

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

Napping and Sleeping

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(a) · Violation substantiated

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11) · Violation substantiated

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

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 624981 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2024 Monitoring visit 9 findings

Monitoring visit · October 2, 2024

Personnel Records

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

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

Background Checks for Personnel

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

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(8) · Violation substantiated

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

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

Napping and Sleeping

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

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11) · Violation substantiated

Equipment and Materials

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 624981 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Jul 2024 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · July 26, 2024

General Requirements for Personnel

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 624981 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2024 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · May 9, 2024

Daily Arrival and Departure of Children

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 624981 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2024 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · April 2, 2024

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1) through (t)(2) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1) · 407.370(t)(2)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

Program Requirements for All Ages

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

Nutrition and Meal Service

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 624981 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

7732098614

Address
4301 S Wabash Ave
License
license issued (il)
Ownership
For-profit

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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 "TESS M MCKENZIE EARLY LEARNING CAMPUS" under Provider Name and 60653 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 624981).
  • 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.