Chicago · Licensed center

Tots Express Learning Center

Medium center, licensed for 78 children.
Run by a nonprofit. A board oversees it, and there are no owners taking profit.
Shortlist has found no website for it yet.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 8 of its 12 licensing inspections since May 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 10, 20264 citations

Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(n)(3)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(g)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i)

Mar 4, 2025No rules cited

Mar 27, 20247 citations

Staffing Structure
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(2)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)

3 more from this inspection

Volunteers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(a)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)(a)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)

Oct 6, 2023No rules cited

Sep 12, 2023No rules cited

May 31, 2023No rules cited

Apr 14, 20232 citations

General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(e)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)

May 16, 201918 citations

Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(2)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(i)

14 more from this inspection

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(l)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(c)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(5)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(j)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(6)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(d)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.

Apr 25, 201712 citations

Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(a)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)
Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(f)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5)(i)

8 more from this inspection

Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d)(10)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(b)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(l)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(f)(1)
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(g)

Mar 8, 201621 citations

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(f)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
Hand Washing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)

17 more from this inspection

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(10)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(h)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Transportation
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280(d)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Transportation
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280(c)(6)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(5)
Program Requirements for All Ages
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d)(10)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(c)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(a)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(h)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)

Feb 26, 201310 citations

Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(4)

6 more from this inspection

Hand Washing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c)
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(j)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(c)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(5)

May 21, 20104 citations

Grouping and Staffing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190(d)(1)
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(g)
Hand Washing
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(a)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(g)

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit: March 10, 2026
On file: 12 visits since May 2010 — 4 cited nothing
Fixed?: The latest correction deadline was April 10, 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 10, 2026

Organization and Administration

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) through (n)(3) · Violation substantiated

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · 407.70(n)(3)

Grouping and Staffing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190 · Violation substantiated

Guidance and Discipline

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(g) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2025 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Mar 2024 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · March 27, 2024

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) through (5) · Violation substantiated

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

Personnel Records

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

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

Staffing Structure

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.90(d)(2) · Violation substantiated

Volunteers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.180(a) · Violation substantiated

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Oct 2023 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Sep 2023 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

May 2023 Compliance monitoring visit nothing cited

Apr 2023 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · April 14, 2023

General Requirements for Personnel

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) through (e) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(5) · 407.100(e)

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2019 Monitoring visit 18 findings

Monitoring visit · May 16, 2019

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(2) through (l) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(2) · 407.370(e)(6) · 407.370(i) · 407.370(j) · 407.370(l)

Health Requirements for Children

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

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6) · 407.310(d)

Personnel Records

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (5) · Violation corrected

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

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

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

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

Outdoor Play Area

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i) · 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, CCASEC4.

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2017 Monitoring visit 12 findings

Monitoring visit · April 25, 2017

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11) through (l) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(11) · 407.370(f)(1) · 407.370(l)

Grouping and Staffing

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

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

Program Requirements for All Ages

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d) through (10) · Violation corrected on site · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d) · 407.200(d)(10)

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5) through (i) · Violation corrected on site

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(5) · 407.340(a)(5)(i)

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Equipment and Materials

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

Outdoor Play Area

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2016 Monitoring visit 21 findings

Monitoring visit · March 8, 2016

Personnel Records

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

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(5)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(c) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(c) · 407.250(i)(1)(f) · 407.250(i)(1)(g) · 407.250(i)(1)(h) · 407.250(i)(4)

General Requirements for Personnel

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

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

Transportation

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280(c)(6) through (d) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.280(c)(6) · 407.280(d)

Program Requirements for All Ages

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.200(d)(10) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

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

Health Requirements for Children

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

Hand Washing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

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

Equipment and Materials

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Feb 2013 Monitoring visit 10 findings

Monitoring visit · February 26, 2013

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(c) through (4) · Violation corrected

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

Personnel Records

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

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

Guidance and Discipline

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

Health Requirements for Children

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

Hand Washing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(c) · Violation corrected on site

Napping and Sleeping

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

Equipment and Materials

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

May 2010 Monitoring visit 4 findings

Monitoring visit · May 21, 2010

Personnel Records

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

Grouping and Staffing

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

Hand Washing

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.320(a) · Violation corrected

Diapering and Toileting Procedures

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

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 494869 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

7737218687

Address: 9031 S Stony Island Ave
License: pending renewal application (rn)

Run Tots Express Learning 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 9, 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 "TOTS EXPRESS LEARNING CENTER" under Provider Name and 60617 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 494869).
Who runs it — Checked October 2026 projects.propublica.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.