Bellevue · Licensed center
Birch Tree Academy - Bel Red Campus
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- Medium play-based center, licensed for 78 children.
- Ages on the license: 12 months to 6 years.
What the state has found
Someone reported concerns to the state, and it found both valid, most recently in June 2024. The state also cited rules at 4 of its 6 licensing inspections since January 2020.
Fewer than 20 Seattle-area centers have had 6 licensing inspections, so there is no comparison yet.
Complaints the state found valid
Someone reported a concern. The state investigated and found reasonable cause to believe a licensing rule was broken.
“Provider acknowledged that their staff used an angry/hostile enteraction with a child.”
WAC 110-300-0331(1)
Of the 201 Seattle-area centers licensed for 71 to 114 children, 133 (66%) have no valid complaint in the last three years; 68 (34%) have one or more, as this center does.
Licensing inspections
Jul 23, 20261 citation
“Child with allergy to cashews, yogurt, and cheese does not have an individual care plan.”
WAC 110-300-0186(1)
Nov 10, 20252 citations
“Child with food allergy doesn't have her epi-pen at the center.”
WAC 110-300-0186(2)
“Child with a food allergy to pistachios and cashews didn't have an individual food plan.”
WAC 110-300-0186(1)
Aug 13, 20245 citations
“Classroom 4 Area under the sink with Borax open and accessible to children.”
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a), WAC 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b)
“Child LB missing Benadryl.”
WAC 110-300-0186(2)
“Playground emergency exit door locked during business hours.”
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(a)
“Laundry room unlocked.”
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a), WAC 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b)
1 more from this inspection
“Child with immunizations that are not complete did not have signed agreement plan about coming to compliance.”
WAC 110-300-0210(3)
Mar 1, 20242 citations
“Detachable outlet covers inserted in power outlets. Loose cords accessible to children. Plastic bags accessible in a bathroom.”
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(a), WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d)
“First aid kits accessible to children.”
WAC 110-300-0230(2)(b)
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Washington DCYF
- Last visit
- July 23, 2026
- On file
- 6 visits since January 2020 — 2 cited nothing · 2 complaint investigations
- Most serious
- Serious —
Child with allergy to cashews, yogurt, and cheese does not have an individual care plan.
· July 23, 2026
Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.
Jul 2026 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · July 23, 2026
Food allergies and special dietary needs
WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious
Child with allergy to cashews, yogurt, and cheese does not have an individual care plan.
Nov 2025 Licensing visit 2 findings
Licensing visit · November 10, 2025
Food allergies and special dietary needs
WAC 110-300-0186(2) · Serious
Child with food allergy doesn't have her epi-pen at the center.
Food allergies and special dietary needs
WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious
Child with a food allergy to pistachios and cashews didn't have an individual food plan.
Aug 2024 Licensing visit 5 findings
Licensing visit · August 13, 2024
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) / 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b) · Serious
Classroom 4 Area under the sink with Borax open and accessible to children.
Immunizations and exempt children
WAC 110-300-0210(3) · Long Term
Child with immunizations that are not complete did not have signed agreement plan about coming to compliance.
Emergency preparation and exiting
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(a) · Serious
Playground emergency exit door locked during business hours.
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) / 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b) · Serious
Laundry room unlocked.
May 2024 Complaint 1 valid issue
Complaint · Received May 6, 2024 · Resolved June 12, 2024
Prohibited behavior and discipline, and physical separation of children
WAC 110-300-0331(1) · Serious
Provider acknowledged that their staff used an angry/hostile enteraction with a child.
Mar 2024 Licensing visit 2 findings
Licensing visit · March 1, 2024
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(a) / 110-300-0165(2)(d) · Serious
Detachable outlet covers inserted in power outlets. Loose cords accessible to children. Plastic bags accessible in a bathroom.
First-aid—CPR certification and supplies
WAC 110-300-0230(2)(b) · Serious
First aid kits accessible to children.
May 2023 Complaint 1 valid issue
Complaint · Received May 15, 2023 · Resolved July 19, 2023
Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.
Openings, Working Connections subsidy, cost, ratios and staff, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
How they teach
Play-based
“This play-based curriculum is designed to inspire and build curiosity, confidence, and joyful engagement while building a strong foundation in early mathematics.”
A day here
- Hours
- 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week
- Sleep
- Infants nap on their own personalized schedules
- Updates for parents
- Bright Wheel app
Details
- Website
- birchtreeacademy.com
- Address
- 1405 134th Ave NE
- License
- PL-13472, active
- Quality program
- Early Achievers Level 3
Nearby
The eight closest of the 16 other licensed centers in ZIP 98005
- Early World Childrens SchoolLarge center · 0.3 miLast state visit Jul 15, 2026 · 2 citations
- Bellevue Discovery CenterMedium center · 0.3 miLast state visit Dec 3, 2025 · 2 citations
- Early World DaySmall center · 0.3 miLast state visit Jul 15, 2026 · 2 citations
- Shamrock MontessoriMedium center · 0.5 miLast state visit Jul 29, 2025 · 3 citations
- The Growing Tree Playcare & PreschoolMedium center · 0.6 miLast state visit Aug 28, 2026 · 3 citations
- Living Montessori Education CommunityLarge center · 0.7 miLast state visit Aug 17, 2026 · 9 citations
- International Friends SchoolLarge center · 0.8 miLast state visit Mar 25, 2026 · 3 citations
- Bright Horizons at Bellevue Spring DistrictLarge center · 0.9 miLast state visit Aug 13, 2026 · 3 citations
Run Birch Tree Academy - Bel Red Campus? Correct or add anything here, free.
Add what is missingSources 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 October 2026 birchtreeacademy.com
State record
From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.
A day here
- Sleep — Checked September 2026 birchtreeacademy.com
- Updates for parents — Checked August 2026 birchtreeacademy.com/…/bta-sample-menu-june-2026.pdf
- Hours — Checked September 2026 birchtreeacademy.com
Details
- Phone, Ages on the license — Checked September 2026 findchildcarewa.org
- Website — Checked July 2026 birchtreeacademy.com
- Address, License — Checked June 2026 data.wa.gov
- Quality program — Checked April 2026 data.wa.gov
Medium means the middle half of Seattle-area’s 859 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 41 to 114 children. Small is 6 to 40; large is 115 to 323.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.
Nearby
The other centers’ visit lines are from Washington DCYF’s published reports as Shortlist read them on October 10, 2026.