Kirkland · Licensed center
Kiddie Academy of Kirkland
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- Large developmental center, licensed for 170 children.
- Ages on the license: 1 month to 13 years.
- A Kiddie Academy franchise. The brand is owned by Essential Brands, Inc., a privately held company.
What the state has found
Someone reported a concern to the state, and in March 2024 the state found it valid. The state also cited rules at 3 of its 4 licensing inspections since February 2024.
Of the 239 Seattle-area centers with 4 licensing inspections, 33% had rules cited at 3 of them, as this center did. 29% had rules cited at all 4, 7% at none.
Complaints the state found valid
Someone reported a concern. The state investigated and found reasonable cause to believe a licensing rule was broken.
Of the 215 Seattle-area centers licensed for 115 to 323 children, 105 (49%) have no valid complaint in the last three years; 110 (51%) have one or more, as this center does.
Licensing inspections
Jul 22, 20267 citations
“It was observed via MERIT that faculty members ML, RP, and SS had expired Food Handler's Permits.”
WAC 110-300-0106(12)
“It was observed in room 110 the emergency exit door was partially blocked by the sensory table and regular table.”
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(c)
“It was observed in multiple rooms toilet plungers were being stored next to the toilets.”
WAC 110-300-0260(5)
“It was observed that faculty members OAC, DE, SM, SR, and SS did not complete 10 hours of STARS trainings in 2025.”
WAC 110-300-0107(1)
3 more from this inspection
“It was observed in room 207 an iPad cord was dangling and long enough to loop around a child's neck.”
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(c)
“It was observed via MERIT that faculty members PS and CMM had expired CPR/First Aid certificates.”
WAC 110-300-0106(11)
“It was observed via MERIT that faculty members GS, LRI, SR, MK, and LGV had expired or missing Safe Sleep Training.”
WAC 110-300-0106(8)
Dec 17, 20255 citations
“It was observed in room 109, a nap cot was placed in front of the emergency exit.”
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(c)
“It was observed that the child allergy plans were missing steps to take in case of an unintended allergic reation, substitue foods, a specific treatment plan for early learning provider to follow in response to an allergic reaction, directions related to medication dosage amounts, description of allergic reactions and symptoms associated with the child's particular allergies.”
WAC 110-300-0186(1)
“It was observed in rooms 104 and 107, a plunger was stored in the child bathrooms.”
WAC 110-300-0260(5)
“It was observed that in the infant room (room 101), the window blinds were not limited from forming a loop and posing a risk of strangulation to children.”
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b)
1 more from this inspection
“Child 1, 2, and 5 did not have immunizations on a CIS form.”
WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2)
Feb 13, 20241 citation
“It was observed that PS had not complete Child Care Basics within 3 months of hire.”
WAC 110-300-0106(3)
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Washington DCYF
- Last visit
- July 22, 2026
- On file
- 4 visits since February 2024 — 1 cited nothing · 1 complaint investigation
- Most serious
- Serious —
It was observed via MERIT that faculty members ML, RP, and SS had expired Food Handler's Permits.
· July 22, 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 7 findings
Licensing visit · July 22, 2026
WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious
It was observed via MERIT that faculty members ML, RP, and SS had expired Food Handler's Permits.
WAC 110-300-0107(1) · Short Term
It was observed that faculty members OAC, DE, SM, SR, and SS did not complete 10 hours of STARS trainings in 2025.
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(c) · Short Term
It was observed in room 207 an iPad cord was dangling and long enough to loop around a child's neck.
WAC 110-300-0106(11) · Short Term
It was observed via MERIT that faculty members PS and CMM had expired CPR/First Aid certificates.
Emergency preparation and exiting
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(c) · Serious
It was observed in room 110 the emergency exit door was partially blocked by the sensory table and regular table.
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(5) · Serious
It was observed in multiple rooms toilet plungers were being stored next to the toilets.
WAC 110-300-0106(8) · Short Term
It was observed via MERIT that faculty members GS, LRI, SR, MK, and LGV had expired or missing Safe Sleep Training.
Dec 2025 Licensing visit 5 findings
Licensing visit · December 17, 2025
Emergency preparation and exiting
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(c) · Serious
It was observed in room 109, a nap cot was placed in front of the emergency exit.
Food allergies and special dietary needs
WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious
It was observed that the child allergy plans were missing steps to take in case of an unintended allergic reation, substitue foods, a specific treatment plan for early learning provider to follow in response to an allergic reaction, directions related to medication dosage amounts, description of allergic reactions and symptoms associated with the child's particular allergies.
Immunizations and exempt children
WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term
Child 1, 2, and 5 did not have immunizations on a CIS form.
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(5) · Serious
It was observed in rooms 104 and 107, a plunger was stored in the child bathrooms.
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b) · Serious
It was observed that in the infant room (room 101), the window blinds were not limited from forming a loop and posing a risk of strangulation to children.
Feb 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · February 13, 2024
WAC 110-300-0106(3) · Short Term
It was observed that PS had not complete Child Care Basics within 3 months of hire.
Feb 2024 Complaint 1 valid issue
Complaint · Received February 2, 2024 · Resolved March 7, 2024
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, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
How they teach
Developmental
“Life Essentials focuses on the developmental milestone-producing outcomes that prepare your child for life: Character, Confidence, Curiosity, Connection, Critical Thinking, and Creative Expression.”
Who cares for your child
Melissa Lehan (Academy Director), 20 years in early childhood and Olive Amado-Cortez (Executive Director), 18 years in early childhood.
A day here
- Hours
- 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week
- Meals
- All Academies provide healthy meals and snacks; families do not pack food
- Outdoors
- Nature playground for exploration and outdoor learning
- Screens
- Technology used as a supportive learning tool in a balanced way, not for entertainment
- Updates for parents
- Academy Link app for updates, photos, and daily info
- Schedule
- full-time
- Closed
- Friday before Labor Day (Teacher in-service day); Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; Day After Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; New Year's Day; Presidents Day (Teacher in-service day); Parent Teacher Conferences (April 9, 2027); Memorial Day; Independence Day (July 5, 2027)
Details
- Website
- kiddieacademy.com
- Address
- 12620 NE 85th St., Ste. 112
- License
- PL-10011, active
- Ages they serve
- 6 weeks through 4-year-olds (Pre-Kindergarten)
Nearby
The eight closest of the 14 other licensed centers in ZIP 98033
- Discovery Center Child CareMedium center · 0.3 miLast state visit Apr 14, 2026 · nothing cited
- City Kids PreschoolMedium center · 0.4 miLast state visit Dec 17, 2025 · 3 citations
- The Goddard School of KirklandLarge center · 0.4 miLast state visit Sep 3, 2025 · 3 citations
- Holy Family Parish PreschoolSmall center · 0.7 miLast state visit Sep 21, 2026 · 3 citations
- Lakeview Montessori SchoolLarge center · 1.2 miLast state visit Jul 29, 2026 · 2 citations
- Bright Horizons - Kirkland at Urban PlazaLarge center · 1.2 miLast state visit Aug 4, 2026 · 1 citation
- Bright Horizons at KirklandLarge center · 1.3 miLast state visit Jul 29, 2026 · 1 citation
- Bright Horizons at Totem LakeLarge center · 1.4 miLast state visit Mar 5, 2026 · nothing cited
Run Kiddie Academy of Kirkland? 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 August 2026 kiddieacademy.com
Who cares for your child
- Staff kiddieacademy.com
State record
From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.
A day here
- Meals, Updates for parents — Checked September 2026 kiddieacademy.com
- Outdoors — Checked August 2026 kiddieacademy.com
- Screens — Checked July 2026 kiddieacademy.com
- Hours, Schedule, Closed — Checked September 2026 kiddieacademy.com
Details
- Phone — Checked April 2026 kiddieacademy.com
- Website — Checked July 2026 kiddieacademy.com
- Address — Checked June 2026 data.wa.gov
- License — Checked April 2026 findchildcarewa.org
- Ages on the license — Checked September 2026 findchildcarewa.org
- Ages they serve — Checked September 2026 kiddieacademy.com
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 kiddieacademy.com/academies/kirkland
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 kiddieacademy.com/about-us
Kiddie Academy's own site says the founding Miller family continues to own and operate Kiddie Academy, and that other families own and operate the academies in their communities. kiddieacademy.com
Large means the biggest quarter of Seattle-area’s 859 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 115 to 323 children. Small is 6 to 40; medium is 41 to 114.
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.