Brightpath Smyrna
A licensed child care center in Smyrna, Delaware 19977
616 W Glenwood Ave, Smyrna, Delaware 19977. (302) 653-4034.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Delaware’s own record is on data.delaware.gov.
The short answer
Record last released by Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing on Oct 23, 2026.
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean4
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
3 visits with violations in the last three years, the latest on Jun 9, 2026; Delaware doesn’t list visits that found nothing.
19 violations cited in the last three years.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
When those violations happened
19 violations in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Jun 2026. The last 3 years, to Oct 24, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each violation, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
Jun 9, 2026: unannounced Full Compliance Review6 violations
-
Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Four staff need Administration of medication training. One staff needs CPR/ First Aid. Four staff nee PD plan. One staff needs review of safe sleep and abuse/neglect. Eight staff need OCCL’s Health and Safety training. Six staff need job descriptions. Six staff need references. One staff needs adult abuse registry check. Four staff need health appraisal with TB. Seven staff need release of employment. Five staff need service letters.”
-
Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Two children need blood lead screening results. Three children need updated infant feeding statements. Nine children need updated MAR.”
-
Outdoor Area
“Ensure there is enough material under the fall zones on playground. Ensure gates are self-closing/ self-latching.”
-
Hand Washing
“Ensure handwashing is conducted with staff and child after using the bathroom or changing diapers.”
-
Diapering and Soiled Clothing
“Ensure classrooms have a cleanable surface for changing diapers.”
-
Infant and Toddler Care
“Ensure pressure mounted gates are not used.”
Jun 10, 2025: unannounced Full Compliance Review7 violations
-
Staff Qualifications
“Ensure the center’s administrator has specialized training in infant/toddler and school age care.”
-
Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need DEEDs certification. Four staff need CPR/First Aid training. Four staff Administration of Medication training. Three staff need OCCL’s Health and Safety training, One staff needs two additional hours of training in health and safety. One staff needs two additional references. Six staff need health appraisals with TB results. Five staff need service letters with two documented attempts.”
-
Parents Right to Know
“Ensure Parents Right to Know log is completed with new and touring families.”
-
Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Three children need updated infant feeding statements. Three children need mat permissions. One child needs updated health appraisal. One child needs updated immunizations. One child needs blood lead screening results. Ten children need developmental plans.”
-
Hazardous Materials
“Ensure radon testing is completed every five years.”
-
Equipment
“Ensure classrooms have enough materials for the children to use. Four classrooms need blocks. Three classrooms need musical instruments. One classroom needs art supplies. Three classrooms need manipulatives. Two classrooms need science items. Two classrooms need dramatic play items. Two classrooms need sensory items.”
-
Feeding of Infants
“Ensure infant feeding statements are updated monthly. Two children need updated statements.”
Jun 12, 2024: unannounced Full Compliance Review6 violations
-
Personnel Files
The inspectors’ words, 105 words
“Ensure staff files are complete. Three staff need CPR/First Aid training. Seven staff need PD plan. Four staff need annual review of safe sleep. Four staff need annual review of abuse and neglect. One staff needs orientation. Five staff need OCCL’s Health and Safety training. One staff needs application/resume. One staff needs a job description, Seven staff need references. One staff needs Employee Declaration. Three staff need letters of eligibility on file. Two staff need adult abuse registry. Two staff need adult health appraisals. Two staff need adult health appraisals with TB results. One staff needs a release of employment, Seven staff need service letters.”
-
Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs hours of attendance. One child needs updated immunizations. Three children need blood lead screening results. One child needs Parents Right to Know on file. Five children need a development plan. One child needs mat permission.”
-
Indoor Space
“Ensure floors, walls and other surfaces are clean and in good repair, Walls in room 106 had several areas of drywall in need of repair.”
-
Outdoor Area
“Ensure fall zones are covered with at least 9 inches of mulch. Specialist noted the mulch was compact and sparse in spots.”
-
Administration of Medication
“Ensure to use the correct MAR form for the type of medication and use. Specialist noted several classrooms were using the wrong form sunscreen and diaper cream. Room 110 did not have MARs on file for sunscreen use.”
-
Transportation
“Ensure travel first aid kits are complete. Both travel bags were missing the following items: bandage tape, eye patch, roll gauze, thermometer, liquid soap, triangle bandage and the number for poison control.”
All 3 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 2026 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 6 violations cited |
| Jun 10, 2025 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 7 violations cited |
| Jun 12, 2024 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 6 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Child Care Center.
- Ages served, in Delaware’s words: 6 weeks through 12 years.
- Takes part in: Child Care Food Program (meals reimbursed), Purchase of Care (state-subsidized child care).
- Licence number 1510388.
- Capacity: 144 children.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Delaware acted against it?
- 8 complaint investigations in the last three years. Results, in Delaware’s words: Substantiated (7), No Evidence to Substantiate (1).
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Complaint Reviews and Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
| Date | What | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on August 6, 2026, regarding lack of positive behavior supports and administration of medication procedures. An investigation was conducted on August 11, 2026. This complaint is substantiated for administration of medication procedures because according to video footage from August 3, 2026, to August 7, 2026, daily medication was only given on August 3, 2026, and August 5, 2026. Also, there was not a medication log for the medication for the month of August. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of behavior supports because staff stated they use a variety of techniques including redirection and conversation. Staff also stated they have never heard other staff threaten children as way of correction. |
| Jul 1, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on June 2, 2026, regarding lack of positive behavior supports. An investigation was conducted on June 9, 2026. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of positive behavior supports because staff denied causing harm to the child and video footage was inconclusive. The staff involved had their employment with the center terminated as of May 26, 2026. |
| Feb 18, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on January 21, 2026, regarding sanitation, improper staff-to-child ratio, choking hazards, not maintaining room temperatures, lack of positive behavior supports, lack of notification when a child is exposed to a contagious disease, and administration of medication procedures. An investigation was conducted on January 28, 2026. This complaint is substantiated for improper staff-to-child ratio because according to attendance records on November 18, 2025, the infant room was over ratio with one staff member and five infants from 7:50 am until 8:20 am; on January 13, 2026, the infant room was over ratio with one staff member and five infants from 8:02 am until 8:21am and on January 21, 2026, the pre-k opening room was over ratio with 16 children and 1 staff member from 6:57am until 7:00 am. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of lack of sanitation because staff stated the center is cleaned daily and the center appeared clean during the visit. There is no evidence to substantiate choking hazards because staff stated they do a walk through of the classroom and pick up any little items left behind after the evening cleaning. There is no evidence to substantiate not maintaining room temperatures because staff stated the rooms are at a comfortable temperature and room temperatures were maintained during the visit. There is no evidence to support lack of behavior supports because staff stated they use redirection and calming techniques for discipline. There is no evidence to support lack of notification when exposed to a contagious disease because staff stated they inform parents through the application and at pick up time. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of administration of medication procedures because reviewed Medication Administration Records were completed correctly and corresponded with medication in the classroom. A concern noted was there was a staff member present on November 18, 2025, who did not have a completed background check. Another concern noted was there was no teacher trained in day-to-day operations on file in the event of the administrator s absence. |
| Sep 17, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | On August 21, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint regarding lack of positive behavior supports, maximum group size, and health exclusions. An investigation was conducted on August 26, 2025. This complaint is substantiated for lack of positive behavior supports because staff admitted to using a harsh tone with a child. There is no evidence to substantiate for failing to comply with maximum group size because according to attendance records, the classroom was following proper staff-to-child ratio and maximum group size. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of health exclusions because staff stated parents were notified and children can return following doctor s orders. |
| Aug 12, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding accident/injury procedures, lack of supervision, lack of positive behavior supports and intervention for child behaviors, and cell phone usage. An investigation was conducted on July 14, 2025. This complaint is substantiated for accident/injury procedures because Child #1 was hit in the face knocking their glasses off and the parent was not notified until pick up time. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of supervision because staff were present, and children were within their view during cleanup. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of positive behavior supports and intervention for child behaviors because staff stated they were following policies set in place by the center and provided reasonable consequences for the incident. There is no evidence to substantiate cell phone use because staff stated they were helping children clean up at the time of the incident, and there is a cell phone policy in place that the administrator enforces. |
| Aug 1, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on July 7, 2025, regarding accident/injury reports, not providing truthful information, unqualified staff alone with children, child attendance, not informing parents of exposure to a contagious illness, and lack of behavior support. An investigation was conducted on July 14, 2025. This complaint was substantiated for child attendance because upon review of attendance records between June 30, 2025, and July 3, 2025, it was noted there were several classrooms where children were signed into a classroom but not signed out. There is no evidence to substantiate a lack of accident/ injury reports because administration and staff stated they complete them, and they were viewed at the visit. There is no evidence to substantiate not providing truthful information because staff stated they are often asked to provide more information to reports, not remove information. There is no evidence to substantiate unqualified staff being left alone because according to attendance records, all unqualified staff were in direct supervision of qualified staff. There is no evidence to substantiate not informing parents of contagious illness because administrators stated parents were informed through the center s app. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of behavior support because staff stated the administration is helpful and will make sure there is extra support when needed. A concern noted was, according to the attendance records, two classrooms were over maximum group size, three classrooms were over ratio and several classrooms did not accurately track the arrival and departure times of the staff. |
| Oct 14, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding not meeting the needs of children, sanitation, not dressing children appropriately for the weather, confidentiality, not providing owner s contact information when requested, and not using respectful communication. An investigation was conducted on September 30, 2024. This complaint is substantiated for not dressing the children properly for the weather because staff admitted a child was outside in a diaper and a sweatshirt. This complaint is substantiated for not following the confidentiality policy because staff openly discussed a child s POC status. This complaint is substantiated for not using respectful communication because a staff member called another person a dumb b@#$% while in the center. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not meeting the needs of the children because staff stated they attend to and clean up the children throughout the day. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of lack of sanitation because according to staff, the classrooms are cleaned daily. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not providing the owner s contact information because staff stated they offered to provide it when it was requested. |
| Jul 30, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | On July 2, 2024, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received seven complaints regarding accident/injury procedures, not properly washing bottles in the kitchen, diaper changing procedures, staff-to-child ratio, maximum group size, safe sleep procedures, and not following dietary procedures found in the parent handbook. An investigation was conducted on July 3, 2024. This complaint is substantiated for accident/injury procedures because injury reports for May 22, 2024, and May 24, 2024, were not signed by the parent. This complaint is substantiated for not following diaper changing procedures because diaper changes from June 17, 2024, through June 19, 2024, are documented as happening every 1.5 to 2.5 hours or not at all. This complaint is substantiated for improper staff-to-child ratio and maximum group size because on June 24, 2024, classroom 109 had up to 17 one-year-olds with three staff members from 12:00 pm until 4:50 pm. This complaint is substantiated for safe sleep procedures because children who are one and not walking were sleeping on cots and not in cribs. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not properly washing bottles after use because Staff #1 stated the parents send in enough bottles for the day and none are reused. There is no evidence to substantiate not following dietary procedures because it was listed on the child s profile and daily logs show the child did not eat food which was offered. |
Who does the caring?
- Delaware doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers.
Who owns it?
- Delaware’s open data doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- 2025: 1 facility injury. No facility deaths reported.
- 2024: 1 facility injury. No facility deaths reported.
- 2023: 1 facility injury. No facility deaths reported.
- 2022: 1 facility injury. No facility deaths reported.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Providers aren’t compared: Delaware lists only the visits that found violations, so a count can’t tell a clean record from one never visited.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| Gift of Love Early Learning Center | Not given |
| Little Kid’s Swagg Learning Center, LLC | Not given |
| Patrice Battaglia | Not given |
| Elizabeth E. Walls | Not given |
| Iris Coleman-Buckner DBA Mini Miracles Playschool, LLC | Not given |
| Cadence Academy Preschool-Smyrna | Not given |
| Children & Families First Head Start Smyrna | Not given |
| Rainbow Xpress Learning Academy, LLC. | Not given |
| Georgina Ruiz | Not given |
| C4d Kidz Nursery | Not given |
| Kirsten Swift | Not given |
| Brightpath Smyrna This child care provider | Not given |
What the record doesn’t say
- Delaware doesn’t grade violations by severity, so read what was cited.
- Delaware’s open data lists a visit only when a violation was cited there, so visits that found nothing aren’t shown.
- Delaware publishes five years of reviews and complaints; this page shows the last three.
- Delaware doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
- Delaware lists only the visits that found violations, so a provider with none listed may not have been visited at all: no count of violations is used to headline, filter or compare its providers.
Sources
-
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities (iuzd-3dbt).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public Domain.
-
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information (wb83-pkcv).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public Domain.
-
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Complaint Reviews (pnbd-85r6).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public Domain.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing. Delaware’s own record is on data.delaware.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Oct 24, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.