Brightpath School Bell Bear
A licensed child care center in Bear, Delaware 19701
345 School Bell Road, Bear, Delaware 19701. (302) 327-0686.
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?
5 visits with violations in the last three years, the latest on Sep 11, 2026; Delaware doesn’t list visits that found nothing.
15 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
15 violations in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited Sep 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.
Sep 11, 2026: announced1 violation
-
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“A licensee shall ensure supervision and direct observation of children is provided at all times. A Staff member allowed a school-age child to wait outside for parent. The school-age child told the staff member their parent told them to wait outside for them to pick up. Center director noticed the child outside and brought them into the building to wait for parent. Child was on porch and did not enter the parking lot. The child was unsupervised for approximal 45 seconds.”
May 6, 2026: unannounced Full Compliance Review3 violations
-
Personnel Files
The inspectors’ words, 142 words
“Ensure staff files are compete. Training Hours needed Staff #1 (7 hours), Staff #6 (7 hours), Staff #8, ( 7 hours), Staff #9 (1 hour), Staff #10 (7 hours), And Staff #11 (7 hours). Orientation is needed for Staff #2, #9, and #11 7-hour OCCL health and Safety Training is need for Staff # 2, 4, 9, and 11. Application/Resume or data sheet is needed for Staff #1, 2, and 9. Reference and service letters are needed for Staff #1, 2, 3, 9, and 11. 4 references and service letter or proof of two attempts to obtain service letter. Service letter is needed for staff #4. Health appraisal w/TB is needed for Staff #2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11. Release of employment is needed for Staff #2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11. Send documentation to OCCL by June 8, 2026.”
-
Child Files
“Ensure Child files are complete. Health appraisals are needed for Child #1 and 11. Immunizations record is needed for Child #11. Mat permission is needed for Child #3, 17, and 18. Send documentation to OCCL by June 8, 2026.”
-
Outdoor Area
“Ensure outdoor area has no hazards and fall zones have proper mulch in fall zone areas. Cover or remove black fabric because it is a tripping hazard at bottom of the swirly slide and rake or add mulch to fall zone areas; slides and climbing equipment. Send picture to OCCL by June 8, 2026.”
May 8, 2025: unannounced Full Compliance Review5 violations
-
Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #9 two service letters. Staff #6 need First Aid and CPR. Send documentation to OCCL by June 9, 2025.”
-
Orientation
“Ensure all staff, substitutes, and volunteers complete the 7-hour health and safety training before working with children. Staff #1 needs to complete the 7-hour health and safety training. Send documentation to OCCL by June 9, 20205.”
-
Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Child #6 needs Transportation and medication permission. Send documentation to OCCL by June 9, 2025.”
-
Hazardous Materials
“Ensure radon is tested every 5 years. Send the updated radon report by June 9, 2025.”
-
Indoor Space
“Ensure sheets are not touching. Sheets were on cots while cots were stacked, and the sheets were touching. Discuss with staff to stop this practice and send the date of the discussion to OCCL by June 9, 2025. Ensure water temperature is set at 120 degrees. The hall bathroom sink was reading at 130 degrees. Send a picture of the water heater set to 120 degrees. Send a picture by June 9, 2025.”
Jan 27, 2025: unannounced1 violation
-
Positive Behavior Management
“Ensure all staff uses prevention strategies and appropriate redirection. The administrator reported that Staff #1 pushed two children. Staff #1 was removed from the building on 12/16, under investigation until 1/2/25, where she was then formally terminated”
May 6, 2024: unannounced Full Compliance Review5 violations
-
Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Child #4 needs a complete MAR Medication Administration Record Child #5 needs a signed Parent right to know information statement”
-
Indoor Space
“Ensure floors, walls, counter surfaces, and toilets are clean and in good repair. By June 6, 2024, send a picture of the ABC carpet in the Explorer II classroom after it has been cleaned.”
-
Emergency Planning
“Ensure classrooms have evacuation routes posted. By June 6, 2024, send a picture of the parent board from each room.”
-
Transportation
“Ensure Bus fire extinguisher needs inspected (*date on tag 9/2022)”
-
Activity Schedule
“Ensure schedules are posted in every classroom. By June 6, send a picture of the parent board with the activity schedule.”
All 5 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2026 | Announced | 1 violation cited |
| May 6, 2026 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 3 violations cited |
| May 8, 2025 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 5 violations cited |
| Jan 27, 2025 | Unannounced | 1 violation cited |
| May 6, 2024 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 5 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 1512154.
- Capacity: 110 children.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Delaware acted against it?
- 5 complaint investigations in the last three years. Results, in Delaware’s words: Substantiated (3), No Evidence to Substantiate (2).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | On July 6, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding administrator qualifications. The investigation began on July 8, 2026, and concluded on July 29, 2026. Based on interviews, emails, documentation reviewed, and Staff #1’s ongoing efforts to comply with the pending variance request, there is insufficient evidence to substantiate this complaint. The investigation determined the facility made continuous efforts to comply with OCCL requirements by submitting a timely variance request, maintaining communication with OCCL regarding Staff #1’s progress, and actively attempting to recruit a qualified Early Childhood Administrator. Although Staff #1 initially attended a college that was not recognized by DEEDS Early Learning for administrator qualifications and later received incorrect guidance from Delaware Technical Community College regarding qualifying coursework, the facility responded appropriately by taking corrective action and hiring a qualified Early Childhood Administrator. Administrator #2 was fingerprinted on July 27, 2026, and is scheduled to begin employment on August 3, 2026, pending receipt of the required eligibility letter. Administrator #2 was determined eligible by CHU on July 30, 2026. |
| Jul 14, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | On June 20, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding a lack of supervision and failure to follow policies for accepting and handling complaints from parents or guardians. Based on staff interviews and documentation, this complaint is substantiated for lack of supervision. On June 17, 2025, the center placed Staff #2 on administrative leave after being made aware of the concern and terminated their employment on June 24, 2025. Based on staff interviews and documentation, there is no evidence to substantiate for failure to follow policies for accepting and handling complaints from parents or guardians. The center documented concerns, informed the regional director, created a performance plan, shared incident reports upon parents’ request, and terminated the staff member s employment after an internal investigation. |
| Jan 13, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | On December 16, 2024, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper discipline and failure to report suspicion of abuse or neglect to the Child Abuse and Neglect report line. An investigation was conducted on December 19, 2024. Based on staff interviews and documents reviewed, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for not reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. The staff reviewed video footage and observed there were no physical interactions involving Child #1 and a staff member or another child. Based on interviews there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for improper discipline because Staff #1 and Administrator #1 stated they viewed video footage and did not see improper discipline occurring in the classroom. Video footage was no longer available for review by OCCL. |
| Aug 5, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | On July 24, 2024, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding lack of supervision. The center had self-reported this incident to OCCL on July 19, 2024. An investigation was conducted on July 26, 2024. Based on staff interviews and documents reviewed, this complaint is substantiated for lack of supervision because the staff stated Child #1 left the classroom unseen and went out the front door with Adult #1. |
| Apr 26, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | On April 16, 2024, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding the improper release of children. An investigation was conducted on April 23, 2024. Based on staff interviews and files reviewed, this complaint is substantiated for the improper release of children because staff stated they had released a child without verifying the identification of the person who was picking up the child. Non-Compliance cited Reg#23 Center Parent or Guardian Handbook. Ensure staff members are only releasing children to people who are approved by their parent or guardian. This includes checking identification and following a procedure when an unapproved person attempts to pick up a child. All staff are required to be re-trained on DELACARE Regulations regarding release of children. |
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.
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Brightpath School Bell Bear This child care provider | Not given |
| Germaine Oden | Not given |
| Kidz Ink I | Not given |
| Lil’ Einstein’s Learning Academy | Not given |
| St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Preschool | Not given |
| Valerie Chinn DBA A Kidz World LLC | Not given |
| Cornerstone Early Education and Youth Center, Inc. | Not given |
| Kidz Ink IV Academy of Early Learning | Not given |
| A. S. Academy of Learning 2 | Not given |
| Ashley Stanford DBA Little Arrows Childcare LLC | Not given |
| Grow N’ Learn | Not given |
| Dianne Peters | Not given |
| Bree Thompson | 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.