Hearth Record

Destined for Greatness Learning Center Inc.

A licensed child care center in Smyrna, Delaware 19977

24 East North Street, Smyrna, Delaware 19977. (302) 514-9296.

Delaware’s own record, on data.delaware.gov

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 29, 2026.

The last 24 months 44 violations in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited Sep 2026. Every month

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 14, 2026; Delaware doesn’t list visits that found nothing.

44 violations cited in the last three years.

Source:

Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 29, 2026. Updated daily.

When those violations happened

44 violations in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited Sep 2026. The last 3 years, to Oct 30, 2026.

44 violations by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 NovDec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

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.

Source:

Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 29, 2026. Updated daily.

Sep 14, 2026: unannounced Full Compliance Review11 violations
  • Positive Behavior Management

    “Ensure teacher do not verbally deny food as a behavior management tool. Review positive behavior supports with one teacher.”

    Rule 20U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 26, 2026.

  • Personnel Files

    “Ensure staff files are complete.”

    Rule 30U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 28, 2026.

  • Child Files

    “Ensure child files are complete.”

    Rule 40U.

  • Hazardous Materials

    “Ensure routine cleaners are inaccessible to children.”

    Rule 45U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 14, 2026.

  • Kitchen and Food Preparation

    “Remove broken equipment from the playground and cut low hanging branches. Ensure there is a shaded area on the playground.”

    Rule 50U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 26, 2026.

  • Diapering and Soiled Clothing

    “Ensure the diaper changing area is on a surface that is non porous and disposable convers are used.”

    Rule 61U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 14, 2026.

  • Administration of Medication

    “Ensure over the counter medications are labeled with the child’s name and accompanied with an MAR.”

    Rule 63U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 14, 2026.

  • First Aid Kits

    “Ensure the center has a complete first aid kit.”

    Rule 65U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 30, 2026.

  • Emergency Planning

    “Purchase emergency water for the center.”

    Rule 66U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 14, 2026.

  • Feeding of Infants

    “Label the bottles in the infant room.”

    Rule 72U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 26, 2026.

  • Activity Schedule

    “Post a schedule in the three year old classroom.”

    Rule 76U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 26, 2026.

Sep 11, 2025: unannounced Full Compliance Review13 violations
  • Notification to OCCL

    “Ensure OCCL is notified within five business days of the transfer of the early childhood administrator. Per discussion with the owner, she is now the administrator for the location and the previous administrator has transferred to Destined for Greatness Learning Center V. This was discussed with the owner.”

    Rule 14U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 8, 2025.

  • Personnel Files

    “Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs orientation, OCCL’s Health & Safety Training for Child Care Professionals, two references, and an adult health appraisal with TB results. One staff member needs a release of employment history with accurate information and corresponding service letters.”

    Rule 30U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 16, 2025.

  • Child Files

    “Ensure child files are complete. One child needs an emergency card and transportation permission. One child needs parents right to know acknowledgment. Two children need an infant feeding schedule.”

    Rule 40U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 1, 2025.

  • Indoor Space

    “Ensure all areas are clean. The floors between the rubber mats in the hallway and the pre-k classroom need to be cleaned. Ensure electrical outlets and power strips are covered. The power strip in the one-year-old classroom needs covers on the unused outlets. Ensure all sinks supply hot and cold water. The sink in the infant classroom and in front of the bathroom are not supplying hot water.”

    Rule 49U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 1, 2025.

  • Kitchen and Food Preparation

    “Purchase a thermometer for the refrigerator in the infant classroom and the kitchen to ensure the temperature is at 41 degrees F or colder. The thermometer in the infant classroom read 42 degrees F and the thermometer in the kitchen was not operating.”

    Rule 50U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 1, 2025.

  • Toilet Facilities

    “Ensure the ventilation fan in the bathroom is operable.”

    Rule 51U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 22, 2025.

  • Outdoor Area

    “Repair the wooden barrier along the fence in the older child outdoor play area. Remove the two broken red chairs. Ensure the gate is self-closing and self-latching. The gate in the older child outdoor play area is not self-closing and self-latching. Ensure fall zone requirements are met. Replenish the fall zone material with nine inches of pea gravel under all equipment when the children’s feet leave the ground.”

    Rule 53U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 22, 2025.

  • Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments

    “Ensure nap equipment is non-absorbent. Dispose of the ripped nap mat in the one-year-old classroom. Ensure crib mattresses are covered with a tight-fitting bottom sheet. A crib was observed with a loose bottom sheet.”

    Rule 56U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 1, 2025.

  • Sanitation

    “Ensure soap and water and sanitizer/disinfectant are available to be used on items/equipment as required. The two-year-old classroom did not have soap/water. This was corrected when soap/water was supplied.”

    Rule 58U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 11, 2025.

  • Diapering and Soiled Clothing

    “Ensure hands are washed after diaper changes. A staff member was observed not washing her hands nor the child’s hands after changing the child’s diaper. This was discussed with the staff member and corrected when both sets of hands were washed. Ensure the diaper changing area is cleaned with soap and water and disinfected after each diaper change. The diaper changing area was not cleaned by the staff member after changing a diaper.”

    Rule 61U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 16, 2025.

  • Emergency Planning

    “Purchase additional water for proper shelter-in-place supplies.”

    Rule 66U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 22, 2025.

  • Activity Areas

    “Ensure indoor spaces include the five required areas with sufficient materials. The three-year-old classroom needs language/literacy and science materials. The two-year-old classroom needs dramatic play materials and science materials. The one-year-old classroom needs language/dramatic play materials. The pre-k classroom needs manipulatives/ math/ problem solving materials and science materials.”

    Rule 75U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 1, 2025.

  • Activity Schedule

    “Ensure a daily schedule is posted in each classroom. The infant classroom was missing a schedule. This was corrected when on was posted.”

    Rule 76U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 12, 2025.

Sep 12, 2024: unannounced Full Compliance Review15 violations
  • Staffing

    “Document the training of the staff member trained in the day-to-day operations when the administrator is absent.”

    Rule 26U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 12, 2024.

  • Personnel Files

    “Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs to obtain CPR and first aid certification and four references.”

    Rule 30U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 12, 2024.

  • Staff Attendance

    “Ensure staff attendance is documented to include exact hours worked in each classroom or area. One staff did not sign in or out of the opening classroom. This was corrected when the staff member documented her arrival and departure from the classroom.”

    Rule 36U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 12, 2024.

  • Parents Right to Know

    “Complete the Parent’s Right to Know Notice Log with current enrollment.”

    Rule 38U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 24, 2024.

  • Child Files

    “Ensure child files are complete. Three children need blood lead screening results.”

    Rule 40U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 26, 2024.

  • Indoor Space

    “Ensure all areas are clean and in a safe condition; floors, walls, and toilets must be cleanable and in good repair. Repair the broken cabinet door in the two-year-old classroom. Repair the broken/missing toilet seat in the bathroom. Repair the toilet that does not flush in the bathroom. Remove the hanging fabric from the bench in the book area in the one-year-old classroom. Remove the ripped rug in the Pre-k classroom. Replace the trash can in the outdoor play area to ensure it is covered.”

    Rule 49U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 24, 2024.

  • Kitchen and Food Preparation

    “Purchase a thermometer for the refrigerator in the kitchen and the infant classroom to ensure the temperature is at 41 degrees F or colder.”

    Rule 50U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 26, 2024.

  • Toilet Facilities

    “Repair the ventilation fan in the bathroom.”

    Rule 51U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 16, 2024.

  • Outdoor Area

    “Remove the broken equipment from the outdoor play area; broken infant jumper, infant rocker seat, chairs, toys, swing, etc. Remove the broken cinder block. Relocated the little tikes climber at least six feet from the fence. Replenish the fall zone materials. Repair the gates to ensure they self-close.”

    Rule 53U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Oct 21, 2024.

  • Pools and Swimming

    “Discontinue the use of the portable wading pool. This was discussed with the administrator and corrected when she agreed to comply in the future.”

    Rule 54U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 12, 2024.

  • Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments

    “Remove the ripped nap cots from the Pre-k classroom. Ensure the fitted sheets are fitted tightly to the crib mattresses in the infant classroom.”

    Rule 56U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 17, 2024.

  • Equipment

    “Purchase additional equipment to provide sufficient quantity. The three-year-old classroom needs science materials. The two-year-old classroom needs dramatic play and science materials. The one-year-old classroom needs dramatic play and building materials.”

    Rule 57U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 18, 2024.

  • First Aid Kits

    “Purchase an eye patch or dressing, pen and note pad, plastic bags, roll gauze, safety pins, and a triangle bandage or sling for the first aid kit.”

    Rule 65U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 18, 2024.

  • Emergency Planning

    “Purchase an emergency water supply.”

    Rule 66U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 13, 2024.

  • License Renewal

    “Ensure the renewal application is submitted at least 60 days prior to the license expiration. This was corrected when the application was submitted on September 10, 2024.”

    Rule 8U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Sep 10, 2024.

Jan 11, 2024: unannounced Full Compliance Review3 violations
  • Child Files

    “Ensure children’s files are complete. Child #4 needs blood lead screening results. Child #9 needs current Health appraisal. Send corrections to OCCL.”

    Rule 40U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Jan 25, 2024.

  • Indoor Space

    “Ensure floors/carpets are clean. The carpet in the library/circle area in the Two’s classroom needs to be cleaned. Send a picture of cleaned carpet to OCCL.”

    Rule 49U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Jan 25, 2024.

  • License Renewal

    “Ensure state business license is current. Send picture of current business license to OCCL.”

    Rule 8U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Jan 25, 2024.

Nov 20, 2023: unannounced2 violations
  • Indoor Space

    “Ensure the trash cans are working and covered. The trashcan in the bathroom was not working. Also, clean the walls near the bathroom door on the outside and inside of the bathroom doorway. Submit picture by 11/30. Ensure the lights are working correctly. Repair broken lights. Submit a picture by 11/30.”

    Rule 49U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Nov 30, 2023.

  • Diapering and Soiled Clothing

    “Ensure diaper pail is working. The diaper pail in the bathroom isn’t working. Please submit picture of correction by 11/30.”

    Rule 61U. Correction date, as Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing recorded it: Dec 20, 2023.

All 5 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Sep 14, 2026Unannounced Full Compliance Review11 violations cited
Sep 11, 2025Unannounced Full Compliance Review13 violations cited
Sep 12, 2024Unannounced Full Compliance Review15 violations cited
Jan 11, 2024Unannounced Full Compliance Review3 violations cited
Nov 20, 2023Unannounced2 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 399918.
  • Capacity: 41 children.
Source:

Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 29, 2026. Updated daily.

Has Delaware acted against it?

  • 4 complaint investigations in the last three years. Results, in Delaware’s words: Substantiated (3), No Evidence to Substantiate (1).
Source:

Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Complaint Reviews and Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 29, 2026. Updated daily.

On record, newest first
DateWhatDetail
Oct 14, 2026OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to SubstantiateOn September 16, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding lack of supervision, lack of positive behavior supports, not having water available, not following accident/ injury reporting procedures, and confidentiality concerns. An investigation was conducted on September 24, 2026. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of lack of supervision. Owner #1, Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #3 denied Child #1 exited the center into the parking lot. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of lack of positive behavior supports, Owner #1, Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #3 denied cursing at Child #1 or snatching food from their hands. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not having water available, because Owner #1 stated milk and/or juice are offered at meals and snacks, and water is available throughout the day. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegations of lack of notification of accidents/ injuries, Owner #1 stated they follow the policy to notify parents and provide a report, noting there were no injuries to Child #2 that occurred at the center to their knowledge. Additionally, the center provided health observations which documented the child coming into the center with marks and bruises resulting in a call to the abuse and neglect report line. There is no evidence to substantiate lack of confidentiality. Owner #1 stated employees follow the photograph and video policy documented in the parent handbook.
Sep 17, 2026OCCL Standards Complaint: SubstantiatedOn August 24, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint regarding not keeping all areas, furnishings, and equipment of the center clean, hazard- free, and safe condition. An investigation was conducted on September 1, 2026. This complaint is substantiated because LS #1 observed the flickering light and hole in the bathroom with exposed insulation.
Nov 24, 2025OCCL Standards Complaint: SubstantiatedThe Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on November 4, 2025, regarding unqualified staff alone with children, not following the meal pattern requirements and not following the menu, inappropriate bottle warming, lack of supervision, and not having comprehensive background checks and staff files for van drivers. An investigation was conducted on November 5, 2025. This complaint is substantiated for inappropriate bottle warming because the infant classroom had an electric kettle used for bottle warming but did not have a thermometer available to check the temperature. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegations of unqualified staff alone with children, not following the meal pattern requirements and not following the menu, lack of supervision and not having comprehensive background checks for staff and staff file for van drivers based on interviews and documentation.
Nov 18, 2025OCCL Standards Complaint: SubstantiatedOn October 27, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding a lack of positive behavior supports. An investigation was conducted on October 29, 2025. The complaint is substantiated for a lack of positive behavior supports because Staff #3 admitted she has gently tapped children on their heads to get their attention.

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?

  • 2024: 1 facility injury. No facility deaths reported.
Source:

Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 29, 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.
Source:

Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 29, 2026. Updated daily.

13 compared
PlaceViolations cited in the last three years
Destined for Greatness Learning Center Inc. This child care providerNot given
Gift of Love Early Learning CenterNot given
Little Kid’s Swagg Learning Center, LLCNot given
Patrice BattagliaNot given
Elizabeth E. WallsNot given
Iris Coleman-Buckner DBA Mini Miracles Playschool, LLCNot given
Cadence Academy Preschool-SmyrnaNot given
Children & Families First Head Start SmyrnaNot given
Rainbow Xpress Learning Academy, LLC.Not given
Georgina RuizNot given
C4d Kidz NurseryNot given
Kirsten SwiftNot given
Brightpath SmyrnaNot 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

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.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Oct 30, 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.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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