Lingerfeldt Elementary Pre-Kindergarten Program
A child care center in Gastonia, North Carolina 28052
1601 Madison Street, Gastonia, North Carolina 28052. (704) 866-6094.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov.
The short answer
- 19 violations in the last three years
- Aug 122026 the latest visit on record
- 36 children, its licensed capacity
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean5
- 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.
- Quality rating
- Many states rate child care in a quality rating system that goes past the licensing rules, such as Texas Rising Star or Kentucky All STARS. Taking part is often voluntary, so a program with no rating hasn’t been rated low. Source: Each state’s quality rating system.
- 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?
7 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Aug 12, 2026.
19 violations cited in the last three years, 19 of them marked corrected.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
When those violations happened
19 violations in 4 months of the last 36. Last cited Apr 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 3, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 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 | Nov |
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.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Apr 14, 2026: unannounced7 violations
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Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually.
“One (1) staff member, employed on July 1, 2025, did not have an emergency information form on file.”
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Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete.
“The most recent fire drill documented was conducted on January 13, 2026.”
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Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook.
“There was no current menu posted in an area where it can be seen by parents.”
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Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.
“The most recent playground inspection documented was conducted on February 18, 2026.”
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Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
“The most recent shelter-in-place/lockdown drill documented was conducted on December 5, 2026.”
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The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.
“One (1) staff member, employed on August 4, 2025, did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment Training.”
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The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person’s file.
“One (1) staff member, employed on July 1, 2025, did not sign acknowledgement of receipt of the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy.”
Oct 13, 2025: unannounced4 violations
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A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“A valid qualifying letter was not on file for one (1) staff member, Alexis Reid, present and caring for children during the visit.”
-
A violation was found for which there is no item number.
The inspectors’ words, 123 words
“15A NCAC 18A .2831 ANIMAL AND VERMIN CONTROL (b) Effective measures shall be taken to keep uncontained insects, rodents, and other vermin out of the child care centers and to prevent their breeding or presence on the premises. Traps shall only be placed in areas inaccessible to children. On the playground used by children enrolled in the NC Pre-Kindergarten Program, two (2) active ant hills were observed on the ground along the edge of the grass and sidewalk in the center of the playground area, one (1) active ant hill was observed in the crack of the sidewalk in the center of the playground area, and one (1) active ant hill was observed on the sidewalk to the right of the storage shed.”
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Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.
“Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The most recent approved fire inspection was conducted on April 29, 2024.”
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Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance).
“The qualifying letter for one (1) staff member, Alexis Reid, present and caring for children during the visit, expired on June 13, 2024.”
Apr 28, 2025: unannounced5 violations
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A screening assessing development was not conducted within 90 days after the first day of attendance in the program or within six months prior to the first day of attendance and/or the screening was not conducted by a health care, community or school professional trained in administering the screening tool.
“One (1) child, enrolled in the NC Pre-Kindergarten Program on August 19, 2024, did not have a developmental screening on file.”
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A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“Stephanie Gust, Interim Administrator, employed at the facility on March 18, 2025, did not have a qualifying letter on file.”
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Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually.
“One (1) substitute provider, present and caring for children during the visit, did not have an emergency information form on file. The emergency information form on file for one (1) staff member, employed on March 18, 2025, was dated April 3, 2025.”
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Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.
“Stephanie Gust, Interim Administrator, employed at the facility on March 18, 2025, did not complete a criminal background check.”
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The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person’s file.
“One (1) substitute provider, present and caring for children during the visit, did not have a signed acknowledgement on file of the receipt and review of the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma Policy. One (1) staff member, employed on March 18, 2025, signed an acknowledgement of receipt and review of the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma Policy on March 28, 2025.”
Nov 18, 2024: unannounced3 violations
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Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization.
“There were no permission to administer medication forms for one (1) prescription M-Dryl Liquid and two (2) bottles of Children’s Benadryl Oral Solution. One (1) Epinephrine Injection, USP Auto-Injector expired April 2023, and one (1) Epinephrine Injection, USP Auto-Injector expired October 2024.”
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Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.
“The most recent playground inspection was conducted on May 21, 2024.”
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Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional.
“One (1) Epinephrine Injection USP, Auto-Injector, and one (1) Albuterol Sulfate HFA Inhalation Aerosol, were not in the original containers with a pharmacy label.”
All 7 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2026 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 7 violations cited |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 4 violations cited |
| Apr 28, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Nov 18, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
| May 13, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Feb 14, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a Five Star Center License since Nov 13, 2024.
- Licensed for 36 children, ages 3 through 5.
- Not enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 36000374.
- Restriction: Other - Meets enhanced ratios minus one.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Has North Carolina acted against it?
- DCDEE says it has taken no action against this facility, for its current licence and location, in the last three years.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Who does the caring?
- North Carolina’s page gives a staff-to-child ratio policy as the provider reports it, unverified by DCDEE, so it isn’t shown.
Who owns it?
- Owner, as North Carolina lists it: Gaston County Schools.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How is it rated?
- Star Rated License: 5 stars of five.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 83 child care providers in Gaston County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 10; this one had 19.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| Rankin Head Start | 10 |
| Kingdomz School of Excellence | 23 |
| Rankin II Head Start | 8 |
| Ms. Brenda’s Child Care Services | 19 |
| Lingerfeldt Elementary Pre-Kindergarten Program This child care provider | 19 |
| Children of Excellence Christian Childcare | 0 |
| Precious Moments Childcare Center | 17 |
| Webb Street School | 21 |
| Chapel Grove Elementary Pre-Kindergarten | 6 |
| Tosha’s Tiny Tots | 3 |
| Highland Charter Head Start | 3 |
| 4 Kidz Only Inc. | 1 |
What the record doesn’t say
- North Carolina doesn’t show a visit summary tied to an open child maltreatment investigation while the case is active, and shows an administrative action only after its 30-day appeal period, without saying what it was.
- DCDEE’s descriptions of violations are shown in its own words; a description that names or may name a person isn’t shown. Visit summaries, the consultants’ full reports, aren’t read.
- North Carolina’s page lists the provider’s own features (transport, ratios) as furnished by the provider and unverified by DCDEE, so they aren’t shown.
Sources
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North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations.
Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily. nc.gov terms: copying and distribution for non-commercial use, without alteration, citing the source. Shown free and never sold; DCDEE’s own words are quoted.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.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 Nov 3, 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.