The Early Learning Center
A child care center in Charlotte, North Carolina 28217
4304 S Tryon, Charlotte, North Carolina 28217. (704) 529-5397.
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
- 13 violations in the last three years
- Jan 142026 the latest visit on record
- 95 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?
6 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Jan 14, 2026.
13 violations cited in the last three years, 13 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
13 violations in 4 months of the last 36. Last cited Jul 2025. 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.
Jul 28, 2025: unannounced4 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.
“Medication expired June 2025 for a child in space 4 (B.A.).”
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Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule.
“The medication authorization expired for a child (B.A.) in space 4 April 4, 2025.”
-
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).
“A staff member C. Hills-Rhodes did not complete a CBC prior to the qualification letter expiring March 6, 2025; a new CBC effective June 20, 2025 was completed; a new letter is on file.”
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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.
“The Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was signed February 17, 2025, for staff member B. Jackson, and the staff member began working with children on January 17, 2025.”
Jan 17, 2025: unannounced3 violations
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Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.
“The back gate to the playground for Early Head Start was less than 3 1/2 and could cause an entrapment.”
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Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement.
“The discipline statement did not include the enrollment date for child (K.M.) and (A.L.).”
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The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with parents of currently enrolled children 0-5 within 30 days of adopting the policy.
“The Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy did not include the enrollment date for child (T.C.).”
Jul 17, 2024: unannounced3 violations
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All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care.
“Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Staff K.D. CPR training expired April 2024.”
-
All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care.
“Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Staff (K.D.) First Aid expired April 2024.”
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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 Fire Inspection Report was not submitted within seven (7) days.”
Jan 23, 2024: unannounced3 violations
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Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.
“The electrical outlet in space 3.”
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Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule.
“The Permission to Administer Medication for a child (K.W.) in space 3., the Permission to Administer for a child (J.A.) in space 3.; Permission to Administer over-the-counter ointment for a child (K.P.) was not completed in space 5.”
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Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
“The shelter-in-place/lockdown drill was completed, January 23, 2023, April 11, 2023, June 13, 2023, and September 2023; a drill was not conducted in December 2023.”
All 6 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 14, 2026 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jul 28, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 4 violations cited |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
| Jul 17, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
| Jan 26, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jan 23, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a Five Star Center License since May 30, 2018.
- Licensed for 95 children, ages 0 through 12.
- Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 60000879.
- Restriction: Other - Meets Enhanced Reduced Ratios. Capacity 58 - Building #1; Capacity 37 - Building #2.
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: Porter, Patricia A..
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 529 child care providers in Mecklenburg County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 14; this one had 13.
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 |
|---|---|
| Victory Christian Center Preschool Bldg. #1 | 35 |
| Auntie Mammie’s Daycare | 19 |
| Kamina Mcmilliandba Kamina’s Play and Learn Center | 15 |
| The Early Learning Center This child care provider | 13 |
| Superlative Child Care | 10 |
| Jaznee’s Wonderland | 21 |
| Ms Horton’s Little Angels Day Care | 4 |
| Phillips Learning Center | 9 |
| Cathey’s Child Care | 3 |
| Children’s Academy at Lakepointe | 36 |
| Achievers and Believers Family Daycare Home | 9 |
| Mrs. J’s New Beginning | 35 |
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.