Bright Start Learning Center
A child day center in Alexandria, Virginia 22304
4920 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22304. (703) 370-8414.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.gov.
The short answer
- 15 deficiencies in the last three years
- Jul 132026 the latest visit on record
- 135 children, its licensed capacity
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?
23 inspections on record, the latest on Jul 13, 2026.
15 violations cited in the last three years.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
When those deficiencies happened
15 deficiencies in 6 months of the last 36. Last cited Jul 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 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 deficiency, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Jul 13, 2026: subsidy health and safety inspection2 deficiencies
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Providers must obtain a completed national criminal background check prior to the employee’s first day of employment.
“Staff #1, who had been employed for nine months, did not have a completed national criminal background check.”
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In areas used by preschool age or younger children, electrical outlets shall have protective covers.
“One outlet in a toddler classroom was observed without a cover and was within reach of children.”
Jan 7, 2026: inspection4 deficiencies
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Materials and equipment available shall be age and stage appropriate for the children.
“Child #6 (age: 17 months) was observed holding a highlighter marker. The cap on the highlighter was approximately 1/2 an inch wide and is a potential choking hazard.”
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The diapering area shall have a nonabsorbent surface for diapering or changing .
“The diapering mat in Classroom #1 was cracked and flaking, exposing the material on the inside.”
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When a child is placed in an infant seat or high chair, the protective belt shall be fastened securely.
“Child #3 (age 9 months), Child #4 (age 13 months) and Child #5 (age 11 months), were eating in the feeding table high chairs with none of the safety belts engaged.”
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Prepared infant formula shall be refrigerated, dated and labeled with the child’s name.
“The infant formula bottles for Child #1 and Child #2 were not dated.”
Nov 19, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
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When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.
The inspectors’ words, 143 words
“On November 14, 2025, video footage shows Staff #2 sitting on the floor with Child #1 in their lap, Staff #1 attempted to lift Child #1 to a standing position by pulling on the child’s left wrist with their right hand, Child #1 resisted to stand, Staff #1 continued holding Child #1s left wrist and pulled up a second time and the child resisted standing again and sat on their knees, Staff #1 continued to hold the child’s left wrist and pulled up a third time and the child puts both feet on the ground and walks hand in hand to the diaper changing area with Staff #1. After this interaction, Child #1 was observed by Staff #1 and Staff #3 not using their left arm. Child #1 was seen by a physician, and was diagnosed with nursemaid’s elbow to the left arm.”
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Staff shall wash their hands with soap and running water before and after a diaper change.
“Staff #1 did not wash their hands before changing Child #1’s diaper.”
May 28, 2025: complaint inspection3 deficiencies
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The required ratio for children ages Birth up to 16 months is one staff per four children.
“In classroom # 4, staff #6 and staff #7 were observed supervising nine children (youngest child 14 months old) from approximately 8:10am-8:15am.”
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The required ratio for children ages 16 to 24 month is one staff per five children.
The inspectors’ words, 117 words
“In classroom #3, staff #5 was observed supervising ten children (youngest child 19 months old) from approximately 8:09am-8:10am. Staff #3 walked out of the classroom from approximately 8:09-8:10am with the door closing behind them and then returned back to the classroom. In classroom #3, staff #3 and staff #5 were observed out of ratio (youngest child 19 months old) from approximately 8:10am-8:22am with: -Eleven children from approximately 8:10am until 8:15am. -Twelve children from approximately 8:15am until 8:19am. -Thirteen children from approximately 8:19am until 8:22am. In classroom #2, staff #4 was observed out of ratio (youngest child 23 months old) from approximately 8:20am-8:37am with: -Eight children from approximately 8:20am until 8:29am. -Nine children from approximately 8:29am until 8:37am.”
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Tables shall be sanitized before and after each use for feeding; and cleaned at least daily.
“Staff #1 and staff #2 from classroom #1, stated that they clean the tables used for feeding before and after meals and snacks with soap and water only. Staff #1 and staff # 2 stated that they do not use a sanitizing solution on the tables before and after each meal or snack.”
Apr 21, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
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Repeat Violation
“When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. On 04/15/2025, staff #1, staff #2 and staff #3, did not ensure the care and protection of child #1 (age: 2 years) when they left classroom #1 leaving child #1 unsupervised for approximately 3 minutes and 29 seconds.”
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Children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.
“On 04/15/2025, staff #1, staff #2 and staff #3, left classroom #1, leaving child #1 (age: 2 years) alone in the room and out of sight supervision for approximately 3 minutes and 29 seconds.”
Apr 4, 2024: inspection2 deficiencies
-
8VAC20-780-140-A
“Based on record review, the center did not obtain documentation of a physical examination before the child’s attendance or within 30 days after the first day of attendance. Evidence: 1) Child #1 (date of enrollment: 07/06/2023) did not have a physical examination in the record available for review during the inspection.”
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8VAC20-780-340-A
The inspectors’ words, 107 words
“Based on review of video and interviews, staff supervising children did not always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: 1) On 04/03/2024 video footage showed at approximately 4:57pm, Child #1 (23 months) falling to the ground to their hands and knees. Staff #1 is observed lifting Child #1 up to a standing position from the ground by his left hand. Child #1 is then observed holding their left arm. 2) On 03/27/2024 Child #1 was picked up by a parent. The parent later contacted the facility on 03/27/2024 to report that Child #1 was diagnosed by a physician as “having nursemaid’s elbow” on their left arm.”
All 23 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2026 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Jan 7, 2026 | Inspection | 4 violations cited |
| Nov 19, 2025 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Aug 1, 2025 | Complaint inspection | No violations cited |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| May 28, 2025 | Complaint inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Apr 21, 2025 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Jul 30, 2024 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Jul 29, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Apr 4, 2024 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Jan 29, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Jan 29, 2024 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Jul 10, 2023 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Jul 10, 2023 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Apr 5, 2023 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Feb 7, 2023 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Nov 9, 2022 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Aug 1, 2022 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Feb 16, 2022 | Inspection | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Day Center: Two Year license, expires Aug 13, 2027.
- A current subsidy provider.
- Ages: 1 month - 12 years 11 months.
- Capacity: 135 children.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Has Virginia acted against it?
- 2 complaint inspections on record.
- No complaint allegations published with findings.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations and Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Who does the caring?
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t show a quality rating.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 171 child care providers in the City of Alexandria, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 7; this one had 15.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| The Butterfly House | 29 |
| The Campagna Center-Samuel Tucker | 1 |
| Creative World Learning Center - Landmark | 23 |
| Bright Start Learning Center This child care provider | 15 |
| Valley Drive Preschool | 2 |
| Bright Start Preschool II | 13 |
| Miriam Ayala | 28 |
| Bright Start Preschool I | 3 |
| The Child and Family Network Centers - Wheeler Site | 22 |
| Vanessa Gutierrez | 2 |
| Miryam Galarza | 36 |
| Kalsoom Akhtar | 5 |
What the record doesn’t say
- Virginia doesn’t grade how serious a violation is, so no severity is shown.
- Virginia publishes a complaint’s allegations and findings only when its inspection found a violation and the records are linked.
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
- A plan of correction sent late, or not at all, isn’t online: Virginia says to ask the inspector.
- Virginia’s pages show about the last five years of inspections; for older ones, Virginia says to contact the licensing inspector.
- Virginia says this information may not be accurate, up to date or complete, and shouldn’t be the only source in choosing care.
Sources
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Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
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Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
-
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Virginia Department of Education. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.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 5, 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.