Inspection records · District of Columbia
What District of Columbia daycare inspectors cite
DC inspectors cited at least one rule at 98% of the 444 daycares they visited since October 2023. The middle daycare had 16 cited rules, and the rule cited at the most daycares is about staff CPR and first aid: 246 of them.
- Daycares visited
- 444
- Visits in the records
- 2,382
- Had at least one rule cited
- 98%
- Median cited rules per daycare
- 16
How it works
How daycare inspections work in District of Columbia
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Early Learning, licenses daycare centers and home daycares in the District and inspects them. Routine visits come without notice, and OSSE also investigates complaints.
Since October 2023, the records hold 2,172 inspections and 210 complaint investigations at 444 daycares. Each finding names the rule that was not met, and OSSE records when a cited rule was corrected.
- Who inspects: Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Early Learning.
- Routine visits: District of Columbia reported inspecting licensed centers twice a year, without notice (national survey of state licensing agencies, 2017).
- Visits in the records since October 2023: 2,172 inspections, 210 complaint investigations, at 444 daycares (356 centers and 88 home daycares).
- Records on each listing go back to: 2023.
How common
How often inspectors cite a rule
- of the 444 daycares visited had at least one rule cited
- 98%
- cited rules for the middle daycare over three years
- 16
- of cited rules have a correction on record
- 94%
These figures describe District of Columbia's own inspection records since October 2023. States write and cite their rules in different ways, so a figure here cannot be compared with another state's. A cited rule is one finding at one visit, not a rating of a daycare.
What gets cited
What District of Columbia's cited rules are about
Share of the 9,133 rules cited since October 2023, sorted into plain groups.
DC citations spread across several areas. Records rules are the largest group at 19.7% of citations, cited at 79% of daycares, followed by building and equipment at 17.4% (78%) and safety and hazards at 17.1% (83%).
Health rules make up 14.9% of citations and staff training 13.3%, cited at 71% of daycares. Background check rules are 5% of citations but reached 49% of daycares, and supervision and ratio rules reached 47%.
Most cited
The rule areas District of Columbia cites most
Ordered by how many daycares had the rule cited since October 2023. The wording is the state's rule; no daycare is named here.
- Staff training and qualifications246 daycares (55.4% of those visited)
Staff trained in first aid and CPR
The state's rule: 150.1
Staff must hold current first aid and CPR training. A citation means one or more staff members did not have it, or the daycare could not show proof.
Ask on a tour: Does every adult in my child's room have current pediatric first aid and CPR?
- Records and paperwork242 daycares (54.5% of those visited)
A record for every staff member
The state's rule: 131.5
A daycare must keep a complete record for each staff member, with training, health and background check papers. A citation means a staff record was missing or incomplete.
Ask on a tour: How do you keep track of each teacher's training and checks?
- Building, equipment and play areas236 daycares (53.2% of those visited)
Floors, walls and ceilings in good repair
The state's rule: 124.6
Floors, walls and ceilings must be in good repair and easy to clean, with smooth surfaces where spills and body fluids are likely. A citation means the inspector found damage or surfaces that were hard to keep clean.
Ask on a tour: How do you clean and repair the rooms, especially the diaper and bathroom areas?
- Health, medication and illness192 daycares (43.2% of those visited)
A health exam on file for each child
The state's rule: 152.1
Each child needs a record of a full physical health exam on file with the daycare. A citation means a child's health exam record was missing or out of date.
Ask on a tour: Which health forms do you need from me, and how often do they need updating?
- Background checks183 daycares (41.2% of those visited)
Background checks for every staff member
The state's rule: 132.2
A daycare must check that each current and new staff member is suitable to work with children, including the required background checks. A citation means a check was missing, late or not kept current.
Ask on a tour: Has every staff member and volunteer here cleared the background check?
- Safety and hazards179 daycares (40.3% of those visited)
Fire drills every month
The state's rule: 122.24
A daycare must hold a fire drill at least once a month and keep a record of it. A citation means drills were missed or not recorded.
Ask on a tour: When was your last fire drill, and where do the children go?
- Records and paperwork173 daycares (39% of those visited)
Up-to-date records on enrolled children
The state's rule: 130.8
A daycare must keep current records on each enrolled child and show them to OSSE when asked. A citation means the records were incomplete or could not be shown.
Ask on a tour: How do you keep my child's emergency contacts and records current?
- Safety and hazards157 daycares (35.4% of those visited)
A current fire safety inspection
The state's rule: 122.6
A daycare must have a fire safety inspection by the fire authorities on schedule. A citation means the inspection was overdue or not on record.
Ask on a tour: When was your last fire safety inspection, and can I see the report?
On the tour
What to ask when you visit
In DC, the rule cited at the most daycares is about first aid and CPR, so ask whether every adult in your child's room is trained, and how the daycare covers staff who are still finishing training.
Ask when the last fire drill was, and look at the rooms, bathrooms and diaper area yourself. Then ask the director about anything on the daycare's OSSE record that you want explained.
The full tour checklist for District of Columbia puts these questions on one printable page.
On each listing
How to read a daycare's record
Each DC listing on DaycarePal shows the inspection visits for that daycare, with each cited rule and whether it was corrected; 94% of cited rules in the records have a correction on file. Visits with no findings are listed too.
Because 98% of DC daycares visited had at least one rule cited, and the middle daycare had 16 over three years, look past the count. A corrected paperwork finding says little; a recent supervision or background check finding is worth a question on your tour.
More detail: how to read a daycare inspection report. Find a daycare's record on its listing from daycares in District of Columbia, or search the state's records.
Questions
Questions about District of Columbia daycare inspections
How often are DC daycares inspected?
The District reported inspecting licensed centers twice a year, without notice, in a 2017 national survey of state licensing agencies. Since October 2023, the records hold 2,382 visits at 444 daycares.
How do I look up a DC daycare's inspection report?
Open the daycare's listing on DaycarePal, or search My Child Care DC by name or address.
Why do DC daycares have so many cited rules?
The middle DC daycare had 16 cited rules since October 2023, and 98% had at least one. Many are about records and building repair; look at what was cited and whether it was corrected.
Does a cited rule mean a daycare is unsafe?
No. A cited rule is one finding at one visit, and 94% of cited rules in the records have a correction on file. Ask about any recent supervision or background check findings.
Can I compare DC's numbers with a state's?
No. Each licensing agency writes and cites its own rules in its own way. Compare daycares within the District instead.
Source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Early Learning, inspection records October 2023 to September 2026, for the daycares listed on DaycarePal. Inspection schedule: National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations (ACF), from a 2017 survey of state licensing agencies.