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Child care center 

A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center

Palo, IA5.0· 13 reviews
open each week
5 days
a week, county median
$166

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center

A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center is a licensed child care center in Palo, Iowa. It is licensed by the state.

It is open Monday to Friday, 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services made 6 visits in the last 3 years and cited 9 rules across 4 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio, teacher qualifications and whether it accepts child care subsidies.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Ask the daycare
Hours today
Closed today
Capacity
Not listed

Hours

Hours

Monday6:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Tuesday6:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday6:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Thursday6:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Friday6:00 AM to 5:30 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayTodayNot listed

Cost

Tuition and costs

A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Linn County has a median price of $166 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).

Ask the daycare for its ratesIt has not listed its tuition. The county medians below are a starting point.
Linn County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$166
Home daycare$111

Toddler

Center$143
Home daycare$110

Preschool

Center$143
Home daycare$110

School age

Center$114
Home daycare$106

County median full-time prices at centers and home daycares, U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 (the latest year). Not this daycare's rates; prices have risen since.

State record

Inspection reports for A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed Center
License number
#50771
See the state's record

Summary

6 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Aug 10, 2026: 2 rules cited

Rules cited on 4 of 6 visits · 9 rules in all

  • Staff training and qualifications 2
  • Health, medication and illness 1
  • Safety and hazards 1
  • Food and nutrition 1
  • Building, equipment and play areas 1
  • Discipline and child guidance 1
  • Records and paperwork 1
  • Supervision and ratios 1

For comparison: 88% of Iowa daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 0.

A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record

See all 9 visits
  1. Aug 10, 2026Inspection2 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.9(2)i

      “Preschool (for children five years and younger not enrolled in school): Physical exam report submitted within 30 days of admission, was obtained no more than 12 months prior to admission, is signed by a licensed MD, DO, Chiropractor, PA, or ARNP, and contains health history; present health status including allergies, medications, and acute/chronic conditions; and recommendations for continued care if necessary.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.11(8)b

      “Centers at ground level that use basement area as program space, or have a basement beneath program space: Testing and plan for remedy of radon is conducted.”
  2. Jun 27, 2025Inspection5 rules cited
    • Food and nutrition

      109.15(1)

      “• Center shall serve each child a full, nutritionally balanced meal as defined by CACFP guidelines. • Staff shall provide supervision at table during snacks and meals. • Children at center two hours or longer shall be offered food of not less than two hours and no more than three hours apart unless child is asleep.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(3)a

      “Center shall ensure that: 1. Facility and premises are sanitary, safe, and hazard free. 2. Adequate indoor and outdoor space is provided. The outdoor area shall include safe play equipment and area of shade. 3. Sufficient space provided for dining. 4. Sufficient lighting shall be provided. 5. Sufficient ventilation. 6. Sufficient heating. 7. sufficient cooling. 8. Sufficient bathroom and diapering facilities. 9. Equipment, including kitchen appliances, are maintained so as not to result in burns, shock, or injury to children. 10. Sanitation and safety procedures for the center are developed and implemented to reduce risk or injury or harm to children and reduce transmission of disease.”
    • Discipline and child guidance

      109.12(1)

      “• Program structure that uses developmentally appropriate practices and written program of activities planned to the developmental needs of children served. • Program complements but does not duplicate school curriculum. • Schedule of program is posted in a place visible to parents.”
    • Records and paperwork

      109.9(2)

      “All files are updated at least annually and when a change occurs.”
    • Staff training and qualifications

      109.7(2)

      “Center directors and all staff have the required contact hours of training.”
  3. May 29, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  4. May 29, 2025Complaint investigationNo rules cited
  5. Sep 18, 2024Inspection2 rules cited
    • Supervision and ratios

      109.6(2)

    • Staff training and qualifications

      109.9(1)e

      “All files contain documentation to indicate that ongoing staff training requirements are met, including current certifications in first aid/CPR and mandatory child abuse training.”
  6. Aug 16, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  7. Sep 22, 2023Complaint investigationNo rules cited
  8. Aug 24, 2023Complaint investigationNo rules cited
  9. May 22, 2023InspectionNo rules cited

Copied from Iowa Department of Health and Human Services on October 2, 2026; the state's records start around Nov 2021. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

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FAQ

Questions about A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center

Is A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center licensed?

Yes. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists it as licensed and operating.

When was A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center last inspected?

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists the most recent visit on August 10, 2026, with 2 rules cited. It lists 6 visits in the last 3 years.

Has A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 9 rules across 4 of 6 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 88% of Iowa daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 0. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

What are A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center's hours?

Monday to Friday, 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center cost?

It has not listed its tuition. Call (319) 851-2671 to ask.

What is A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center's phone number?

(319) 851-2671.

Where is A Step Above Child Care and Learning Center?

Palo, IA.

Sources: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).