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Child care center 

First Step Academy Child Care

3930 Cane Run Road, Louisville, KY 402114.0· 4 reviews
licensed capacity
82
open each week
5 days
a week, county median
$216

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About First Step Academy Child Care

First Step Academy Child Care is a licensed child care center in Louisville, Kentucky. It is licensed by the state, for up to 82 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.

It is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services made 6 visits in the last 3 years and cited 34 rules across 4 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

InfantsSchool-ageAccepts child care subsidy

Ages served: infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children

From the state license
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio and teacher qualifications.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
Hours today
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Licensed capacity
82 children

Hours

Hours

MondayToday9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayNot listed

Programs

Programs and care

AgesInfants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license
Child care subsidyAccepts state child care subsidiesFrom the state license
Licensed capacity82 childrenFrom the state license

Cost

Tuition and costs

First Step Academy Child Care has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Jefferson County has a median price of $216 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.
Jefferson County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$216
Home daycare$118

Toddler

Center$184
Home daycare$96

Preschool

Center$184
Home daycare$96

School age

Center$173
Home daycare$91

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 First Step Academy Child Care

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed child care center
Capacity
82 children
Ages
Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
License number
#L380140
See the state's record

Summary

6 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Aug 20, 2026: 9 rules cited

Rules cited on 4 of 6 visits · 34 rules in all

  • Building, equipment and play areas 8
  • Health, medication and illness 7
  • Supervision and ratios 4
  • Background checks 3
  • Staff training and qualifications 3
  • Records and paperwork 3
  • Safety and hazards 1
  • Safe sleep 1
  • Food and nutrition 1
  • Discipline and child guidance 1
  • Other rules 2

For comparison: 92% of Kentucky daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 11.

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 6 visits
  1. Aug 20, 2026Inspection9 rules cited
    • Supervision and ratios

      90 - Children Supervised (922 KAR 2:120 Section 2)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 2. Child Care Services. (3)(a) Each center shall maintain a child-care program that ensures each child shall be: 1. Provided with adequate supervision at all times by a qualified staff person who ensures the child is: a. Within scope of vision and range of voice; b. For a school-age child, within scope of vision or range of voice; and c. Accounted for during movement from one (1) location to another using name-to-face recognition by visually identifying each child;”
    • Background checks

      85 - Employment Status (922 KAR 2:280 Section 11)

      “922 KAR 2:280. Section 11. Status of Employment. (1) A child care provider shall maintain the employment or residential status of each child care staff member who has submitted to a fingerprint- based criminal background check by reporting the status using the NBCP Web-based system.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      800 - Protective Surface (922 KAR 2:120 Section 4)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 4. Premises Requirements. (21) A protective surface shall: (a) Be provided for outdoor play equipment used to: 1. Climb; 2. Swing; and 3. Slide; and (b) Have a fall zone equal to the height of the equipment.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      730 - Diaper Changing Area/Surface (922 KAR 2:120 Section 12)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 12. Toilet, Diapering, and Toiletry Requirements. (10) If a child is diapered, the child shall: (b) Be placed on a surface that is: 1. Clean; 2. Padded; 3. Free of holes, rips, tears, or other damage; 4. Nonabsorbent; 5. Easily cleaned; and 6. Free of any items not used for diaper changing.”
    • Staff training and qualifications

      435 - Training (922 KAR 2:090 Section 11)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 11. Staff Requirements. (16) In accordance with KRS 199.896(15) and (16), a staff person with supervisory authority over a child shall complete the following: (a) Six (6) hours of cabinet-approved orientation completed within the first three (3) months of employment in a child-care program covering the following topics: 1. Federal minimum health and safety requirements established in 45 C.F.R. 98.41 related to: a. Prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunization; b. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices; c. Administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental consent; d. Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; e. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; f. Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment; g. Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a human-caused event; h. Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biological contaminants; and i. Precautions in transporting children; 2. Recognizing and reporting child abuse; and 3. Developmentally appropriate practices; (b) Nine (9) hours of cabinet-approved early care and education training within the first year of employment in a child care program, including one and one-half (1 ½) hours of cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma training; and (c) Fifteen (15) hours of cabinet-approved early care and education training completed between July 1 and the following June 30 of each subsequent year of employment in a child care program, including one and one-half (1 ½) hours of cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma training completed once every five (5) years. (17) A staff person's compliance with training requirements of this section shall be verified through the cabinet-designated database maintained pursuant to 922 KAR 2:240.”
    • Other rules

      225 - Licensee Responsibility (922 KAR 2:090 Section 8)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 8. General. (1) A licensee shall: (a) Be responsible for the operation of the child-care center pursuant to this administrative regulation, 922 KAR 2:120, and 922 KAR 2:280; and (b) Protect and ensure the health, safety, and comfort of each child.”
    • Supervision and ratios

      137 - Written Procedure to Maintain Supervision/Ratio/Group Size (922 KAR 2:120 Section 2)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 2. Child Care Services. (2) For an operating child-care center, minimum staff-to-child ratios and group size shall be maintained as established in the table established in this subsection. (e) A child-care center shall develop a written procedure to always maintain supervision, ratios, and group size including during: 1. The beginning of the day; 2. Staff breaks; and 3. Movement from the classroom to another location.”
    • Safety and hazards

      1305 - Monthly Fire, Quarterly Earthquake/Shelter-in-place/Tornado Drills (922 KAR 2:120 Section 3)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 3. General Requirements. (12) A fire drill shall be: (a) Conducted during hours of operation at least monthly; and (b) Documented, detailing the date and time. (13) An earthquake drill, shelter-in-place drill, lockdown drill, and tornado drill shall be: (a) Conducted during hours of operation at least quarterly; and (b) Documented, detailing the date and time.”
    • Staff training and qualifications

      1280 - Professional Development (922 KAR 2:090 Section 9)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 9. Records. (1) A child-care center shall maintain: (f) A written annual plan for child-care staff professional development;”
  2. Feb 2, 2026VisitNo rules cited
  3. Jan 13, 2026VisitNo rules cited
  4. Sep 29, 2025Inspection13 rules cited
    • Supervision and ratios

      90 - Children Supervised (922 KAR 2:120 Section 2)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 2. Child Care Services. (3)(a) Each center shall maintain a child-care program that ensures each child shall be: 1. Provided with adequate supervision at all times by a qualified staff person who ensures the child is: a. Within scope of vision and range of voice; b. For a school-age child, within scope of vision or range of voice; and c. Accounted for during movement from one (1) location to another using name-to-face recognition by visually identifying each child;”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      865 - Indoor/Outdoor Equipment (922 KAR 2:120 Section 13)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 13. Toys and Furnishings. (2) Indoor and outdoor equipment shall: (a) Be clean, safe, and in good repair; (b) Meet the physical, developmental needs, and interests of children of different age groups; (c) Be free from sharp points or corners, splinters, protruding nails or bolts, loose or rusty parts, hazardous small parts, lead-based paint, poisonous material, and flaking or chalking paint; and (d) Be designed to guard against entrapment or situations that may cause strangulation.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      860 - Toys/Furniture (922 KAR 2:120 Section 13)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 13. Toys and Furnishings. (1) All toys and furniture contacted by a child shall be: (a) Kept clean and in good repair; and (b) Free of peeling, flaking, or chalking paint.”
    • Background checks

      85 - Employment Status (922 KAR 2:280 Section 11)

      “922 KAR 2:280. Section 11. Status of Employment. (1) A child care provider shall maintain the employment or residential status of each child care staff member who has submitted to a fingerprint- based criminal background check by reporting the status using the NBCP Web-based system.”
    • Safe sleep

      835 - Crib/Mattress/Sheet (922 KAR 2:120 Section 6)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 6. Sleeping and Napping Requirements. (3) Rest time shall occur in an adequate space according to the child’s age as follows: (a) For an infant: 1. An individual non-tiered crib that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission standards established in 16 C.F.R. 1219-1220; 2. A firm crib mattress in good repair with a clean tight-fitted sheet that shall be changed: a. Weekly; or b. Immediately if it is soiled or wet;”
    • Health, medication and illness

      730 - Diaper Changing Area/Surface (922 KAR 2:120 Section 12)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 12. Toilet, Diapering, and Toiletry Requirements. (10) If a child is diapered, the child shall: (b) Be placed on a surface that is: 1. Clean; 2. Padded; 3. Free of holes, rips, tears, or other damage; 4. Nonabsorbent; 5. Easily cleaned; and 6. Free of any items not used for diaper changing.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      700 - Child Personal Care/Handwashing (922 KAR 2:120 Section 3)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 3. General Requirements. (4) A child shall: (a) Be helped with personal care and cleanliness based upon his or her developmental skills; (b) Except as established in paragraph (c) of this subsection, wash his or her hands with liquid soap and warm running water: 1. a. Upon arrival at the center; or b. Within thirty (30) minutes of arrival for school-age children; 2. Before and after eating or handling food; 3. After toileting or diaper change; 4. After handling animals; 5. After touching an item or an area of the body soiled with body fluids or wastes; and 6. After outdoor or indoor play time; and (c) Use hand sanitizer or hand-sanitizing wipes if liquid soap and warm running water are not available in accordance with paragraph (b) of this subsection. The child shall wash the child's hands as soon as practicable once liquid soap and warm running water are available.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      690 - Sink (922 KAR 2:120 Section 12)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 12. Toilet, Diapering, and Toiletry Requirements. (3) A sink shall be: (a) Located in or immediately adjacent to toilet rooms; (b) Equipped with hot and cold running water that allows for hand washing; (c) Equipped with hot water at a minimum temperature of ninety (90) degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit; (d) Equipped with liquid soap; (e) Equipped with hand-drying blower or single use disposable hand drying material; (f) Equipped with an easily cleanable waste receptacle; and (g) Immediately adjacent to a changing area used for infants and toddlers.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      625 - Floors, Walls, Ceilings (922 KAR 2:120 Section 4)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 4. Premises Requirements. (9) Floors, walls, and ceilings shall be smooth, in good repair, and constructed to be easily cleaned.”
    • Supervision and ratios

      525 - Infant/Toddler Combined with Older Children (922 KAR 2:120 Section 5)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 5. Infant and Toddler Play Requirements. (3) Except in accordance with subsection (4) of this section or Section 2(2)(c) of this administrative regulation, an infant or toddler under twenty- four (24) months of age shall not participate in an activity with an older child for more than one (1) hour per day. (4) If a toddler is developmentally appropriate for a transition to a preschool age group, a toddler may participate in an activity with an older child for more than one (1) hour per day if: (a) Space for the toddler is available in the preschool-age group; (b) The staff-to-child ratios and group sizes are maintained based on the age of the youngest child; (c) The center has a procedure for listing a transitioning toddler on attendance records, including a specific day and time the toddler is with either age group; and (d) The child-care center has obtained the signature and approval of the toddler’s parent on the toddler’s transition plan.”
    • Records and paperwork

      195 - Plan of Correction/15 days (922 KAR 2:090 Section 15)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 15. Statement of Deficiency and Corrective Action Plans. (2) Except for a violation posing an immediate threat as handled in accordance with KRS 199.896(5)(c), a child-care center shall submit a written corrective action plan to the cabinet or its designee within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date of the statement of deficiency to eliminate or correct the regulatory violation.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      1330 - Diapering/Handwashing (922 KAR 2:120 Section 12)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 12. Toilet, Diapering, and Toiletry Requirements. (9) The proper methods of diapering and hand-washing shall be posted at each diaper changing area.”
    • Food and nutrition

      1095 - Milk Requirements (922 KAR 2:120 Section 9)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 9. Food and Drink Requirements for All Child-Care Centers. (3) A serving of milk shall consist of: (a) Breast milk or iron-fortified formula for a child: 1. Age birth to twelve (12) months; or 2. Beyond twelve (12) months of age as documented by the parent or the child's physician; (b) Pasteurized unflavored whole milk for children ages twelve (12) months to twenty-four (24) months; or (c) Pasteurized unflavored low fat one (1) percent or fat-free skim milk for children ages twenty-four (24) months to school-age.”
  5. Nov 22, 2024Inspection6 rules cited
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      625 - Floors, Walls, Ceilings (922 KAR 2:120 Section 4)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 4. Premises Requirements. (9) Floors, walls, and ceilings shall be smooth, in good repair, and constructed to be easily cleaned.”
    • Discipline and child guidance

      465 - Electronic Viewing/Listening Devices (922 KAR 2:120 Section 2)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 2. Child Care Services. (4) The child-care center shall provide a daily planned program: (d) Unless the child-care center is a before- or after-school program that operates part day or less, that offers a variety of creative activities including the following: 12. The use of screen time, electronic viewing and listening devices if the: a. Material is developmentally appropriate to the child using the equipment; b. Material is not a replacement for active play or a substitute for engagement and interaction with other children and adults; c. Material does not include any violence, adult content viewing, or inappropriate language; d. Child is over twenty-four (24) months of age; e. Viewing or listening is discussed with parents beforehand; and f. Viewing or listening is designed as an educational tool used to help children explore, create, problem solve, interact, and learn with and from one another. (5) Screen time shall be: (a) Utilized for: 1. A maximum of thirty (30) minutes per day in a half-day program; 3. The time needed for school-age children to complete assigned non-traditional instruction; and (b) Prohibited for a child under twenty-four (24) months of age. (6) A child who does not wish to use an electronic device during the planned program shall be offered other appropriate activities.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      405 - TB Verification (922 KAR 2:090 Section 11)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 11. Staff Requirements. (1) Child-care center staff: (b) Shall provide, prior to employment and every two (2) years thereafter: 1. A statement from a health professional that the individual is free of active tuberculosis; or 2. A copy of negative tuberculin results.”
    • Other rules

      225 - Licensee Responsibility (922 KAR 2:090 Section 8)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 8. General. (1) A licensee shall: (a) Be responsible for the operation of the child-care center pursuant to this administrative regulation, 922 KAR 2:120, and 922 KAR 2:280; and (b) Protect and assure the health, safety, and comfort of each child.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      1330 - Diapering/Handwashing (922 KAR 2:120 Section 12)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 12. Toilet, Diapering, and Toiletry Requirements. (9) The proper methods of diapering and hand-washing shall be posted at each diaper changing area.”
    • Records and paperwork

      1310 - Posting Requirements (922 KAR 2:090 Section 8)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 8. General. (6) In addition to the posting requirement of KRS 199.898(3), a child-care center shall post the following in a conspicuous place and make available for public inspection: (a) The provider's preliminary or regular license; (b) Each statement of deficiency and civil penalty notice issued by the cabinet during the current licensure year; (c) Each plan of correction submitted by the child-care center to the cabinet during the current licensure year; (d) Information on the Kentucky Consumer Product Safety Program and the program's Web site as specified in KRS 199.897; (e) A description of services provided by the child-care center, including: 1. Current rates for child care; and 2. Each service charged separately and in addition to the basic rate for child care; (f) Minimum staff-to-child ratios and group size established in 922 KAR 2:120; and (g) Daily planned program.”
  6. Jan 29, 2024Inspection6 rules cited
    • Background checks

      85 - Employment Status (922 KAR 2:280 Section 11)

      “922 KAR 2:280. Section 11. Status of Employment. (1) A child care provider shall maintain the employment or residential status of each child care staff member who has submitted to a fingerprint- based criminal background check by reporting the status using the NBCP Web-based system.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      695 - Toilet (922 KAR 2:120 Section 12)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 12. Toilet, Diapering, and Toiletry Requirements. (4) Each toilet shall: (a) Be kept in clean condition; (b) Be kept in good repair; (c) Be in a lighted room; and (d) Have ventilation to outside air.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      585 - Premises Requirements (922 KAR 2:120 Section 4)

      “922 KAR 2:120. Section 4. Premises Requirements. (1) The premises shall be: (a) Suitable for the purpose intended; (b) Kept clean and in good repair;”
    • Staff training and qualifications

      435 - Training (922 KAR 2:090 Section 11)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 11. Staff Requirements. (16) In accordance with KRS 199.896(15) and (16), a staff person with supervisory authority over a child shall complete the following: (a) Six (6) hours of cabinet-approved orientation completed within the first three (3) months of employment in a child-care program; (b) Nine (9) hours of cabinet-approved early care and education training within the first year of employment in a child care program, including one and one-half (1 ½) hours of cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma training; and (c) Fifteen (15) hours of cabinet-approved early care and education training completed between July 1 and the following June 30 of each subsequent year of employment in a child care program, including one and one-half (1 ½) hours of cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma training completed once every five (5) years. (17) A staff person's compliance with training requirements of this section shall be verified through the cabinet-designated database maintained pursuant to 922 KAR 2:240.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      405 - TB Verification (922 KAR 2:090 Section 11)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 11. Staff Requirements. (1) Child-care center staff: (b) Shall provide, prior to employment and every two (2) years thereafter: 1. A statement from a health professional that the individual is free of active tuberculosis; or 2. A copy of negative tuberculin results.”
    • Records and paperwork

      1250 - Enrollment Information (922 KAR 2:090 Section 9)

      “922 KAR 2:090. Section 9. Records. (1) A child-care center shall maintain: (b) A written record for each child: 1. Completed and signed by the child’s parent; 2. Retained on file on the first day the child attends the child-care center; and 3. To contain: a. Identifying information about the child, which includes, at a minimum, the child’s name, address, and date of birth; b. Contact information to enable a person in charge to contact the child’s: (i) Parent at the parent’s home or place of employment; (ii) Family physician; and (iii) Preferred hospital; c. The name of each person who is designated in writing to pick-up the child; d. The child’s general health status and medical history including, if applicable: (i) Allergies; (ii) Restriction on the child’s participation in activities with specific instructions from the child’s parent or health professional; and (iii) Permission from the parent for third-party professional services in the child-care center; e. The name and phone number of each person to be contacted in an emergency involving or impacting the child; f. Authorization by the parent for the child-care center to seek emergency medical care for the child in the parent’s absence;”

Copied from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services on October 4, 2026; the state's records start around Jan 2023. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

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FAQ

Questions about First Step Academy Child Care

Is First Step Academy Child Care licensed?

Yes. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services lists it as licensed and operating.

When was First Step Academy Child Care last inspected?

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services lists the most recent visit on August 20, 2026, with 9 rules cited. It lists 6 visits in the last 3 years.

Has First Step Academy Child Care had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 34 rules across 4 of 6 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 92% of Kentucky daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 11. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

How many children can First Step Academy Child Care care for?

82, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.

Does First Step Academy Child Care accept child care subsidies?

Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.

What are First Step Academy Child Care's hours?

Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does First Step Academy Child Care cost?

It has not listed its tuition. Call (502) 785-4118 to ask.

What is First Step Academy Child Care's phone number?

(502) 785-4118.

Where is First Step Academy Child Care?

3930 Cane Run Road, Louisville, KY 40211. The nearest other daycare we list is Precious In His Sight Christian, under 0.1 miles away.

Sources: The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).