Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed
Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed is a certified child care center in Philadelphia, PA, with capacity for 287 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 5 times and confirmed violations in 1 complaint investigation. The state cited 26 violations, 6 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for building & playground safety (9 of 26). 5 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #890 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia and has more citations per inspection than 68% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Observed hole in wall near cots in Headstart 4/5 classroom.
Observed chipped paint in EHS 2/3, Toddler 27, and Headstart 4/5 near cots.
Observed room UPK 2/3 with cots unlabeled. Observed students in Headstart 4/5 using cots not assigned to them.
Observed bottles unlabeled in EHS 22 infant classroom.
Observed room 6 with no daily schedule posted.
During the renewal inspection on 05/21/25 staff person #1 was observed to be caring for children unsupervised. Staff person #1 has not completed the following pre- service training required prior to caring for children unsupervised.
During the renewal inspection on 05/21/25 there was no first aid kit located in room #7.
During the renewal inspection on 05/21/25 there were dusty ceiling vents observed throughout the facility.
During the renewal inspection on 05/21/25 there was chipping paint observed in classroom EHS 23 and classroom 24.
Staff Left a student in the hallway while walking classroom back from the bathroom.
Show 16 older citations
During the complaint investigation it was self-reported that a child was left unsupervised sleep inside a classroom for 33 minutes. There were 2 staff persons in the classroom when the child was left unsupervised while the classroom went to the outdoor play space.
During the renewal inspection staff #4 did not have a disclosure on file.
During the renewal inspection when tested by the certification rep the hot water temperature was 118 degrees in classroom 14.
During the renewal inspection the toilet in the bathroom in the back of the building was not working.
During the renewal inspection staff #3 did not have a health assessment on file.
During the renewal inspection staff #1 did not have verification of child care experience on file.
During the renewal inspection staff #2 did not have verification of education on file.
The most recent State Police Clearances in the file for Staff Person #2 exceeded 60 months between clearances: 6/9/17-6/14/22.
On 6/14/22 when Staff Person #1 was supervising a group of 18 Preschool children during naptime, one of the children was sitting at a desk working.
Observed peeling, flaking paint on the ceilings of the rear classrooms of the building.
The most recent updated health reports in the files for Child #1 and #3 exceeded 12 months between reports.
The most recent health report in the file for Child #1 did not include a statement that the child is able to participate in child care and appears to be free from contagious or communicable disease.
The health reports in the file for Child #2 did not contain an immunization record or a letter of exemption from the parent or physician.
The most recent health assessments in the file for Staff Person #3 exceeded 24 months between assessments.
The fire drill log documented the following fire system checks which exceeded 30 days between checks: 12/15/21 -- 1/18/21, 2/8/22-3/11/22, 4/4/22-5/10/22, 5/10/22-6/13/22.
The most recent Mandated Reporter Trainings in the file for Staff Person #3 exceeded 60 months between trainings: 8/8/14-3/30/20.
“Core safety” marks citations about supervision and staff ratios, discipline and caregiver conduct, background checks, child protection and safe sleep, the topics our score weights most. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity. “Follow-up” marks a violation re-cited at a follow-up visit, counted once. How scores work.
Complaint investigations and reported incidents
Pennsylvania’s search lists complaint investigations in which the state found at least one violation (“verified complaints”). It does not say what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it. Incident investigations look into something that happened at the center; self-reported violations are ones the center reported to the state itself.
Daily rates
| Age group | Full time, per day | Part time, per day |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $68.00 | $68.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $63.60 | $63.60 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $59.60 | $59.60 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $56.40 | $47.00 |
| Young School-Age (K-3rd gr.) | $45.60 | $39.40 |
| Older School-Age (4th gr.-15 yrs.) | $45.60 | $39.40 |
The daily price the center lists in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search for families paying privately. The state notes that rates are subject to change and programs don’t have to share them, so confirm with the center. See what daycare costs in Pennsylvania.
About this center
Common questions
Has Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 6 violations since 2021 on the topics Daycare Record treats as core safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). The most recent, on May 21, 2025 (supervision): “During the renewal inspection on 05/21/25 staff person #1 was observed to be caring for children unsupervised. Staff person #1 has not completed the following pre- service training required prior to caring for children…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed?
Pennsylvania lists 1 complaint investigation since 2021 in which it found at least one violation; the violations are listed above. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4, effective Mar 30, 2026. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating program for child care, from STAR 1 to STAR 4. It measures program quality, not inspection results, so read both.
How does Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed compare with other daycares in Philadelphia?
It is tied for #890 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 68% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed last inspected?
May 20, 2026 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $68.00 for infant, $63.60 for young toddler, $59.60 for older toddler, $56.40 for preschool in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs Brightside Academy Early Care & Ed?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Brightside Academy Philadelphia LLC.
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Citations are quoted from Pennsylvania Department of Human Services inspection records (Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services), including each finding and the center’s plan of correction. Rule numbers refer mostly to 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270, the rules for child care centers; a few cite Chapter 20, which covers every certified facility. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; the “core safety” label and the score are Daycare Record’s.
To check the state’s own record, search the center’s name on COMPASS Child Care Provider Search and open its inspection history. Data refreshed Oct 16, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.
Concerned about this center? See how to report a daycare: which state line to call, what to write down and what happens next.