Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe
Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe is a certified child care center in Hershey, PA, with capacity for 266 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 6 times and confirmed violations in 2 complaint investigations. The state cited 22 violations, 6 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for health & medication (6 of 22). 4 citations came in the last 12 months, including 2 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #5 of 9 centers in Hershey and has more citations per inspection than 52% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on a report from the program, a child was left outside in the courtyard, unsupervised. Video review confirmed that the child was left unsupervised by staff #1 and #2 for a period of approximately 1 minute and 36 seconds.
Plastic baskets used to hold toys were observed to have unraveled strands in the following classrooms: Caterpillar, Sprouts, and Sunflowers. Corrected on site by removing the broken baskets or removing the unraveled strands.
The health assessment form for facility person #1 stated that the individual was not suitable to provide child care services.
For this self-reported non-compliance, the results of the investigation determined that children were able to engage in inappropriate behaviors due to inadequate supervision in one area of the playground.
Facility person #1 was observed to be working in a classroom with children. Upon file review, it was discovered that the results of the NSOR clearance was not available for facility person #1.
A fire system testing check was conducted during a complaint investigation. The documentation on file showed that a test of the fire system had been conducted on 1/17/25 and again on 2/26/25, exceeding the requirement that fire system testing occur every 30 days.
The file for Staff Person #2 did not include a Disclosure Statement that had a witness signature. The file for Volunteer Person #3 did not include results of the FBI clearance within the 45-day provisional hire period.
The blind chains in the Innovation Room were dangling in such a way that posed an entrapment issue.
The top shelf of the refrigerator in the Ladybug Room was dirty (corrected on-site).
The medication log for Child #1 did not include the times that the medication should be administered (example: as needed every 4 hours for wheezing).
The file for Staff Person #1 did not include an updated health assessment within 24 months of the last one dated 10/26/22.
There was no documentation of the required, annual written notification to the local police department of the program's use of pedestrian and vehicular routes around the childcare facility.
Staff person #1 spoke in a degrading manner to the children in care.
Staff #1 resided in Delaware within the past 5 years. Clearances for Delaware were missing from staff #1's file. Staff #1 may not work in a child care capacity until clearances are obtained and on file. Staff #2 was observed to be missing a RAP sheet for the State Police Clearance. Staff #2 may not work in a child care capacity until RAP sheet is obtained and reviewed by DHS.
Vehicle registration was not located in the Chevy Traverse that is used to transport children.
Written instructions and parental permission on the medication log for Child #1's Benadryl did not match physician's written instructions. Reason for administration was listed as "no reason" and times to be given stated "consult mom".
The medication observed in the classrooms for Child #2, #3, #4, #5 did not have a medication log with written parent permission at the facility.
The medication log for Child #1's Benadryl did not contain the amount of Benadryl to be given.
In the STEM Garden outdoor space, Mums were observed to be planted and accessible to children, which are listed as a toxic plant. Corrected on site by removing the Mums from the area. Various types of mushrooms were observed growing in the mulched areas of the STEM Garden, which were accessible to children. Corrected on site by removing the mushrooms from the mulch.
On the Older Toddler Playground a water feature was observed with 2 water tables and a center mounted log chute that rocks back and forth in a see saw motion to deliver water to the water tables. The log chute was observed to be heavy and rested on the edge of both water tables, creating a crush point. Corrected on site by removing the moving log chute. On the Preschool Playground, a center mounted log chute was observed to rock in a see saw motion to distribute water into side chutes. The moving center log chute created a crush point against both side chutes. Corrected on site by removing the center log chute.
All childcare spaces were observed to be missing an emergency transportation plan. Corrected on site by adding the emergency transportation plan to each childcare space.
Staff #1 was observed to be missing 2 written nonfamily references that attested to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person. Staff #2 was observed to be missing 1 written nonfamily reference that attested to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person. Staff #3 was observed to be missing 1 written nonfamily reference that attested to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person. Staff #4 was observed to be missing 1 written nonfamily reference that attested to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person. Staff #5 was observed to be missing 1 written nonfamily reference that attested to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person. All staff references were corrected on site.
“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.
About this center
Common questions
Has Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe 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 Jan 21, 2026 (supervision): “Based on a report from the program, a child was left outside in the courtyard, unsupervised. Video review confirmed that the child was left unsupervised by staff #1 and #2 for a period of approximately 1 minute and 36…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe?
Pennsylvania lists 2 complaint investigations 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 Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 1, effective Apr 1, 2024. 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 Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe compare with other daycares in Hershey?
It is #5 of 9 centers in Hershey by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 52% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe last inspected?
Nov 17, 2025 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
Who runs Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Hershe?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Catherine Hershey School For Early Learning Hershe.
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.