Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Middle
Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Middle is a certified child care center in Middletown, PA, with capacity for 276 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 4 times. The state cited 9 violations, 3 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for building & playground safety (4 of 9). All 9 came in the last 12 months, including 3 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #1 of 8 centers in Middletown and has fewer citations per inspection than 66% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
It was observed on 8/26/2026 there is a hole in the ground on the preschool playground where the grass, concrete and poured play surface meet that poses a hazard. (CORRECTED ON SITE)
Emergency contact information for child #1 does not include the work address and telephone number of the enrolling parent.
Facility staff self-reported on 5/5/2026 at approximately 8:03am child #1 (DOB see LIS code sheet) was escorted from the facility's van to the Violet's classroom by staff person #1. Staff person #1 opened the classroom door and dropped child #1 off without ensuring the transfer of supervision to another staff member. Unbeknownst to staff person #1, staff person #2 and the rest of the violet classmates were outside on the playground, which resulted in child #1 being left unsupervised in the Violet classroom until staff person #2 noticed child #1 standing by the playground door, waving at them. Staff person #2 immediately retrieved child #1 at approximately 8:05am and reported the incident to administrative staff.
Documentation showed a fire detection system test on 10/21/25 and a fire drill/fire detection system test on 11/26/25, exceeding the requirement that the fire system be tested every 30 days.
During a transition between the playground and the classroom, it was reported and confirmed that a child was left unsupervised on the playground for approximately 30 seconds.
Staff #1 has a disclosure statement dated 10/3/25, which is after the facility members first day of employment. See LIS for first day of employment.
A bottle of cleaning spray was observed to be unlabeled in the Dragonfly classroom. Corrected on site by adding a label to the bottle.
A trash can was observed to be missing a lid in the bathroom shared by the Grasshopper and Daffodil classrooms. Corrected on site by placing a lid on the can.
The initial health assessment for child #1 (infant) was dated 5/30/25, which exceeds that requirement that initial heath assessments for infants be dated no more than 3 months prior to the first day of attendance. See LIS for date of first day of attendance.
“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 Middle had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 3 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 14, 2026 (supervision): “Facility staff self-reported on 5/5/2026 at approximately 8:03am child #1 (DOB see LIS code sheet) was escorted from the facility's van to the Violet's classroom by staff person #1. Staff person #1 opened the classroom…” 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 Middle?
Pennsylvania lists no complaint investigation that found a violation at Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Middle since 2021. 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 Middle’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 1, effective Dec 1, 2025. 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 Middle compare with other daycares in Middletown?
It is #1 of 8 centers in Middletown by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 66% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Middle last inspected?
Aug 25, 2026 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
Who runs Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning Middle?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Catherine Hershey School For Early Learning Middle.
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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.