Early Connections North East is a certified child care center in North East, PA, with capacity for 41 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 4 times. The state cited 19 violations, 1 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for records & paperwork (8 of 19). None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #13 of 81 centers in Erie County and has more citations per inspection than 50% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
The pea gravel at the bottom of the blue slide in the outdoor play space did not measure a depth of six inches.
An annual emergency drill has not been documented in the past 12 months.
The emergency contact forms in the files for Child #1 and #2 did not include the work address and phone number of the enrolling parent.
The emergency contact form in the file for Child #1, #3 and #4 did not include information on the child's special needs, as specified by the child's parent, physician, physician's assistant or CRNP, which is needed in an emergency situation.
The emergency contact form in the file for Child #4 did not include the address for the release persons.
The emergency contact form in the file for Child #2 did not contain signed parental consent for emergency medical care for the child.
The requests for out of state clearances (New York) in the file for Staff Person #1 were submitted after the staff person's first day in child care. (See LIS Code Sheet). The results for the New York Child Abuse Clearance for Staff Person #1 are not in file.
In the Tadpole room, observed a bottle of soapy water for cleaning that was not labeled.
The hot water temperature in the Frogs and Tadpoles rooms measured 119° F.
The first aid kit in the Frogs room lacked tweezers.
The bolts securing the new fence in the outdoor play space were facing inward and not capped or covered.
A visual strip or other visual identification was not placed on the glass door in the Frogs Room.
The fee agreements in the files for Child #1 and #2 were the original forms.
In the Tadpole Room, there was no handwashing sign above the toilet in the restroom.
The files for Child #1, 2 and 3 all contain immunization records that are lacking the annual influenza vaccine.
The file for Staff #1 and #2 were both lacking the one hour Health and Safety Update.
The files for Child #2 and #3 contained immunization records that were lacking the annual influenza vaccine.
The file for Child #1 contained an emergency contact form that was lacking signed parental consent for emergency medical care.
The file for Child #1 contains an emergency contact form that was lacking signed parental consent for the administration of minor first aid by facility staff.
“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.
Daily rates
| Age group | Full time, per day | Part time, per day |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $44.00 | $38.10 |
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 Early Connections North East had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 1 violation 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 Sep 23, 2024 (background checks): “The requests for out of state clearances (New York) in the file for Staff Person #1 were submitted after the staff person's first day in child care. (See LIS Code Sheet). The results for the New York Child Abuse…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Early Connections North East?
Pennsylvania lists no complaint investigation that found a violation at Early Connections North East since 2021. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Early Connections North East’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4, effective Sep 5, 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 Early Connections North East compare with other daycares in Erie County?
It is tied for #13 of 81 centers in Erie County by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 50% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Early Connections North East last inspected?
Sep 17, 2025 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does Early Connections North East cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $44.00 for preschool in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs Early Connections North East?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Early Connections.
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5109 Iroquois Ave, Erie · 9.2 mi away · 41 spots More citations than most Bright Horizons at Erie
5450 Merwin Ln, Erie · 10.5 mi away · 129 spots More citations than most St James Panthers Child Development Center
2602 Buffalo Rd, Erie · 11.3 mi away · 38 spots Too few inspections to compare
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.