Level Up Learning Academy
Level Up Learning Academy is a certified child care center in Philadelphia, PA, with capacity for 52 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 2 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 4 times and confirmed violations in 1 complaint investigation. The state cited 35 violations, 5 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for records & paperwork (11 of 35). 5 citations came in the last 12 months, including 4 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #1,075 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia and has more citations per inspection than 86% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on an investigation that included a review of video camera footage and interviews, it was verified that on 2/6/2026 at approximately 9:23 am, facility staff #1 briefly and aggressively handled facility child #1 and took child by the arm in a rough manner to put him into the bathroom because the child was not completing a table activity.
Based on an investigation that included a review of video camera footage and interviews, it was verified that on 2/6/2026 and other occasions, facility staff #1 has yelled at children and/or spoken to children in a harsh manner.
Based on an investigation that included a review of video camera footage and interviews, it was verified that on 2/6/2026 facility staff #1 roughly grabbed facility child #1 and put the child into the bathroom when the child was not completing a table activity.
At the time of inspection on 2/12/2026, Certification Representative observed that three children were sleeping in the back classroom area without proper staff supervision. This occurred when the director/staff #1 left the children in that area to answer the door.
On 2/12/2026, Certification Representative observed infant child #1 sleeping in a bouncy chair and not in proper rest equipment.
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 Child Abuse Clearance was expired. Child Abuse Clearance was dated 10.6.2005. Facility person #1 did not have a National Sex Offender's Registry Clearance on file. Facility person #2, did not have a National Sex Offender's Registry Clearance on file.
At the time of inspection, the hot water in the two bathrooms located in the school age area on the lower level, reached 116 degrees.
At the time of inspection, the infant cribs were not labeled for the use of a specific child.
At the time of inspection, the refrigerator located in the infant childcare space, did not have a thermometer.
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 TB test results on file was dated 4.2014. Prior to approximate hiring date of 1.2025.
Show 25 older citations
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 health assessment on file did not address if the person was examined for and free of communicable diseases.
At the time of inspection, the facility's menu was not posted in a conspicuous location.
At the time of inspection, it was observed that the infant in care did not have a written statement from the parent with the infant's formula and feeding schedule. It was also observed that the infant's bottle in use was not labeled with the infant's name.
At the time of inspection, the facility had not conducted a fire drill within the past 60 days.
At the time of inspection, the facility's documented fire inspection summary from the township fire department was over a year old. Inspection summary was dated 11.10.2023.
At the time of inspection, children #1, #2, #4 and #5 Financial Agreement Forms were missing provider signatures. Child #3 Financial Agreement Form was missing both parental and provider signatures.
At the time of inspection, children #2 through #5, Financial Agreement Forms did not list the Fee Amounts. Child #3 Financial Agreement Form did not list the date in which the fees are due.
At the time of inspection, children #1, #2 and #3 Financial Agreement Forms did not address arrival and departure times nor did the forms list persons designated by a parent to whom the child may be released.
At the time of inspection, children #1, #2 and #3 Financial Agreement Forms did not list the children's admission dates.
At the time of inspection, children #1 through #5, Financial Agreement Forms did not address any services considered to be extra.
At the time of inspection, child #1 Emergency Contact Form did not list telephone number for physician/medical care office and did not list the child's insurance policy number. Child #2 Emergency Contact Form did not list the name of the child's physician/medical care office. Child #3 Emergency Contact Form did not list the child's insurance policy number.
At the time of inspection, children #1, #2 and #3 Emergency Contact Forms did not list parents work addresses and/or work telephone numbers.
At the time of inspection, child #4 Emergency Contact Form did not have written parental consent for the administration of medications and/or special dietary needs.
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 did not have written verification of experience on file.
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 file did not contain the two required nonfamily references.
At the time of inspection, facility did not have documentation of emergency plan training for current staff.
At the time of inspection, the outdoor play area did not have proper fence closure to restrict children's access to the parking lot.
At the time of inspection, 2 first aid kits did not have soap and/or scissors.
At the time of inspection, childcare space titled before and after school room did not have visual strip or other visual identification on glass leading from parking lot.
At the time of inspection, handwashing sign did not include hands should be washed after toileting and before eating.
At the time of inspections, facility had shelving that was not mounted and posed a safety hazard.
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 did not have a current, signed health assessment on file.
At the time of inspection, facility's emergency plan did not contain an immediate emergency evacuation location from the facility's premises and accommodations for evacuating infants, toddlers, and children with special needs.
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 did not have approved fire safety/protection training.
At the time of inspection, facility person #1 did not have required 2 written, nonfamily references on file.
“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.
Enforcement actions
Negative sanctions Pennsylvania lists for this center, such as a downgrade to a provisional certificate, refusing to renew or revoking its certificate of compliance, with the status COMPASS shows. “Operation permitted” means the center may keep operating while it appeals; “operation not permitted” means it may not.
About this center
Common questions
Has Level Up Learning Academy had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 5 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 Feb 12, 2026 (caregiver conduct): “Based on an investigation that included a review of video camera footage and interviews, it was verified that on 2/6/2026 at approximately 9:23 am, facility staff #1 briefly and aggressively handled facility child #1…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Level Up Learning Academy?
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 Level Up Learning Academy’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 2, effective Dec 11, 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 Level Up Learning Academy compare with other daycares in Philadelphia?
It is tied for #1,075 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 86% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Level Up Learning Academy last inspected?
Feb 26, 2026 (renewal). No violations were cited during that visit.
Who runs Level Up Learning Academy?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Taliah Boney.
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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.