Step Ahead Learning Center
Step Ahead Learning Center is a certified child care center in Philadelphia, PA, with capacity for 17 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 5 times. The state cited 39 violations, 2 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for records & paperwork (17 of 39). 8 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #922 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia and has more citations per inspection than 70% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the file reviewed for staff person #1 hired (see code sheet) did not contain a NSOR certificate.
During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the file reviewed for staff person #1 and staff person #2 did not include annual emergency plan training.
During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not include a health assessment.
During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the documentation reviewed did not reflect fire drills being conducted every 60 days.
During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the file reviewed for staff person #2 did not include an annual written evaluation.
During the renewal inspection on 04/06/26 the file reviewed for child #1, child #2, and child #3 did not include a CSR providing information about the child's growth and development.
During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the emergency contact form reviewed for child #3 and child #4 did not include child's health insurance coverage and policy number.
During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the emergency contact form reviewed for child #1, child #2, child #3 and child #4 was not reviewed/updated within a 6-month period.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not reflect annual emergency plan training.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not include an updated health assessment with physical examination.
Show 29 older citations
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for child #3 and child #4 did not include initial health assessment.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not contain pediatric first aid/CPR training conducted by a PQAS certified instructor.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not include annual fire safety training.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not include a written annual evaluation.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the fee agreement reviewed for child #1 did not include child's arrival and departure times.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for child #1 and child #2 did not include the child's date of admission.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the emergency contact form reviewed for child #1 and child #2 did not contain signed parental consent for emergency medical care.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the emergency contact form reviewed for child #1 and child #2 did not include child's health insurance policy coverage and policy number.
During the renewal inspection the emergency contact form and fee agreement for child #1 and child #2 was not updated/reviewed within 6-month period. The file for child #4 did not contain an emergency contact form or fee agreement.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/25 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not reflect 12 hours of annual childcare training.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/24 the file reviewed for staff person #1 did not include initial health assessment at time of hire.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/24 provider did not provide documentation confirming annual emergency drill.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/24 the file reviewed for child #2 and child #3 did not contain a health report.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/24 the file reviewed for child #1, child #2 and child #3 did not contain a fee agreement.
During the renewal inspection the file reviewed for child #1, child #2 and child #3 did not include date of admission.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/24 the emergency contact form reviewed for child #2 and child #3 did not include child's health insurance coverage and policy number.
During the renewal inspection on 04/03/24 the emergency contact form reviewed for child #2 and child #3 were not reviewed/updated within 6-month time period. The file reviewed for child #1 did not contain an emergency contact form.
On 6/1/6/23, one staff person was observed caring for two children and there were no other facilty persons present in the facility.
The emergency plan was not posted at a conspicuous location in the facility. Post the emergency plan at a conspicuous location in the facility.
Safe routes, including safe pedestrian crossways, pick-up and drop-off points and bike routes were not appropriately determined in the vicinity of the facility, communicated to the children and parents in writing and posted.
The operator lacked verification of the annual written notification to local traffic safety authorities of the location of the facility and the program's use of pedestrian and vehicular routes around the day care facility.
Written parental information to be given to parents at the time of enrollment did not include all of the policies as specified in this regulation.
The facility lacked a written, posted plan identifying the means of transporting a child to emergency care and staffing provisions in the event of an emergency in accordance with this regulation.
The operator indicated that there was a second facilty person hired to work at the facility and the facility person did not have an individual record that was presented at the time of the inspection.
The operator did not provide the parent of each child enrolled with information on how to access the regulations in this chapter electronically and with instructions for contacting the appropriate regional child care office.
One staff person's record did not contain written verification of initial emergency plan training. (staff #2)
Two staff person's records did not contain a health assessment completed within 12 months prior to the date of hire.
One staff person's record did not contain written verification of education and for their assistant group supervisor position. (staff #2)
Two facility person's records did not include two written, nonfamily references from individuals attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person. Each only contained one. (Staff #1 and #2)
“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 |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (Under 6 Weeks) | $84.00 | $71.00 |
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $84.00 | $71.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $79.00 | $68.00 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $77.00 | $64.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $73.00 | $60.00 |
| Young School-Age (K-3rd gr.) | $49.00 | $38.00 |
| Older School-Age (4th gr.-15 yrs.) | $49.00 | $38.00 |
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 Step Ahead Learning Center had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 2 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 Apr 9, 2026 (background checks): “During the renewal inspection on 04/09/26 the file reviewed for staff person #1 hired (see code sheet) did not contain a NSOR certificate.” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Step Ahead Learning Center?
Pennsylvania lists no complaint investigation that found a violation at Step Ahead Learning Center since 2021. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Step Ahead Learning Center’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 1, effective Sep 25, 2023. 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 Step Ahead Learning Center compare with other daycares in Philadelphia?
It is tied for #922 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 70% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Step Ahead Learning Center last inspected?
Apr 9, 2026 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does Step Ahead Learning Center cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $84.00 for newborn, $84.00 for infant, $79.00 for young toddler, $77.00 for older toddler in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs Step Ahead Learning Center?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Step Ahead Learning Center 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.