Brown Bear Daycare and Learning Center
21007 MCGUIRE RD, HARVARD, IL 60033Childery Rating: 4/5
Data last updated ·
Quality Indicators
See Methodology →- Overall QualityCombines daily care quality (interactions, learning, environment) with structural features like staff-to-child ratios and teacher qualifications.4 / 5
- Process QualityThe quality of daily care — caregiver-child interactions, learning activities, and the emotional climate. Drawn from the state QRIS rating, accreditations, and Head Start CLASS observations.3 / 5
- Structural QualityMeasurable features like staff-to-child ratios, group sizes, license status, and teacher qualifications. Provider-level data when available; otherwise the state regulatory baseline.5 / 5
Why this rating
This daycare earned 4 out of 5 stars overall. Process quality reflects an ExceleRate Illinois rating of Silver. Structural quality reflects a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes Illinois's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. Illinois caps infant ratios at 1:4, toddler ratios at 1:5, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead teachers must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA). Teachers must complete 15 hours of annual training.
Quality Recognitions & Accreditations
- State Quality Rating
- ExceleRate Illinois Silver (2 out of Max 4) Learn more →
- Accreditations
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)Not Accredited
- National Accreditation Commission (NAC)Not Accredited
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)Not Accredited
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)Not Accredited
Facility Info
- Facility type
- Child Care Center
- Age groups served
- Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age
- Licensed capacity
- 379
- Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
Age Max ratio Max group Infants 1:4 12 Toddlers 1:5 15 Preschool 1:10 20
Teacher Credentials
- Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
Inspection History
18 Inspection Visits Since 2010 · 137 Findings
Most recent: May 5, 2026⤓ Download Latest Report (PDF)
32 Critical98 Important7 Administrative
Across 18 inspections since 2010, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (40), Curriculum & Developmental Programming (16), and Children's Records & Files (13). Of 137 total findings, 32 were critical.
See All 18 Inspection Visits
May 5, 20263 Findings1 Critical2 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(a)(11)
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(a)
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)(a)
Feb 27, 202618 Findings3 Critical15 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(h)
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(1)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(b)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(d)
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(f)
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(a)
- Transportation407.280(d)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(j)(1)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(b)
- Medications407.360(c)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(3)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(b)
Oct 25, 20253 Findings2 Critical1 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(a)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(a)(10)
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(a)
Mar 20, 202519 Findings3 Critical16 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(h)
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(1)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(b)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(d)
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(f)
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(a)
- Transportation407.280(d)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)
- Hand Washing407.320(a)(9)
- Hand Washing407.320(e)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(b)
- Medications407.360(c)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(3)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(b)
Mar 17, 202337 Findings3 Critical28 Important6 Administrative
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)
- Personnel Records407.120
- Qualifications for Child Care Director407.130
- Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers407.140
- Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants407.150
- Students and Youth Aides407.160
- Substitutes407.170
- Volunteers407.180
- Grouping and Staffing407.190
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210
- Special Requirements for School-Age Children407.220
- Intergenerational Programs407.230
- Evening, Night, Weekend and Holiday Care407.240
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260
- Guidance and Discipline407.270
- Transportation407.280
- Swimming and Wading407.290
- Animals407.300
- Health Requirements for Children407.310
- Hand Washing407.320
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340
- Napping and Sleeping407.350
- Medications407.360
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370
- Equipment and Materials407.380
- Outdoor Play Area407.390
- Application for License407.50
- Application for Renewal of License407.55
- Provisions Pertaining to the License407.60
- Provisions Pertaining to Permits407.65
- Organization and Administration407.70
- Confidentiality of Records and Information407.80
Mar 8, 20221 Finding1 Critical
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
Mar 15, 20213 Findings2 Critical1 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(e)
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(b)
Jan 21, 20201 Finding1 Important
- Transportation407.280(d)
Mar 13, 20181 Finding1 Important
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(i)
Nov 14, 20175 Findings1 Critical4 Important
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)
- Students and Youth Aides407.160(b)
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(r)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(h)
- Outdoor Play Area407.390(l)
Mar 10, 20175 Findings2 Critical3 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(6)
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(a)(5)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(1)(a)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(1)(b)
Sep 2, 20162 Findings2 Important
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(r)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(e)
Mar 21, 20161 Finding1 Critical
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
Mar 12, 20142 Findings2 Important
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(1)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(4)(a)
Oct 10, 20131 Finding1 Important
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(b)
Sep 13, 201124 Findings8 Critical15 Important1 Administrative
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(a)(11)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(1)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(2)
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(3)
- Staffing Structure407.90(b)
- Staffing Structure407.90(e)
- Authorization for Background Checks385.40(a)(1)
- Authorization for Background Checks385.40(d)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Personnel Records407.120(e)(2)
- Students and Youth Aides407.160(b)
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(s)
- Special Requirements for School-Age Children407.220(d)(4)
- Special Requirements for School-Age Children407.220(e)
- Special Requirements for School-Age Children407.220(i)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(7)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(g)(1)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(g)(2)
- Organization and Administration407.70(f)
Jun 21, 20119 Findings5 Critical4 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(a)(11)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(4)
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)
- Staffing Structure407.90(d)(1)
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(r)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(f)(7)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(d)(3)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(e)
Mar 25, 20102 Findings2 Important
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
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