Step Ahead Child Care Center

1550 Silverstone Trl, De Pere, WI 54115 · Brown County

9cited violations

4serious

4inspection visits

0enforcement actions

Program

Type: Group center
Licensed capacity: 110
Ages: 6 weeks – 12 years, 11 months
Hours: 06:00 AM-06:00 PM (Jan-Dec)
Licensee: Ronak Patel
Contact: Bradley, Kailey
Phone: 920-347-4890
YoungStar: 3 Stars
Regulated since: 12/30/2021
DCF IDs: Facility 2005894 · Provider 9000590749/001
Official record: DCF Child Care Finder

Violations by category

Illness & medication 1
Discipline & child guidance 1
Safety & premises 1
Staff background & training 5
Records & paperwork 1

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	1	1	Staff background & training (1)
2025	2	1	Illness & medication (1), Staff background & training (1)
2024	6	2	Discipline & child guidance (1), Safety & premises (1), Staff background & training (3), Records & paperwork (1)

Inspection visits

Aug 19, 2026 Licensing visit · 215 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Staff background & training Serious
  Staff A was working in a classroom, but did not have documentation from the Department that a child care background check was completed and in compliance.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
DCF visit report
Jun 26, 2025 Licensing visit · 699 rules checked, 2 not met 1 serious
- Illness & medication
  Child #2 on the chid record checklist failed to have a health history form on file at the center.
  
  DCF 251.04(6)(a)6. — Child Record - Health History
- Staff background & training Serious
  The center failed to have documentation from the department, either paper or electronic, that indicates a child care background check was completed in compliance with the timelines and requirements specified in s. 48.686, Stats., and ch DCF 13 and the person is eligible to work in a child care program.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Dec 5, 2024 Licensing visit · 467 rules checked, 6 not met 2 serious
- Records & paperwork
  Child #1 on the child record checklist failed to have documentation of a current health exam.
  
  DCF 251.04(6)(a)8.a. — Child Record - Physical Exam - Under 2
- Staff background & training Serious
  Staff D on the staff record checklist failed to complete the mandated reporter/child abuse and neglect training prior to working with children.
  
  DCF 251.04(8)(a) — Mandated Reporting - Child Abuse & Neglect
- Staff background & training
  Staff members A, B, C, & D failed to have completed health reports on file.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)3.a. — Staff Record - Physical Examination
- Staff background & training
  Staff A failed to have a completed orientation on file.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)8. — Staff Record - Orientation
- Safety & premises
  The center failed to conduct their monthly fire drills during the months of October and November 2024.
  
  DCF 251.06(3)(b)2. — Emergencies - Practice Written Plans
- Discipline & child guidance Serious
  During the licensing visit, a staff member was observed by the licensing specialist raising their voice to a child.
  
  DCF 251.07(2)(e)5. — Prohibited Actions - Cruel, Aversive, Frightening, Humiliating Actions
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Jun 6, 2024 Licensing visit

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)

Get the full file

DCF publishes about 3 years of monitoring. Older history, complaint files and self-reported incidents require a public records request. Wisconsin's public records law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why.

Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)

Send to: DCF Records Custodian · DCFRecordsRequest@wisconsin.gov · fax (608) 422-7161 · 201 W. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703 · agency instructions
Copy: DCF Northeastern Regional Licensing Office · DCFPlicBRLNERO@wisconsin.gov · 920-785-7811

Show the letter text

Letter text

Dear Records Custodian,

Under Wisconsin's public records law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, I request copies of the following records for the child care program Step Ahead Child Care Center, 1550 Silverstone Trl, De Pere, WI 54115-8226 (DCF facility number 2005894; provider number 9000590749, location 001; applicant/licensee number 1100378019), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every licensing or certification monitoring, renewal and follow-up visit report, including noncompliance statements, compliance statements and rule-monitoring summaries.
2. Every complaint investigation: intake summaries, investigation reports, and the finding for each allegation.
3. Every warning letter, order, forfeiture or other enforcement action, with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of correction the program submitted, and the department's response.
5. Every incident the program reported to the department (for example under DCF 251.04(3) or 250.04(3)): injuries requiring medical care, prohibited actions, suspected abuse or neglect, communicable disease, and children whose whereabouts were unknown.

I understand that child and reporter identities, and material made confidential by Wis. Stat. § 48.981, may be redacted; please release the remainder and cite the basis for anything withheld. Please provide the records electronically (PDF by email). If the estimated cost exceeds $5.00, please send me an estimate before proceeding. Please confirm receipt of this request.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

If something is happening now, file a child care complaint with DCF. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, via the Child Care Finder and the licensed and certified directories. Last read Oct 4, 2026. Violation text is DCF's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan. About this data.