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Delaware Child Care: Inspections & the Public Record

Childcare Alerts indexes every licensed child care provider in Delaware from the state's open data — including each provider's full per-visit inspection history (the regulations cited at each compliance visit) and any enforcement action. This is among the most complete public records we surface anywhere. It is a factual overview, not a safety rating of any provider.

Delaware has 1,249 licensed child care providers on public record. Unlike most states, Delaware publishes its full compliance record openly: we surface 3,329 inspection visits (each with the specific regulations cited and their correction status) across 974 providers, plus 1,972 complaint investigations (with the state's finding — substantiated or not) and 45 providers currently under a licensing enforcement action (probation, suspension, revocation, or intent to revoke).

Provider types

Where the providers are

Delaware cities with the most licensed child care providers:

1. Wilmington — 319 providers
2. Newark — 145 providers
3. Dover — 110 providers
4. New Castle — 104 providers
5. Bear — 71 providers
6. Middletown — 69 providers
7. Seaford — 47 providers
8. Smyrna — 36 providers
9. Georgetown — 29 providers
10. Milford — 28 providers

Delaware child care in the news

Recent third-party coverage of Delaware child care. Headlines link to the original source — these are news reports, not our licensing records.

• Delaware Tech child care abuse case uncovered by parent, not staff
  The News Journal · Jul 23, 2026
• Delaware Explained: A guide to preschool options in the First State
  Spotlight Delaware · Jul 9, 2026
• Newark, Del. man charged with sexually abusing child at in-home daycare
  6abc Philadelphia · Jul 9, 2026
• Wilmington no longer has an operating Head Start program, raising concerns from Wilmington City Council
  Delaware Public Media · Jul 9, 2026
• Newark Daycare Worker Accused of Grabbing Toddler by Neck in Campus Classroom
  Hoodline · Jul 4, 2026
• State Police Arrest Former Newark Child Care Employee Following Child Abuse Investigation
  Delaware State Police (.gov) · Jul 3, 2026

Coverage is gathered automatically from public news sources and isn't an endorsement; we link out and don't host the articles.

How to check a specific provider

Search any Delaware provider by name or city to see its full inspection history — every compliance visit with the regulations cited — and a link to the official state record.

Search a provider →

Methodology & source

Providers, enforcement flags, and the per-visit compliance record: the Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing open data (data.delaware.gov). We collapse each facility visit into one plain-English entry listing the regulations cited. Childcare Alerts surfaces and summarizes these public records; the official government record always controls, and the absence of a record is not a guarantee of safety. Childcare Alerts is an independent service, not affiliated with any state agency.