Closure of Minnesota’s “Quality Learning Center”
The Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis, infamously known for its misspelled sign reading “Quality Learing Center,” has officially closed its doors. This facility was highlighted in a viral video by independent journalist Nick Shirley, which exposed significant fraud in state child care programs.
As of January 6th, records from the Minnesota Department of Human Services indicate that the center is closed, a development that was reportedly initiated by the provider. To reopen, the center will need to apply for a new license.
This daycare had gained attention not just for its sign but also for correcting that misspelling last month after facing ridicule. The facility is now under scrutiny as part of a larger investigation into fraud within Minnesota’s daycare system, though no official reason for its closure has been provided yet.
“Quality Learning Center requested closure of their license and it was closed effective Jan. 6, 2026,” a spokesperson from the Minnesota Department of Youth, Children, and Families said. “The provider is unable to reopen without reapplying for a license.”
State records show that the center had sought a licensing review in June 2025 after receiving several citations. At that time, officials reported finding “no evidence of fraud.” However, this center later faced backlash following Shirley’s exposé, which revealed that several daycares were receiving public funding with no children present. When Shirley visited, the facility was inactive, despite having received $1.9 million in state childcare assistance.
The exposé caught attention and led to a federal investigation into various Minneapolis businesses, praised by the Trump administration. The center’s manager, Ibrahim Ali, has denied all accusations of misconduct.
Before becoming the Quality Learning Center, the facility operated as the “Salama Child Care Center.” This center has faced legal troubles dating back to the Obama administration, including an FBI raid in May 2015 over allegations of defrauding the childcare assistance program. The previous owner, Fozia Sheik Ali, was indicted in 2017 and pleaded guilty to theft of public money, receiving a prison sentence and restitution order.
Ali, the current manager, argues that Shirley visited the center outside operating hours (Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.). There’s some contention regarding the exact timing of the visit, although Shirley later returned and reinforced his claims of the center’s inactivity.
“Are you trying to record that we’re doing fraud, or are you trying to put the Somali name and the fraud in the same sentence?” Ali said, expressing frustration over the portrayal. “That’s what really hurt us the last couple of days.”
He suggested that the spelling error on the sign was due to the installer’s oversight.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services confirmed the closure of “Quality Learning Center” as of January 6th, indicating a definitive end to this notable chapter in the state’s childcare narrative.
