A Guide to NAEYC Accreditation

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A Guide to NAEYC Accreditation

• Tracy Carrigan
• Christina DiStefano
• Michelle Fitzpatrick

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What is NAEYC?

• National Association for the Education of Young
  Children.
• NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well-being of
  all young children. Particular focus is on the
  quality of educational and developmental
  services.

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NAEYCs Mission

• To promote high quality, developmentally
  appropriate programs that support the physical,
  social, emotional and cognitive development for
  all children while responding to the needs of
  their families.

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Developmentally Appropriate Practice

• A curriculum for young children that is planned
  to be appropriate for their age span and is
  implemented with attention to the different
  needs, interests, and developmental levels of
  individual children.

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Developmentally Appropriate Practices result from
three important kinds of information or knowledge

• What is known about child development and
  learning.
• What is known about the strengths, interests, and
  needs to each individual child in the group.
• Knowledge of the social and cultural context in
  which children live.

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NAEYC Commitment to Children

• Appreciating childhood as a unique and valuable
  stage of the human life cycle.
• Basing our work with children on knowledge of
  child development and learning.
• Appreciating and supporting the close ties
  between the child and family.
• Recognizing that children are best understood in
  the context of family, culture, and society.
• Respecting the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of
  each individual.
• Helping children and adults achieve their full
  potential in the context of relationships that
  are based on trust, respect, and positive regard.

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NAEYC Goals

• Improving professional practice and working
  conditions in early childhood education.
• Supporting early childhood programs by working to
  achieve a high quality system of early childhood
  education.
• Building a high performing, inclusive
  organization of groups and individuals who are
  committed to promoting excellence in early
  childhood education for all young children.

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NAEYCs efforts are designed to ensure that

• All children have access to a safe and
  accessible, high quality early childhood
  education that includes a developmentally
  appropriate curriculum knowledgeable and well
  trained program staff and educators and
  comprehensive services that support their health,
  nutrition, and social well-being, in an
  environment that supports and respects diversity.
  
• All early childhood educators are supported as
  professionals with ongoing professional
  development opportunities.
• All families have access to high quality early
  childhood education programs and actively
  participate in their childrens education as
  respected, reciprocal partners.

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NAEYC Standards Focus On

• Curriculum
• Partnerships between teachers, families,
  community and children
• Assessment of child progress
• Staff development
• Physical environment
• Leadership and management

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Steps to Accreditation

• Enroll in self study (use NAEYC standards and
  accreditation performance criteria to evaluate
  program and make needed improvements)
• Become an applicant
• Become a candidate
• Meet the program standards
• Pass on-site assessment by NAEYC assessors
• Approval of accreditation status
• Maintain accreditation through continued
  assessments

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Research shows quality programs make a difference!

• www.naeyc.org/ece/research.asp