Choosing a Program

High quality preschool and child care programs can have lasting benefits. There are a number of characteristics associated with high quality programs.

Based on NAEYC’s Accreditation Criteria, here are some things to consider as you visit programs:

Are the children in the program generally comfortable, relaxed, and happy, and involved in play and other activities?

Happy, relaxed children who are enjoying themselves as they play and learn is one of the best signs of a good program. See if there is an ample variety of materials for children of this age group. Would your child enjoy this setting?

Are there sufficient numbers of adults with specialized training in early childhood development and education?

The younger the child, the more individualized attention is needed. The Academy’s Criteria recommend that all groups have at least two teachers.

Infants should be in groups of no more than 6 to 8 children; 2- to 3-year-olds should be in groups of 10 to 14 children; and 4- to 5-year-olds should be in groups of 16 to 20 children.

Specialized training in child development and early education helps assure that staff understand how children grow and learn so they can be more effective teachers and caregivers.

Do adult expectations vary appropriately for children of differing ages and interests?

Groups for infants and toddlers will look quite different from groups for older children. Toys and materials should vary by age as should teachers’ expectations for children.

In addition, teachers and caregivers should recognize and respect individual differences in children’s abilities, interests, and preferences.

Are all areas of child’s development stressed equally, with time and attention being devoted to cognitive development, social and emotional development, and physical development?

High quality early childhood programs do much more than help children learn numbers, shapes, and colors.

Good programs help children learn how to learn: to question why and discover alternative answers; to get along with others; and to use their developing language, thinking, and motor skills.

Do the staff meet regularly to plan and evaluate the program?

Planning should reflect a balance of activities between vigorous outdoor play and quiet indoor play.

Activities should allow ample time for children to work and play individually or in small groups, with the focus on activities that are child initiated as opposed to teacher directed.

Flexibility, however, is also key. Staff should be willing to adjust the daily activities to meet children’s individual needs and interests.

Are parents welcome to observe, discuss policies, make suggestions, and participate in the work of the program?

Close communication between parents and staff is vital. Staff should regularly discuss highlights of the child’s experiences with parents and show respect for families of varying cultures and backgrounds.

Which types of early childhood programs does NAEYC accredit?

All types of early childhood programs–child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and before- and after-school programs–are eligible to apply for accreditation.

Programs may apply whether they operate on a full- or part-day basis or whether they are for profit or nonprofit. All information on candidate programs is confidential.

Programs must be operational for at least one year before accreditation may be granted.

How will I know if an early childhood program is accredited by NAEYC?

The current list of accredited programs is posted on-line and updated monthly. In addition, accredited programs may display the Academy’s insignia–a torch–on their stationery and promotional material.

Also, NAEYC-accredited programs receive a large colorful poster depicting the characteristics of accredited programs along with a certificate of accreditation. Look for the poster and certificate in any program you visit.

What if a program is not accredited by NAEYC?

Ask if and when it plans to apply for accreditation. Some programs may already be in the midst of their self-study, while others have not yet begun the process.

Programs go through accreditation at their own pace; generally the process takes between 9 and 12 months. Some programs may not have even heard of NAEYC accreditation.

A parent’s encouragement can provide the needed incentive to take the first step.

Info for Families

WHAT IS EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM ACCREDITATION?

An early childhood program/child care center, preschool, kindergarten, or before- and/or after-school program‚ voluntarily applied for accreditation by the NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation.

The program then engaged in an extensive self-study based on the Academy’s Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Program. The accuracy of the program’s self-study was verified during a site visit to the program by volunteer validators.

The validated self-study, including the program director’s responses to the validation visit, was reviewed by a national commission composed of recognized experts in child care and early childhood education, judged to be in substantial

compliance with the Academy’s Criteria, and granted accreditation for a five-year period. The early childhood program agreed to act upon the commission’s suggestions regarding areas

needing improvement and to submit annual written reports documenting improvements and continued compliance.

Stats and Facts

For more than 20 years, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has helped families feel good about the child care programs they choose.

The NAEYC Accreditation torch is a sign that children will be safe, healthy, and learning every day.

NAEYC Accreditation is a national, voluntary measurement system to help raise the quality of child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens. Programs that can seek NAEYC Accreditation:

• Child care centers

• Preschools

• Kindergartens

• Other center-based programs serving children from birth through Kindergarten

THE LIFE OF NAEYC ACCREDITATION

1985: NAEYC created the first comprehensive system to measure the quality of early childhood education.

1999: Began a process of self-evaluation to improve the accountability, efficiency, and credibility of its already strong accreditation.

2006: NAEYC’s new and improved Accreditation system will be fully operational.

EARNING THE TORCH

To obtain the NAEYC mark of quality, programs go through a rigorous four-step process.

Enrollment: Programs must go through a self-assessment before applying for accreditation.

Application: Programs submit an application and determine a time frame for completing a formal self-assessment report.

Candidacy: Fundamental licensing, staffing, health, and safety requirements must be met by all programs.

On-Site Visit: Observation of the program by NAEYC assessors determines if the program meets all 10 NAEYC standards.

10 STANDARDS OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

1. Promote positive relationships for all children and adults to encourage each child’s sense of individual worth.

2. Implement a curriculum that fosters all areas of child development: cognitive, emotional, language, physical, and social.

3. Use developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and effective teaching approaches.

4. Provide ongoing assessments of a child’s learning and development and communicate the child’s progress to the family.

5. Promote the nutrition and health of children and protect children and staff from injury and illness.

6. Employ a teaching staff that has the educational qualifications, knowledge, and professional commitment necessary to promote children’s learning and development and to support families‚ with diverse needs and interests.

7. Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with each child’s family.

8. Establish relationships with and use the resources of the community to support the achievement of program goals.

9. Provide a safe and healthy physical environment.

10. Implement strong personnel, fiscal, and program management policies so that all children, families, and staff have high-quality experiences.

NAEYC IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST ORGANIZATION WORKING ON BEHALF OF YOUNG CHILDREN

• Nearly 100,000 members

• A national network of more that 300 local, state, and regional affiliates

• A growing global alliance of similar organizations