The Importance of NAEYC AccreditationThe National Academy of Early Childhood Programs is an independent accrediting system sponsored by NAEYC. Early childhood program accreditation means that…
An early childhood program--child care center, preschool, kindergarten, or before- and/or after school program—voluntarily applied for accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. The program then engaged in an extensive self-study based on NAEYC's accreditation Criteria for High-Quality Early Childhood Programs. The accuracy of the program's self-study was verified during a site visit to the program by a team of trained volunteer validator. 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 NAEYC's Criteria, and granted accreditation for a 3-year period. The early childhood program agreed to act upon the Commission's suggestions regarding areas of marginal compliance with the Criteria and to submit annual written reports documenting improvements and continued compliance.
Of the more than 80,000 child care centers operating in the United States, only about 7% have earned this accreditation.
To earn accreditation, a center or program must meet more than 160 criteria that addresses all aspects of a quality early childhood education program. These criteria include:
