The NAEYC accredits early childhood programs and post-secondary institutions that offer programs for early childhood educators. Accreditation is based on national standards and is valid for five years. The NAEYC has been around since the 1930s and is considered a leading organization for early childhood professionals.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is an organization in the United States that provides accreditation for early childhood programs and any post-secondary institutions that offer programs for early childhood educators. To receive NAEYC accreditation, applicants must meet national standards set by the NAEYC. Parents often use the NAEYC accreditation as a benchmark for determining the quality of early childhood programs, which generally range from birth to age 8. While there are different accreditation systems, the NAEYC employs nationally recognized standards.
NAEYC’s accreditation standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education, and it is these standards that parents of young children often use to assess the quality of early childhood education programs. There are three accreditation programs offered by the NAEYC. Accreditation of young children’s programs began in 1985 and sets professional standards for early childhood development programs. Accreditation of associate degree programs accredits two years of early childhood education programs. The Bachelor’s and Graduate Accreditation Program accredits institutions offering advanced and four-year degrees and is part of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation system.
In order for a program to be certified by the NAEYC, four steps must be completed. The first step is for the program to be enrolled in the accreditation process and complete a self-study; for example, examining the standards that the program must meet. The second step is to apply for accreditation and complete a self-assessment. This brings the specific program up to standards and shows administrators what areas need to be addressed. The third step is the application, in which the program is evaluated by NAEYC professionals.
The fourth and final step is for the program to meet the standards. Professionals who evaluate the program compare it to NAEYC standards. If the standards are met, the program must maintain them. NAEYC accreditation is valid for five years, at which time the program must be reassessed to ensure standards are still being maintained. There are 10 standards that must be met and within these standards there are 400 related accreditation criteria.
The NAEYC has been around since the 1930s and is often considered one of the leading organizations for early childhood professionals. More than 7,000 programs have received NAEYC accreditation. More information about accreditation can be found on the NAEYC website.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
