NAEYC Accreditation

The pursuit of NAEYC Accreditation is a voluntary choice for programs. The Director may initiate this decision; it may be requested by a parent or governing board, by funders, and/or by requirement of a grant that the program has received.

Regardless of who initiates the pursuit, a program that is considering accreditation is interested in quality. Accreditation is more than just a set of criteria that a program meets. It is the spirit of a program. It is the intent to ensure that a child experiences the very best throughout the child's day and over time.

The NAEYC academy is making important changes to increase the reliability and accountability of NAEYC accreditation, and to promote higher program quality. These changes are designed to make the system work better for everyone, including program, employers, funders, and especially young children and families.

The accreditation committee of Mid-America AEYC led an initiative to stay abreast of all that was happening with the re-invention of NAEYC accreditation system. Juanita Springate and Pam Black co-chaired this committee. This committee has met during the 2004-05 program year in an effort to stay current on the changes occurring within the NAEYC accreditation system and to grapple with the new standards and criteria for NAEYC accreditation. The following is a summary of the beliefs this committee has come to value and has been adopted by the governing board of Mid-America AEYC as their position statement regarding NAEYC accreditation.

• The NAEYC accreditation process is an achievable measure of quality.

• NAEYC accreditation is a benchmark of continuous quality improvement. NAEYC Accreditation is at the top end of this continuum.

• We are committed to creating community supports that will make the achievement of accreditation a reality for many programs.

• We are committed to continue sitting at the table with community leaders and funders as supports are planned to support all quality improvement initiatives.

You may view the complete Accreditation Position Statement for the Community or the complete Accreditation Position Statement for Members. To help you in your pursuit or understanding of NAEYC accreditation, you should consult the following resources:

• The Family Conservancy -- provides information on NAEYC accreditation.

• National Academy of Early Childhood Programs -- the accrediting body of NAEYC. This site provides information about how to begin the accreditation process, including ordering the self-study materials and completing the process.