Accreditation for Early Childhood Education Providers: Benefits and Standards 

 

In the following guide, we continue our three-part blog series about accreditation for Early Childhood Education providers. In Part 2, we share the benefits of accreditation and take a look at the 10 standards of accreditation through the NAEYC. Read on to find out more. 

Benefits of Accreditation

An accredited childcare program offers numerous benefits to children, teaching staff and administrators, and families in the community. Let’s take a look at the benefits to each of these groups:

Children – Every child deserves access to high-quality early learning experiences. Accredited early learning programs offer children unparalleled opportunities for growth, development, and holistic care: physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Children who attend accredited early learning programs benefit from greater readiness for and success in school and greater overall health and well-being. 

Teaching Staff and Administrators – Staff members who work at an accredited early learning program are responsible for helping to ensure that all aspects of the childcare environment are up to the rigorous standards of the accrediting organization and thus have a direct hand in establishing and maintaining their professional setting. Both teaching staff and administrators benefit from greater professional development and opportunities afforded by employment at an accredited early learning program. As such, staff at accredited organizations are more likely to report enhanced team spirit, commitment to workplace success, and overall job satisfaction than at non-accredited programs. 

Families and Communities – Families who place their children in an accredited childcare program can have confidence that their little ones are receiving the highest quality care possible, at an early learning program that has achieved and maintains the highest standards applicable to the childcare industry. Accredited childcare programs serve the community by offering stand-out care and early learning opportunities for children in the community. Accreditation is truly a win for the community at large. 

Overview of the 10 Standards of NAEYC Accreditation 

One of the major accrediting organizations in childcare is the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

Here’s a brief look at the 10 standards of NAEYC Accreditation: 

Standard 1: Relationships 

Program Standard – The program promotes positive relationships between all children and adults to encourage each child’s sense of individual worth and belonging as part of a community and to foster each child’s ability to contribute as a responsible community member. 

Standard 2: Curriculum

Program Standard – The program implements a curriculum that is consistent with its goals for children and that promotes learning and development in each of the following areas: social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive. 

Standard 3: Teaching

Program Standard – The program uses a variety of developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and effective teaching approaches that enhance each child’s learning and development in the context of the program’s curriculum goals. 

Standard 4: Assessment of Child Progress

Program Standard – The program uses a variety of formal and informal assessment approaches to provide information on children’s learning and development. These assessments occur in the context of reciprocal communications between teachers and families, and with sensitivity to the cultural contexts in which children are developing. The program uses assessment results to inform decisions about the children in their care, to improve teaching practices, and to drive program improvement. 

Standard 5: Health 

Program Standard – The program promotes the nutrition and health of children and protects children and staff from illness. 

Standard 6: Staff Competencies, Preparation, and Support

Program Standard – The program employs and supports a teaching and administrative staff that have the qualifications, knowledge, and professional commitment necessary to promote children’s learning and development and to support families’ diverse needs and interests. 

Standard 7: Families

Program Standard – The program establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with each child’s family to foster the children’s development in all settings. These relationships are sensitive to family composition, language, and culture. 

Standard 8: Community Relationships

Program Standard – The program establishes relationships with and uses the resources of the children’s communities to support the achievement of program goals. 

Standard 9: Physical Environment 

Program Standard – The program has a safe and healthful environment that provides appropriate and well-maintained indoor and outdoor physical environments. The environment includes facilities, equipment, and materials to facilitate child and staff learning and development. 

Standard 10: Leadership and Management 

Program Standard – The program effectively implements policies, procedures, and systems that support stable staff and strong personnel, fiscal, and program management so all children, families, and staff have high-quality experiences. 

These standards must be met and maintained to the satisfaction of the NAEYC in order for a childcare program to be awarded accreditation. 

Now that we have shared the benefits of accreditation and reviewed the 10 standards of NAEYC accreditation, we will wrap up Part 3 of the blog series by exploring the path to accreditation and explaining how you can get started on your accreditation journey. 

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