CU Children's Center earns national accreditation

Organization rates it among best in the country

The University of Colorado Children's Center, part of the department of housing and dining services at CU-Boulder, has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.

"We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Anita Head, director of the center. "NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible."

To earn NAEYC Accreditation, the CU Children's Center went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC early childhood program standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. The program received NAEYC accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs also are subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

In the 25 years since NAEYC accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC – about 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.

"The NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for child-care centers and other early childhood programs," said Jerlean E. Daniel, Ph.D., the association's executive director. "Having earned NAEYC accreditation is a sign that the CU Children's Center is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education."

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. In September 2006, the association revised program standards and criteria to introduce a new level of quality, accountability and service for parents and children in child-care programs. The current standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development.

For more information about NAEYC accreditation, visit www.naeyc.org/academy.