Description:
The NAEYC accreditation system is designed to
assist early childhood program personnel in making real
and lasting improvements in quality of care and education,
and to recognize programs that are in substantial compliance
with the criteria for high-quality programs. NAEYC evaluates
programs on the basis of their:
- Interaction among teachers and children
- Teaching
- Structure and processes used to facilitate the relationships
among teachers and families
- Staff qualification and professional development
opportunities
- Administration attention to the needs and desires
of children, families, and staff
- Level of staffing
- Indoor and outdoor physical environment that facilitate
learning
- Health and safety standards and practices
- Nutrition and food services
- Evaluation of program effectiveness.
NAEYC accreditation is a three-step process. The first
step involves a self-evaluation, corrective actions,
and completing the program description form that describes
the program’s compliance with the NAEYC criteria.
The second step involves an on-site visit by NAEYC-trained
validators to validate the accuracy of the information
on the program description form. The third step involves
the accreditation decision-making process by a three-person
commission.
To be eligible for accreditation, the program must
be licensed by the appropriate state/local agency or,
if exempt from licensing, demonstrate compliance; serve
at least 10 children younger than age 8; have at least
two adults present at all times; and have been in operation
for at least one year.
Uses of Information: Accredited
programs may advertise their compliance with NAEYC standards.
NAEYC provides accredited programs with a copy of the
Commission Decision Report and their original validated
program description, promotional materials, and a certificate
indicating the expiration date of the accreditation.
NAEYC provides programs with “deferred accreditation,”
along with the specific reason for the deferral and
recommendations for improvement. Programs can use the
information to make improvements and request an additional
on-site validation.
Reliability: NAEYC reports
a 95 percent or higher agreement among commissioners
reviewing the same program.
Validity: None described.
Method of Scoring: The
three-person accreditation committee decides whether
to grant accreditation or to defer accreditation until
improvements can be made or additional information is
obtained. The decision is based on the commissioners’
professional judgment and not on a point system. The
commissioners review the validated program decision,
taking into account the context in which a program is
operating and the overall impact of varying degrees
of compliance for each component. To achieve accreditation,
100 percent compliance is not required; however, the
program needs to be in substantial compliance with the
accreditation criteria.
Interpretability: None
described.
Training Support: Consultation
by telephone and the Accreditation Criteria & Procedures
of the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs
and the Guide to Accreditation.
Adaptations/Special Instructions
for Individuals with Disabilities: Not applicable.
Report Preparation Support:
Not applicable.
References:
Accreditation Criteria and Procedures of the National
Association for the Education of Young Children, 1998
Edition. Washington, DC: NAEYC.
Guide to Accreditation by the National Association
for the Education of Young Children, 1998 Edition. Washington,
DC: NAEYC.
Bredekamp, Sue and Barbara Willer (Eds.). NAEYC Accreditation:
A Decade of Learning and Years Ahead. Washington, DC:
NAEYC, 1996.
Ethiel, Nancy (Ed.). Reflections on NAEYC Accreditation:
Lessons Learned and Goals for the Future. Washington,
DC: NAEYC, 1996. |
