Sycamore Educator Spring 2008 - Bayh College of Education

Early Childhood Center EarnsNational Accreditation“The ISU Early Childhood Education Center’s NAEYC Accreditation is asign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality earlychildhood education, and to help give all children a better start.”The Early Childhood Education Center at Indiana Statethis past fall was one of the first early childhood programsto earn accreditation from the National Association forthe Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’sleading organization of early childhood professionals.The center is affliliated with the ISU College ofEducation, and provides care and education for childrenages 6 weeks – 5 years in both full day and part daypreschool programs. The full day program is located inUniversity Apartments at 200 Farrington St., while theshorter day preschool program is currently located inFranklin Elementary School.“We’re proud to have earned the mark of qualityfrom NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitmentto reaching the highest professional standards,” said GailGottschling, program director. “NAEYC Accreditationlets families in our community know that children inour program are getting the best care and early learningexperiences possible.”To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system,the Early Childhood Education Center went through anextensive self-study process, measuring the program andits services against the 10 new NAEYC Early ChildhoodProgram Standards and more than 400 related AccreditationCriteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation afteran on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensurethat the program meets each of the 10 NAEYCprogram standards. NAEYC-accredited programsare also subject to unannounced visits during theiraccreditation, which lasts for five years.In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditationwas established, it has become a widely recognizedsign of high-quality early childhood education.More than 11,000 programs, serving one millionyoung children, are currently accredited by NAEYC– approximately eight percent of all preschools andother early childhood programs. “The new NAEYCAccreditation system raises the bar for preschools,child care centers and other early childhoodprograms,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executivedirector of NAEYC. “The ISU Early ChildhoodEducation Center’s NAEYC Accreditation is a signthat they are a leader in a national effort to invest inhigh-quality early childhood education, and to helpgive all children a better start.”18 http://coe.indstate.eduThe NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntaryprofessional standards for programs for young childrensince 1985. As of September 2006, the Association’s revisedprogram standards and criteria have introduced a newlevel of quality, accountability, and service for parents andchildren in child care programs. The new standards reflectthe latest research and best practices in early childhoodeducation and development. NAEYC is committed toutilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive childoutcomes to ensure young children continue receiving thehighest-quality care and education possible.The NAEYC Accreditation system was created in 1985to set professional standards for early childhood education,and to help families identify high-quality preschools, childcare centers and other early education programs.To earn NAEYC Accreditation, a program mustmeet each of the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood ProgramStandards. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a fiveyearperiod.For more information about the Early ChildhoodEducation Center’s programs, or to schedule a tour, contactthe center at 812-237-2547, or visit them online at www.indstate.edu/ecec.Early Childhood Specialist Andrea Henderson works with a preschooler inthe ISU Program at Franklin Elementary School.