PRESQUE ISLE – ACAP Child and Family Center Park Street located in Presque Isle 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 Sue Powers, senior manager of ACAP Child and Family Services. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.”
ACAP Child and Family Center Park Street serves children from 6 weeks of age through age 12. The program provides a developmentally appropriate curriculum where children are able to learn through their play. The center offers both Head Start and childcare services.
The NAEYC accreditation system was created to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs. To earn NAEYC accreditation, ACAP Child and Family Center Park Street 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 a site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the 10 program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.
In the 23 years since NAEYC accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. Almost 8,000 programs, approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs, serving 1 million young children are currently accredited by NAEYC.
“The NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. “ACAP’s NAEYC accreditation is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start.”
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 new standards today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.
