2008 Woodie Awards
URI Child Development Center receives national accreditation
Lindsay Lorenz
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
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The center, with 34 enrolled preschoolers and kindergarteners, was evaluated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is one of the first in the nation to earn accreditation for its early childhood education program.
NAEYC is composed of early childhood professionals who judge childcare centers and preschools across the country, critiquing more than 400 items and checking for compliance with the recently added 10 Early Childhood Program Standards. The various criteria for which the center was judged include its curriculum, the staff's interaction with students and the center's role in the community.
Center Director Sue Warford said the process involved large amounts of paperwork to be submitted in the center's portfolio and an on-site visit from NAEYC.
The school has been accredited since 1993, but this year's process was more difficult. In September of 2006, NAEYC stepped up its criteria, making the scoring system more rigorous in order to raise the levels of professionalism and accountability.
Since the process was revamped, Warford said, "It's a very comprehensive system."
Additionally, the once three-year process is now a five-year process, which Warford said is much more involved, compared to the previous accreditation process.
"We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from the association and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," she said in a press release. "This accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible."
Warford said that members of the accreditation team visited the center in August. She was told she would receive the results about three months from then.
Toward the end of October, the center learned that it had achieved national accreditation.
"We were very excited and very proud," Warford said of receiving the results.