NAEYC Accreditation represents the mark of quality in early childhood education. To achieve NAEYC Accreditation, early childhood education programs volunteer to be measured against the NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. Today, nearly 9,000 NAEYC accredited early childhood education programs serve families around the nation.
Updates for Programs
Participate in the pilot of TORCH, the newest online resource for programs
Programs seeking NAEYC Accreditation have the option (but are not required) to purchase an online application as a strategy for creating classroom portfolios!
- SCHOOLCHAPTERS' Photo Tag Plus Technology, a web based application designed by Chapter 97, can be utilized as a resource for preparing electronic portfolios. NAEYC does not endorse Chapter 97's products or services. As outlined in the NAEYC Assessor Site Visit Protocol, NAEYC Assessors are prepared to review portfolios in electronic format. Programs interested in entering license agreements with Chapter 97 to use Chapter 97's product and services should contact Chapter 97 directly at http://www.schoolchapters.com/. Program staff are encouraged to choose the portfolio option that best utilizes the resources and fits the needs of their specific program. Specific guidelines, including checklists, for assembling the portfolios to meet requirements for evidence as part of the site visit are available at TORCH.
- Please note: NAEYC Assessors review evidence to ensure the intent of criteria and indicators are met; the rating does not include a judgment of the appearance of the portfolios. Over 2,000 programs have successfully achieved NAEYC Accreditation since portfolios were used as a source of evidence in 2006 and each has presented a unique approach to portfolio creation.
The Spring 2008 Accreditation Update is available online
More than 1500 programs have achieved NAEYC Accreditation since September 16, 2006! The Spring 2008 Accreditation Update breaks down visit decision data since the reinvention.
“… The gold standard of approval is accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children...” (Parents Magazine)
"I think one of the greatest advances to child care was the creation of the NAEYC Accreditation system, which has helped so much to raise the quality of programs."
-T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. , The Brazelton Institute
Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School |
"The primary gauge of quality has been accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children… whose seal of approval is regarded as the gold standard by parents, educators and facilities."
- The Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2006 |
