Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree Programs

Many people only know about NAEYC Accreditation for programs serving young children.  NAEYC also accredits the programs that prepare teachers and other professionals to work in the programs and classrooms serving young children. 

At the bachelors and graduate degree level, NAEYC works with NCATE (the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) to review the early childhood programs at four-year colleges and universities.  NAEYC-trained reviewers who are faculty in other early childhood programs evaluate program reports to determine whether a program meets NAEYC’s five standards of professional preparation.  If a program meets the standards and receives National Recognition, and if the institution goes on to be accredited by NCATE, the program has received a nationally known mark of quality.

Reviewers are members of the NCATE Program Review Panel.  These peer reviewers function in an essential role as they evaluate the quality of bachelors and graduate degree early childhood programs across the country.  The system rests on the knowledge and professional judgment of university-based faculty that is steeped in the values of early childhood and is knowledgeable about current theory and research.

 The report and review process creates a ripple effect: It begins with the expertise and wisdom of the reviewers, leads to the recognition of high-quality programs and the development of well-prepared early childhood professionals, and ends with good outcomes for young children and their families.

Resources for Faculty Compiling Reports Find information about the NAEYC standards,assessments required in the program report, information about technical assistance, see examples of successful reports and more.

Resources for Reviewers Reviewers, find information about the review process, access working tools to help you review, see examples, check updates on training opportunities, link to NCATE resources and more.

Looking for an NAEYC-recognized program?

NCATE maintains a list of NCATE Accredited Institutions across the U.S., as well as NAEYC-recognized early childhood programs. (Recognition depends on accreditation of the institution.)  Early childhood program faculty from these institutions may serve as valuable resources that could provide support to new or challenged programs.

Contact Information

Related Links

• American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education - Provides publications related to standards and assessment in teacher education.
• Council for Professional Recognition - This site includes a national directory of early childhood teacher preparation institutions.
• Educational Testing Service - ETS is a private, nonprofit organization devoted to educational measurement and research, primarily through testing. Provides resources for higher education faculty.
• Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium - Ten INTASC principles are used by many states, emphasized by NCATE, and in alignment with NAEYC's standards for initial licensure programs.
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards - The Early Childhood Generalist Standards posted on this site are aligned with NAEYC's standards for advanced programs.
• National Prekindergarten Center - Hosted a 2002 symposium on preparing highly quality preK teachers, resulting in several useful publications posted on this site.
• National Institute for Early Education Research - A policy brief by Steve Barnett on early childhood teacher qualifications.

Looking for information about NAEYC’s Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation? Click here.