Scottdale Child Development and Family Resource Center, Inc. of Central DeKalb Among the First Child Care Programs Nationwide to be Accredited through More Rigorous NAEYC Accreditation Process

In 2008, Scottdale Child Development and Family Resource Center earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 11,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC – approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs. As of September 2006, the Association’s revised program standards and criteria have introduced a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards 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.

“The new 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. “Scottdale Child Development & Family Resource Center’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.”

To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, Scottdale Child Development & Family Resource Center went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten NAEYC program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

“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 Audrey D. Collier, Executive Director of Scottdale. “NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.” Scottdale Child Development and Family Resource Center’s mission is to enhance the total development of young children while strengthening their families and communities.

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Since 1994, Scottdale Child Development and Family Resource Center, Inc. of Central DeKalb has been accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s largest organization of early childhood educators. Only 8 percent of centers in Georgia and nationwide are accredited by NAEYC.

NAEYC accreditation means that:

• NAEYC-accredited programs have demonstrated a commitment to providing a high quality program for young children and their families. While the NAEYC accreditation process examines the total program, greatest emphasis is placed on the quality of interactions among staff and children and the developmental appropriateness of the curriculum-- what really happens to the children. Health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, physical environment, and administration are all reviewed during accreditation, but primary consideration is given to the nature of the child's experience.

• Our early childhood program voluntarily applied for accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. We then engaged in an extensive self-study based on the Academy's Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Program. The accuracy of the program's self-study was verified during a site visit to the program by a team of trained volunteer validators. The validated self-study, including the program director's responses to the validation visit, was reviewed by a 3-member national commission composed of recognized experts in child care and early childhood education, judged to be in substantial compliance with the Academy's Criteria, and granted accreditation for a three-year period.

For more information about NAEYC, go to www.naeyc.org.