Doing the Right Things for the Right ReasonsAccreditation
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is an official review process performed by a nationally-recognized outside agency. The process of achieving and maintaining accreditation is no easy feat. It involves staff and family participation, classroom observations, and health and safety checks. The accrediting agencies have high standards that often go above and beyond our state’s minimum licensing requirements for child care centers. We have to meet these high standards in order to achieve this mark of excellence.
Accreditation Equals a Commitment to Our Families
Our centers are accredited because we believe so strongly in the process and its purpose: to ensure your child receives the very best education and care in the early years that we know are so important to development. When your child is enrolled at our accredited center, you will experience the difference.
Doing the Right Thing for You and Your Child
Accreditation inspires a dedication to constant improvement in all areas—meaning our centers take the care and education of your child very seriously and work tirelessly to answer “yes” to important questions about:
- The Teachers: Are they professional, experienced, nurturing, and qualified? Do they form bonds with the children and build trust with families?
- The Environment: Is it safe, clean, and organized? Are daily routines clear?
- The Curriculum: Does it spark a joy of learning and is it appropriate for each stage of development? Is there time and space for children to explore in the classroom and outside?
These are likely many of the same questions you’re asking yourself or a Center Director on a tour. In an accredited center, the answer is a resounding “yes” to these and many other important questions. The answer is “yes” to what matters most to you as a loving, involved parent.
We’re proud to have the most nationally accredited early learning centers in the country—nearly 1400. We’re dedicated to achieving 100 percent accreditation for all of our eligible centers—and that puts us head and shoulders above the rest of the industry.
Who Accredits Our Centers?
Our centers pursue national accreditation from one of three national early childhood accreditation agencies:
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC)
National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
For more information please contact your state's child care regulatory office, or visit the above accreditation organizations.