NAEYC Accreditation: Good for Communities
NAEYC-accredited programs represent a good investment in early childhood education.
- NAEYC-accredited programs offer high-quality learning experiences for young children.
- NAEYC-accredited programs are staffed by highly-trained and knowledgeable teaching staff.
- NAEYC-accredited programs have access to exciting educational materials and opportunities.
Collaborations for quality - Corporate support of early childhood accreditation
There are a number of successful strategies that businesses,
community organizations, and foundations have used to help to improve
quality in programs and schools by supporting early childhood
accreditation. Some have assisted NAEYC in assuring the supply of
community-based mentors and validators by supporting the Academy's
training efforts. Others--individually or as a part of a community
partnership--have chosen to support programs seeking accreditation by
providing direct or in-kind funding to help them meet the full costs of
providing a high-quality program and/or by meeting the costs incurred
while seeking accreditation.
Individual programs vary greatly in the areas and degree of
improvement needed to achieve high quality. Accreditation experience
suggests a number of areas where corporate support can be most useful:
- Funds for scholarships or financial assistance for staff to pursue additional education and training.
- Funds to assist programs to make facility improvements or purchase equipment.
- Contributions to assist programs in obtaining the materials necessary to provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum.
- Funding to allow programs to provide adequate salaries and benefits for staff.
- Scholarship funds to cover accreditation fees.
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In-kind support of technical assistance or resources to assist in
financial management, human resource management, and/or other areas of
program administration.
- Inclusion of program personnel in corporate benefits plans.
- Use of NAEYC's accreditation Criteria to establish an on-site or consortium child care program.