Why accreditation?
Programs which
are accredited by the association give parents the comfort of knowing their
child will be well-cared-for, and educated by, a highly-qualified professional.
Research, science and practical experience have shown that children benefit most
when they are in a developmentally appropriate setting which enhances what a
child is learning at home.
Even more importantly, the APPLE has focused equally on curriculum and teaching
practices, raised the bar for teacher eligibility requirements, and added a new
standard in leadership and management. Primary consideration is also given to
the nature of the child's experience. So accreditation now better represents the
whole picture from the building itself to the quality of teachers and staff
employed at the preschool.
All accredited preschool are
Relationships
Curriculum
Teaching
Assessment of Child Progress
Health
Teachers
Families
Community Relationships
Physical Environment
Leadership and Management
Achieving accreditation is a big deal and its not something that happens
overnight. A school must go through a 4-step process: the school needs to enroll
in a self-study program, submit an application promising to complete candidacy
materials within one year, become a candidate, and then meet the NAEYC
Accreditation program standards.