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Step 1: Enrollment/Self-Study
Align your program with the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards
This essential step toward achieving NAEYC Accreditation was developed to encourage programs to engage in a structured approach to program improvement that considers all of the necessary components of a high-quality program. Programs may enroll even if they do not expect to proceed with the other steps toward NAEYC Accreditation in the near future. Although NAEYC provides suggestions to help programs to conduct a thorough and meaningful Self-Study, programs are not required to report their Self-Study findings to NAEYC.
Program Requirements:
- No requirements
- Open to any program interested in using the Self-Study Kit and tools for program improvement
Tasks for Programs:
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Complete enrollment form and submit enrollment fee
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Register for TORCH, The Online Resource Community Headquarters, to access tools for Self-Study
- Within 4-6 weeks of submitting Enrollment form, receive Self-Study Kit
- Plan your program’s accreditation timeline, considering the timeline for currently accredited programs if applicable
- Prepare to meet eligibility requirements
- Engage in Self-Study, considering these suggestions:
- Create a shared understanding of key concepts about accreditation, the standards, the criteria, and implications for the program
- Gather information using the self-study tools
- Determine strengths and weaknesses
- Develop improvement plans as needed
- Make improvements and document progress
- Evaluate results and determine next steps
Possible Outcomes:
- Enrollment Complete: An email indicating that enrollment is complete will be sent to the email address provided for the program’s primary contact. The Self-Study Kit will be shipped to the shipping address provided upon completion of enrollment.
- Enrollment Incomplete / Enrollment Cancelled: An 'Enrollment Incomplete' email requesting additional information and/or payment will be sent to the email address provided for the program’s primary contact. The program will have 30 days to respond with necessary information and/or 90 days to remit payment. If action is not taken within the established window, the status will be changed to 'Enrollment Cancelled.'
- Enrollment Not Accepted: Enrollment will not be accepted if a program enrolls as multi-site program but does not meet the multi-site rules indicated on the enrollment form. If the NAEYC Academy needs additional information to determine whether or not your program is meeting multi-site rules, the program’s primary contact will be notified.
