Standard 3: NAEYC Accreditation Criteria for Teaching

The following chart presents the accreditation criteria for this topic area. Each criterion provides specific details to guide program plans, policies and practices. The criteria are numbered (01, 02, 03, etc.) within their topic area. Each criterion within each program standard is identified by its relevant age group (or groups). Many criteria are identified as "universal" (U), meaning that all classrooms and programs pursuing NAEYC Accreditation must address these criteria. These aspects of quality should be seen in any programs or classrooms serving birth through kindergarten, though they may look somewhat different in practice depending on the children's age.

Age Groups:
U = universal
I = infant
T = toddlers/twos
P = preschool
K = kindergarten

3.C.
Supervising Children

3.C.01
U   I   T   P   K
Teaching staff supervise by positioning themselves to see as many children as possible.

3.C.02
I   T
Teaching staff supervise infants and toddlers/twos by sight and sound at all times. (This is a required criterion.)

3.C.03
I   T
When infants and toddlers/twos are sleeping, mirrors, video, or sound monitors may be used to augment supervision in sleeping areas, but such monitors may not be relied on in lieu of direct visual and auditory supervision.

• Sides of cribs are checked to ensure that they are up and locked.
• Teachers, assistant teachers, or teacher aides are aware of, and positioned so they can hear and see, any sleeping children for whom they are responsible, especially when they are actively engaged with children who are awake.

3.C.04
P   K
Teaching staff supervise children primarily by sight. Supervision for short intervals by sound is permissible, as long as teachers check frequently on children who are out of sight (e.g., those who can use the toilet independently, who are in a library area, or who are napping). (This is a required criterion.)

3.C.05
K
Teaching staff allow kindergarten children who are doing tasks in a safe environment to be out of the teacher's sight and sound supervision for a short period of time (e.g., when taking the attendance report to the office). Teachers check on children if those children do not return promptly to the group or if the adult at a child's destination does not confirm the child's arrival.