Moving to the Future System of NAEYC Accreditation Transitional Procedures

Effective September 15, 2004 - September 15, 2006

These procedures apply to all programs during the transition period of September 15, 2004 - September 15, 2006. Please read these transitional procedures carefully. In order to help programs transition from NAEYC's current early childhood program accreditation system, the NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation must adhere to the dates outlined below without exception.

Visit the NAEYC website for the most current information on the transition to NAEYC's new early childhood program accreditation system, including new policies, procedures, and timelines. Unless stated in these transitional policies and procedures, current policies and procedures will apply until September 15, 2006.

The future system of NAEYC Accreditation will bring crucial improvements - for children, families, programs, employers, and others. The changes we are making respond to requests that stakeholders have been making since the start of the reinvention process.

An important aspect of the transition to the new system of NAEYC Accreditation - which will be fully operational in 2006 - is establishing deadlines for participation in the current system and developing transitional procedures. In order to make this process fair and reliable, the Academy has set a series of deadlines. We look forward to collaborating with program, validators, and others invested in accreditation to have the new system fully operational and applicable to all programs in 2006.

Timeline for Transition to NAEYC's new Early Childhood Program Standards and Accreditation Performance Criteria

On September 15, 2006, NAEYC's current early childhood program accreditation system will expire. After that date, all initial and reaccreditation processes will be based on NAEYC's reinvented accreditation system policies and procedures, NAEYC's new early childhood program standards and accreditation performance criteria. Accordingly, all accredited programs will transition to NAEYC's new early childhood program standards and accreditation performance criteria for annual reporting and verification visits (e.g. random unannounced, complaint, or due to changes experienced).

In order for all programs participating in the accreditation system to move to NAEYC's reinvented system, fifteen transitional procedures are now in place. These procedures have been organized in 5 categories:

• Transitional Procedures for NAEYC Accredited Programs (4)
• Transitional Procedures for Programs that are Not Currently NAEYC Accredited (3)
• Transitional Procedures for Deferred Programs (3)
• Transitional Procedures for Program that Appeal their Accreditation Decision (1)
• Transitional Procedures for Submission of Accreditation Materials & Applicable Fees (4)

Transitional Procedures for NAEYC Accredited Programs

The NAEYC Academy recognizes that transitional procedures 1 through 4 differ from those provided when the 5-year term of accreditation was adopted in 2003. Based on additional information learned over the past year, we now understand that these transitional procedures are necessary for a successful transition to NAEYC's new accreditation system.

1. Programs that are currently accredited, with an accreditation term that expires on or prior to December 31, 2005 must submit their completed Early Childhood Program Description at least 90 days prior to their expiration date. This is necessary to avoid a lapse in their accredited status.
   
   
2. Programs whose accreditation status expires between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006 must wait to apply for reaccreditation using NAEYC's new early childhood program standards and accreditation performance criteria for reaccreditation.

   These programs will receive a 12-month extension of their accredited status for the purpose of giving programs sufficient time to engage in self-study with the new program standards and accreditation criteria (e.g. if your programs accreditation expires in March 31, 2006 it will be extended until March 31, 2007). These programs will be required to submit an additional annual report on their original expiration date, as a result of receiving this extension. There will be no fee attached to this additional report.
   
   

3. Programs whose accreditation status expires between July 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006 must wait to apply for reaccreditation using NAEYC's new early childhood program standards and accreditation performance criteria for reaccreditation.

   These programs will receive a 6-month extension of their accredited status for the purpose of giving programs sufficient time to engage in self-study with the new program standards and accreditation criteria (e.g. If your programs accreditation expires in August 30, 2006 it will be extended until February 28, 2007).
   
   

4. Programs whose accreditation status expires on or after January 1, 2007 must wait to apply for reaccreditation using NAEYC's new early childhood program standards and accreditation performance criteria. These programs may not submit paperwork for reaccreditation early. Programs with these expiration dates will seek reaccreditation according to submission dates that will be established for the new system.

Transitional Procedures for Programs that are Not Currently NAEYC Accredited

Programs that are not currently accredited will be required to submit a Notification of Intent (NOI) Form to seek accreditation under the current system. The NOI is being implemented in conjunction with the transition of early childhood programs out of the present and into the future system. The Notification of Intent (NOI) Form is designed to provide the NAEYC Academy with specific information about and the timing for validation visits, thereby giving us the ability to predict the future volume of accreditation visits and serve you better as programs transition from the current system.

On the Notification of Intent Form programs specify which month they will submit their completed Early Childhood Program Description—within a window—beginning 60 days after the date of the NOI and ending on the established deadline date.

5. Programs that are not currently accredited and ordered materials between June 1998 and December 31, 2001, need to submit:
   • Notification of Intent Form no later than November 1, 2004, and
   • Their completed Early Childhood Program Description no later than March 1, 2005
   
   
6. Programs that are not currently accredited and ordered materials between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2003, need to submit:
   • Notification of Intent Form no later than December 1, 2004, and
   • Their completed Early Childhood Program Description no later than June 1, 2005
   
   
7. Programs that are not currently accredited and ordered materials between January 1, 2004 and June 1, 2005, need to submit:
   • Notification of Intent Form no later than July 1, 2005, and
   • Their completed Early Childhood Program Description no later than October 1, 2005

Transitional Procedures for Deferred Programs

8. Programs that submit a completed Early Childhood Program Description for a validation visit before November 1, 2004 - and are not successful in achieving accreditation or reaccreditation (i.e. they are deferred) - can make improvements and submit for a verification visit in the current system.

   If the program has already received a deferred decision submitted the Deferred Options Form to make improvements (i.e. criteria compliance), a Notification of Intent Form must be submitted a minimum of 60 days prior to submitting the Program Description for a verification visit. There is no additional fee for this NOI.

   If the program has not yet received a deferred decision or is within 60 days of their deferred Commission Decision and chooses to have a verification visit (i.e. criteria compliance) they may continue to pursue accreditation in the current system by submitting the Deferred Options Form with a Notification of Intent Form within 60 days of the Commission Decision date. There is no additional fee for this NOI.
   
   

9. Programs that are deferred during the transition period and are offered the option of written 3rd party verification by their Commission Decision may pursue accreditation in the current system by submitting the Deferred Options Form within 60 days of the Commission Decision date.
   
   
10. Programs that submit a completed Early Childhood Program Description for a validation visit on or after November 1, 2004 and are not initially successful in achieving accreditation or reaccreditation (i.e. they are deferred) - will have to pursue NAEYC Accreditation with the new early childhood program standards and accreditation performance criteria.

Transitional Procedures for Programs that Appeal their Accreditation Decision

11. Programs that appeal their accreditation decision (see Accreditation Criteria and Procedures, 1998, p. 9) under the current system and are granted a revisit due to validation procedural error will receive a second visit under the current system

Transitional Procedures for Submission of Accreditation Materials & Applicable Fees

12. To participate in the current system, programs must submit complete materials and all required fees by the established deadlines. If incomplete materials are submitted, or the required fees are missing, or materials and/or fees are submitted after the deadline the program will need to pursue accreditation in the new system.
    
    
13. Programs that cancel a confirmed on-site visit presently pay a cancellation fee. If a program cancels a confirmed on-site visit a second time the Program Description will be returned and the program will be expected to pursue program accreditation in the new system. Programs may appeal this decision if the cancellation is due to a natural disaster.
    
    
14. Shipping information, such as postmarks, will be used to determine if submission deadlines were met by programs.
    
    
15. Programs are responsible for submitting the current fee when services for accreditation are requested.

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