In 2009, NAEYC revised its position statement, NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation.  These core NAEYC standards are used in higher education accreditation systems, professional development systems, state policy development, and in program improvement planning.  They also guide the development of initial and advanced standards used for our work in higher education accreditation.  To see the full 2009 NAEYC position statement, Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation, or the Where We Stand overview and highlight of significant changes, click here.

The 2010 NAEYC Standards for Initial and Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs provide the basis for accreditation from the NAEYC Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation or NAEYC recognition of baccalaureate and graduate programs as part of National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation of schools, colleges, and departments of education.  These core standards are used across both NCATE and NAEYC accreditation systems and across associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree levels.  This document contains the initial and advanced standards and rubrics, as well as an alignment chart of NAEYC Initial Standards with NCATE SASB Principles, NCATE Unit Standards, InTASC Principles, and NBPTS Core Propositions.

The Initial Standards are used in programs preparing candidates for first-time early childhood licensure and for positions in early learning settings that do not currently require licensure.  Notice that Initial programs may be offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels.  The NAEYC Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation uses these core standards to review associate degree programs, along with a set of five Supportive skills that are integrated into candidate assessments.

The Advanced Standards are used in graduate programs preparing candidates for leadership roles in the field as accomplished teachers, administrators, state early childhood specialists, child and family advocates, professional development specialists, teacher educators, and researchers.

Initial and Advanced programs may continue to submit reports using the 2001-2002 standards until Fall 2012.  Associate degree programs may continue to submit reports using the 2003 standards until Spring 2013.  To see the full timeline for transition to the new standards, click here.

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