The 2010 NAEYC Standards for Initial and Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs were affirmed by the NAEYC Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation in June 2010 and approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in October 2010.  These core standards are used across both NCATE and NAEYC accreditation systems and across associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree levels. They are based on the 2009 NAEYC position statement Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation.

Associate degree programs may continue to submit reports using the 2003 standards through Fall 2012.  As of Spring 2013, all self-study reports must use the 2010 standards.  Programs accredited under the 2003 standards can submit annual reports using either the 2003 or the 2010 standards, but should plan to transition to the 2010 standards for their renewal self-study report.  Programs accredited with conditions under the 2003 standards should meet those conditions before transitioning to the 2010 standards.

Initial and Advanced programs may continue to submit reports using the 2001-2002 standards until Fall 2012. 

Please note: NCATE policy allows for an 18 month transition, while the NAEYC Commission allows for two years.  Many associate degree programs submitting self-study reports in 2011 and 2012 will want to use the new standards to stay aligned with their baccalaureate degree partners.

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