Programs at Two Institutions Earn NAEYC Early Childhood Higher Education Accreditation; Programs at Nine Institutions Renew Accreditation

WASHINGTON — The National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs is pleased to announce that it has granted first-time accreditation to programs at two institutions of higher education and renewed accreditation for programs at nine institutions during its summer meeting. This brings the total number of institutions with currently accredited programs to 185 in 38 states across the country.

Early childhood professional preparation programs serve a wide range of students and prepare early childhood educators for a variety of early learning settings. Accreditation serves as a mechanism for ensuring a consistent and high level of program quality and alignment to the NAEYC Initial Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs while respecting the unique mission and context of each degree program, its host institution, and its community.

"The Commission congratulates all of the programs that renewed accreditation in this review cycle," said Bridget Murray, Chair of the Commission. "Through accreditation, programs are demonstrating their willingness to be held accountable to the profession and the public for ensuring that their graduates are ready to be effective in early learning settings. As we lean into the Unifying Framework's recommendations for the profession, which includes calling for all early childhood professional preparation programs to be accredited, I commend these programs for leading the way.”

To earn and retain accreditation, professional preparation programs must demonstrate that they:

Align to NAEYC’s Professional Preparation Standards;
Respond to the unique needs of their degree candidates and communities;
Provide intentional learning experiences for their degree candidates to obtain the knowledge and skills needed to be effective early childhood educators; and,
Continuously assess and reflect on their degree candidates’ performance.

The following programs have first-time accreditation:

Auburn University (AL) B.S. Human Development and Family Studies (Infancy and Preschool Concentration)
Robert Morris University (PA) B.S. Early Childhood Education

The following programs have renewed accreditation:

Cape Cod Community College (MA) - A.S. Early Childhood Education Career Option; A.S. Early Childhood Education Transfer Compact
Central Carolina Technical College (SC) - A.A.S. Early Care and Education
City Colleges of Chicago – Harry S. Truman College (IL) – A.A.S. Child Development--Preschool Education
Grayson College (TX) - A.A.S. Child Development
Ivy Tech Community College – Lake County (IN) - A.A.S. Early Childhood Education; A.S. Early Childhood Education
Manchester Community College (CT) - A.S. Early Childhood Education
Northern Essex Community College (MA) - A.S. Early Childhood Education
Roane State Community College (TN) - A.A.S. Early Childhood Education
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College (AR) - A.A.S. Early Childhood Development

For more information, visit the NAEYC Early Childhood Higher Education Accreditation system website.

Audience: Administrator (director or principal), Faculty, Family, Student (higher education), Teacher, Trainer

Topics: Accreditation, Early Childhood Higher Education Program Accreditation, NAEYC General, NAEYC Press Releases

Programs at Two Institutions Earn NAEYC Early Childhood Higher Education Accreditation; Programs at Nine Institutions Renew Accreditation

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