The Latest: Updates from NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation
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Welcome to "The Latest" (ECE Higher Education Accreditation "news you can use!"), a blog-like site of ongoing announcements posted by the NAEYC Higher Ed Team to help our higher education accreditation community stay informed of upcoming events, the most recent happenings, and information of interest impacting our work in ECE higher ed and accreditation. Check in anytime, scroll through, and catch up on "the latest!" For questions or for more information, reach out to [email protected]
(Note: "Semi-permanent" posts will be displayed at the top of the page and indicated by a thumbtack icon. Other posts will show the date posted just below the post title.)
Accreditation Handbook - 2025 Revision 
Posted July 28, 2025
At its summer 2025 meeting, the Commission approved minor revisions to the Accreditation Handbook, including removing the requirement for Year 2 Interim Reports. To download the newly revised handbook, please click here.
Online Resource Library Transition
Pinned announcement
We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new easier-to-navigate hub for all accreditation guidance documents, templates, on-demand trainings, and more! Current primary and secondary program contacts, peer reviewers, and Commissioners received an email in early November 2024 containing access instructions.
New Resource Library link to bookmark: Higher Education Accreditation Resource Library
Password: see email sent to program primary and secondary contacts, peer reviewers, and Commissioners in early November 2024, or contact NAEYC staff at [email protected].
Accreditation Policy Updates: Standards Transition Deadlines
Pinned announcement
If your program is preparing a Response-to-Conditions report (Year 1, 2, or 3) for conditions cited under the 2010 standards, please remember that beginning in Spring 2025, aligning key assessments to the 2020 Professional Standards and Competencies, submitting six key assessments (for key assessment conditions), and submitting an updated learning opportunities chart (for programs that have key assessment alignment conditions) will be required.
Please reach out to staff at [email protected] with any questions about what may be required and/or advisable for your program.
In addition, all Year 4 Interim Reports are now required to align learning opportunities and key assessments with one of the 2020 Professional Standards and Competencies (it is OK if candidate performance data were collected from versions of assessments previously aligned with the 2010 standards).
Programs anticipating challenges submitting reports by their scheduled deadline may submit an extension request form in accordance with the extension policies found in the Accreditation Handbook.
For more information, see the September 2024 newsletter.
Credit for Prior Learning Event and Resources
Posted July 31, 2025
Save the date for the Credit for Prior Learning virtual conference on October 30, 2025. EarlyEdU and the National Association for the Education of Young Children are partnering to share strategies to further formal recognition of early educators’ existing competence. Register now for this half-day event.
A new resource document related to credit for prior learning as it relates to NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation has also been added to the Accreditation Resource Library (you must log in to the resource library to view this resource).
July 2025 Higher Ed Accreditation Newsletter Released
Posted July 28, 2025
Read the latest information released in our July 2025 newsletter here.
Ask Me Anything session - Aug. 6 from 2-3:30 p.m. EST
Posted Jun 18, 2025
The NAEYC Accreditation Higher Ed. Team would like to invite you to an upcoming "Ask Me Anything" session with several Higher Ed. Accreditation Commissioners on Aug. 6, from 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern.
This session is designed for programs to ask questions and speak directly with Commissioners and NAEYC staff to help answer any questions or concerns you may be facing as you are working through the accreditation process in whatever phase you may be in. Whether you are just getting started, deep into preparing a new or renewal Self-Study Report, a Response to Conditions Report or a Year 4 Interim Report or preparing for a site visit, this session is for you! We encourage you to register and submit questions in advance here.
Programs getting ready to submit fall Response-to-Conditions Reports or Year 4 Interim Reports (by 9/30), or Self-Study Reports (by 9/30 for first-time accreditation or by 11/30 for renewal) can also utilize the registration form above or feel free to email [email protected] with your top three choices to schedule an optional-but-encouraged staff completeness review. Templates for all of these various report types can be found in the Accreditation Online Resource Library.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on Aug. 6 and to lots of great learning for our system from your terrific fall reports!
April 2025 Higher Ed Accreditation Newsletter Released
Posted May 15, 2025
Read the latest information released in our Spring 2025 newsletter here.
Now Available: Professional Standards and Competencies Online Resource Library
Posted Mar. 19, 2025
We are excited to share with our higher ed accreditation community that NAEYC has now launched the Professional Standards and Competencies Online Resource Library, a searchable database that curates a variety of free, accessible, quality resources (e.g., articles, videos, blog posts, books, book chapters, modules) that are related to and align with the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. It is designed to support higher education faculty teaching early childhood education related coursework and those in the field providing training, mentoring and other professional development and technical assistance to early childhood educators serving our profession.
Revised Early Childhood Program Standards Released
Posted Mar. 18, 2025
We know that many in our higher ed. faculty community utilize the Early Childhood Program Standards within their coursework, so we wanted to share NAEYC's newly updated “Early Childhood Program Standards” position statement. This version reflects moderate updates informed by research, evidence, and educator experience and expertise. As a guiding document for the field, the standards will continue to inform professional practice and shape policy. For ease of access and consistency, the standards have also been structured to more closely align with NAEYC’s other foundational position statements and the new ELP accreditation model.
Webinar Recap- Credit Where Credit is Due: Utilizing the Child Development Associate® Credential (CDA) in ECE Credit for Prior Learning Strategies
Posted Feb. 14, 2025
Thank you to those who joined last week's webinar hosted by NAEYC and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) that focused on expanding the use of credit for prior learning (CPL) in ECE higher education programs. This webinar unpacked how the CDA, a prevalent and valued credential in the ECE workforce, is often recognized for credit in higher education. Presenters highlighted a state-wide model that recognizes the CDA for credit across its institutions, current and upcoming resources from the Council for Professional Recognition to support recognizing the CDA for credit, and lessons learned from other professions and industries where workforce credentials are used in credit for prior learning pathways. Watch the recording here.
New Commissioners Begin Terms on NAEYC’s Higher Education Accreditation Commission
Posted Jan. 27, 2025
NAEYC’s Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs welcomes four new members who began their terms on January 1. Commissioners are talented volunteers in NAEYC’s higher education accreditation system who are essential to its operations and quality. The new Commission members are:
- Lisa Stooksberry- National Assessment Governing Board
- Mike Abel- University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Cindy Shackelford- Jefferson State Community College, AL
- R. Taylor- Chemeketa Community College, OR
New Report: Credit Where Credit is Due - Expanding Credit for Prior Learning in ECE Higher Education Programs
Posted Jan. 7, 2025
NAEYC and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) are partnering on a series of resources to support ECE higher education programs and policymakers in implementing and expanding ECE college credit for recognizing competencies gained from prior learning and professional experiences. This first report in the series highlights important elements of credit for prior learning (CPL) and explores the CPL landscape in ECE higher education programs. You can also access a recording of a November webinar that previewed the report and features institutions of higher education that are offering CPL in their ECE preparation programs.
Recording Now Available for “Stepping Up & Stepping Up: Investing in Competencies, Credentials and Compensation”
Posted Dec. 13, 2024
On December 10, NAEYC and TEACH National Center hosted a webinar featuring ECE students, instructors and the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, to learn more about how educators and instructors see the importance and impact of competencies earned on a clear pathway of credentials, degrees, and compensation. Panelists included Hosea Bates, Michael Marzette, and Toshiba Adams from Milwaukee Area Technical College in Wisconsin, Alora Zargo and Kim Freeman from Windham Regional Career Center in Vermont, and Jenna Knight from the Center for the Study on Child Care Employment. Watch the recording here!
Credit Where Credit is Due: Expanding Credit for Prior Learning in ECE Higher Education Webinar Recording Now Available
Posted Dec. 11, 2024
NAEYC and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) are partnering on a series of reports and webinars to support ECE higher education programs and policymakers in implementing and expanding ECE credit for prior learning opportunities. Click here to access a recording of the first webinar. The first report is expected in late December.