New Study of NAEYC Accreditation Released
by the
National Center for the Early Childhood Work Force
NAEYC Accreditation as a Strategy for Improving
Child Care Quality examined 92 child care programs in
3 northern California communities between 1994 and 1996
to document changes in program quality resulting from
participation in the NAEYC accreditation process; the
impact of various support models on programs' achievement
of accreditation; and the extent to which NAEYC
accreditation contributes to building a skilled, stable
early care and education workforce. Given the caveat that
the number of accredited centers is quite small (23), a
preliminary review of findings presented in the executive
summary suggests that NAEYC accreditation is successfully
achieving its primary goal of improving and recognizing
program quality:
- Compared to non-accredited programs within the
community, accredited programs were six times
more likely to be rated as good to excellent in
quality (61% of accredited programs, compared
to just 10% of non-accredited programs).
- No accredited programs were rated as low
quality (less than 3.5 on the Early Childhood
Environment Rating Scale), compared to 21% of
non-accredited programs.
- Intensive facilitated accreditation support
projects help programs achieve accreditation at
more than twice the rate of other centers
seeking accreditation. Intensive support included
on-site technical assistance, customized training
for staff and directors, funds to cover release
time for staff involved in training, as well as
an ongoing facilitated support group for
directors.
- Programs successfully pursuing accreditation
made substantial improvements in classroom
quality over time (based on classroom
observations before and after accreditation).
Similar improvements were not found in programs
failing to complete accreditation or programs not
seeking accreditation.
- Compensation information appears to add
significantly to accreditation information
when predicting program quality.
The report includes a few misstatements regarding the
accreditation process to which we want to alert you.
Programs seeking re-accreditation do not undergo a
modified self-study, and only the list of accredited
programs (not those in self-study) is public information.
NAEYC welcomes this review of our accreditation
system. We know of no other accrediting body that can
boast of such positive findings from independent
research. At the same time, we are concerned if any
accredited programs fall below our standard of
excellence. If NAEYC has evidence of an accredited
center's noncompliance with the Criteria, we retain the
right to initiate a review of the program's
accreditation. NAEYC continually strives to improve the
quality and efficiency of our accreditation system.
Currently we are in the process of revising the
accreditation criteria. Any individual who has
evidence that an accredited center is not in compliance
with the criteria should contact NAEYC.
Copies of the full report, NAEYC Accreditation as a
Strategy for Improving Child Care Quality, are
available from the National Center for the Early
Childhood Work Force. The price of the full report is
$24.95, and the executive summary is $14.95; add 10% for
shipping and handling. Contact: Publications
Departments, NCECW: 733 15th Street, N.W., Suite
1037; Washington, DC
20005-2112 phone: 202-737-7700.
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