Saint Joseph College's School for Young Children recently earned accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) under its new, more rigorous requirements. The School for Young Children is one of the first programs in the country to earn this official recognition under the new standards.

"We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Diane Morton, director of The School for Young Children. "NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best early learning experiences possible."

Saint Joseph College's School for Young Children was founded in 1936, at a time when early childhood education was nearly nonexistent, and quickly established itself as a leader in the field of child development. In addition to being one of the first preschools in the State of Connecticut, The School for Young Children ranks as one of the first laboratory sites in the nation designed for preschool teacher training. Today, 180 children from ages three to five years are enrolled at the school. Enrollment is open to the public and is almost always near capacity.

To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, Saint Joseph College's School for Young Children went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. As of September 2006, the Association's revised program standards have introduced a new level of quality, accountability and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. According to Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC, "The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs. The recent NAEYC Accreditation at Saint Joseph College's School for Young Children is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education and to help give all children a better start."

For more information on The School for Young Children at Saint Joseph College, contact Diane Morton, director, at 860.231.5565 or dmorton@sjc.edu.

Posted 02/19/08.