The Observer Newspapers | Preschool Earns National NAEYC Accreditation

August 29 , 2008

Preschool Earns National NAEYC Accreditation

United Christian Parish Preschool located on North Shore Drive in Reston is one of the first early childhood programs to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

"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 Jane Plum, director of the preschool. "NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best early learning experiences possible."

For more than 30 years, United Christian Parish has offered part-day preschool to children in the community. Many young Restonians are alumni of Parents Day Out and Child Development Center, which the church consolidated in 2004 in order to better serve children and families. The program serves children ages 2 to 5 in 2, 3 or 4 day/week classes. The church offers reduced fees to families who are unable to afford the full cost of preschool.

To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, United Christian Parish Preschool 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 10 NAEYC program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 11,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC Ð about 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs. "The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs," said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. "United Christian Parish's NAEYC Accreditation 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."