NAEYC Announces Approval of State Director/Administrator Credentials

NAEYC

As part of its reinvented accreditation system for programs serving young children, NAEYC has approved 12 state credentials for early childhood program directors and administrators. Individuals who hold one of the approved credentials qualify for the maximum number of points for relevant training and credentials – one of the categories included in the alternative pathways to achieving the necessary educational qualifications of a program administrator. Programs seeking NAEYC Accreditation must meet the criterion (10.A.02) outlining educational qualifications for program administrators.
To be approved for the NAEYC Accreditation system, a state credential must require the completion of at least nine credit hours or a minimum of 144 clock hours of training in areas that address early childhood education as well as program administration, management and leadership. Requirements for formal training may be included as part of a degree requirement or considered separately.
NAEYC has measured the quality of child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and other center- and school-based early childhood programs through its accreditation system for more than 20 years. The NAEYC Accreditation system recently underwent a thorough redesign to better meet the needs of families and programs with a more credible and reliable system.
The new NAEYC Accreditation system requires program administrators to have a baccalaureate degree and specialized college coursework in early childhood education as well as administration and leadership. The system also has alternative pathways which allow individuals who do not have sufficient hours of specialized coursework to show that they are qualified through a point system with three categories: formal education, work experience, and relevant training & credentials. Holders of approved state credentials automatically earn the maximum number of points for relevant training & credentials (35 points toward the necessary total of 100.)
Under the new system, child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens must complete a rigorous four-step review process to earn NAEYC Accreditation, including an on-site visit by a highly-trained NAEYC assessor. There are more than 400 criteria that programs use to demonstrate that they are meeting the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. NAEYC Accreditation lasts for five years, during which programs must submit annual reports and are subject to unannounced visits by assessors to ensure they remain in compliance.
About the National Association for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for the Education of Young Children is the largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through age eight. Founded in 1926, the organization now has nearly 100,000 members, and a national network of over 350 local, state, and regional affiliates. NAEYC and its affiliates work to improve professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education, and to build public support for high-quality early childhood programs.