National Accreditation
Accreditation is another way to judge the quality of a child care program. Early childhood programs can choose to obtain accreditation by a child care accrediting organization, but they have to meet higher standards than licensing regulations.
The program must offer the kind of care, attention, and educational activities parents look for in high-quality child care programs. It must offer activities and experiences that will aid in a child's growth and development and that will help them prepare for school.
To become accredited, the program staff rates the program's strengths and weaknesses. Then, a professional child care expert observes the program, and finally, the program is reviewed. Input from parents is often included.
Some of the items reviewed in the accreditation process are relationships between staff and parents, curriculum offered, staff training, health and safety standards followed, and the environment of the program. After review of these items, the child care program gets feedback on how they match up to the accrediting organization's expectations and standards.
A number of organizations have developed accreditation systems to recognize early care and education programs that generally meet higher standards than are required by state regulations. The following is a sample of national accreditation systems approved by the State of Arizona for early care and education programs, listed in alphabetical order.
The program must offer the kind of care, attention, and educational activities parents look for in high-quality child care programs. It must offer activities and experiences that will aid in a child's growth and development and that will help them prepare for school.
To become accredited, the program staff rates the program's strengths and weaknesses. Then, a professional child care expert observes the program, and finally, the program is reviewed. Input from parents is often included.
Some of the items reviewed in the accreditation process are relationships between staff and parents, curriculum offered, staff training, health and safety standards followed, and the environment of the program. After review of these items, the child care program gets feedback on how they match up to the accrediting organization's expectations and standards.
A number of organizations have developed accreditation systems to recognize early care and education programs that generally meet higher standards than are required by state regulations. The following is a sample of national accreditation systems approved by the State of Arizona for early care and education programs, listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Self-Study Project
The Arizona Self-Study Project (ASSP) is an exciting statewide project for early care and education programs committed to improving the quality of care for Arizona's children. ASSP assists programs to integrate quality developmentally appropriate practices in a model that meets the needs of all children.
Through the ASSP, each early care and education program evaluates its strengths and areas needing improvement using self-study materials. Each program identifies areas of change and creates specific program goals based on the results of their self-evaluation. Assistance is provided as programs pursue national accreditation. The ASSP is funded by the Arizona Department of Economic Security Child Care Administration.
Through the ASSP, each early care and education program evaluates its strengths and areas needing improvement using self-study materials. Each program identifies areas of change and creates specific program goals based on the results of their self-evaluation. Assistance is provided as programs pursue national accreditation. The ASSP is funded by the Arizona Department of Economic Security Child Care Administration.
