OSU-OKC Child Development Center earns national NAEVC accreditation

Thursday, August 7, 2008

(August 7, 2008   OKLAHOMA CITY) – OSU-Oklahoma City’s Child Development Center (CDC) is one of the first early childhood programs in Oklahoma to earn accreditation under the new standards and criteria of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.
 
“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 Jennifer Duclos, OSU-Oklahoma City CDC director. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.”
 
To earn NAEYC accreditation in the new system, the CDC went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten 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 NAEYC program standards.
 
The OSU-Oklahoma City CDC is a developmental program, stressing the importance of children learning social and emotional skills. Learning is approached by focusing on the individual child’s developmental level and learning style.  Each child’s legal guardians are worked with to keep communication open by bridging the gap from home to school, so children hear the same message at home that they hear at school.  Children are prepared from the time they enroll in the program as an infant to be responsible, respectful members of our society.
 
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 under the new and old systems. “The new NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. “The OSU-Oklahoma City CDC’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.”
 
The NAEYC accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. As of September 2006, the Association revised program standards and criteria which 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.
 
The CDC provides quality care to children age six weeks to five years. Children of students, faculty and staff of OSU-Oklahoma City and the community are served by the CDC, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information about OSU-Oklahoma City’s CDC please call (405) 945-3260.