All of our schools have been, or are working towards being accredited through the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) Commission, an independent and nationally recognized program that has been supporting educational programs strive for excellence since 1993. Developed by Dr. Richard Fiene, in conjunction with the renowned Early Childhood Education Programs Department of Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg, this non-profit organization encourages the availability of high quality early education programs for America's families.
As a prerequisite to accreditation, all centers must possess a state license in good standing for at least one year. The NECPA has been carefully crafted to create broad public understanding of the benefits of high quality early childhood care and education. Coupled with this increased understanding is a raised awareness of the “professional expertise” required to deliver that high quality care and an appreciation of the advantages that children receive from accredited centers and schools.
During the accreditation process the schools program is evaluated in all areas including administration, staff development and the working environment, the developmental program and curriculum, outdoor and indoor environments, health and safety, and parent and community relations. This tedious process requires input from staff, administrators and parents through surveys, self-assessments, center observations, on-site verification and review from the Council. Full accreditation is granted for three years with annual reviews. |
