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Head Start in Coachella earns national recognition
Tlaquepaque Head Start in the Coachella Valley Unified School District has become one of the first public programs in the nation to be accredited under rigorous news standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.
The Head Start program is operated under the supervision of the Riverside County Office of Education, Early Childhood Education Head Start Unit.
“Children who come to school with the benefit of early childhood education are better prepared to succeed socially and academically,” said Kenneth M. Young, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. “We are very proud of the Coachella Valley program and the wonderful recognition it is receiving for meeting the high standards set by the NAEYC.”
To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, the Children and Family Services Program went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the10 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 the10 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 – approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.
The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. As of September 2006, the Association’s revised program standards and criteria have 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. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.
The NAEYC Accreditation system was created in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, a program must meet each of the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.
For information contact:
Rick Peoples,
Public Information Officer
Telephone: (951) 826-6642
Fax: (951) 826-6199
rpeoples@rcoe.us
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