ECC IS AWARDED NATIONAL NAEYC ACCREDITATION                              

The ECC Program is among the First in Nation to Complete More Rigorous Accreditation Process January 2008, the “Early Education Center” located in Abington, MA is one of the first early childhood programs to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children - NAEYC the  nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals. School officials expressed delight that the Early Childhood Center program gained NAEYC accreditation despite consistently struggling against a tight budget. To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, the ECC went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NACYC 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. 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 new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. The ECC’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 fix 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.