UM-Flint ECDC Earns National Accreditation-among First in Nation to Complete More Rigorous Accreditation

The University of Michigan-Flint's Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals. The Wall Street Journal, in an article on child care facilities reported, "The primary gauge of quality has been the accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children… whose seal of approval is regarded as the gold standard by parents, educators and facilities."

"I am thrilled with the news that the Early Childhood Development Center has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young. In the School of Education and Human Services (SEHS), we recognize the high quality programs offered at the ECDC and are proud of our ECDC staff," said SEHS Dean Susanne Chandler. "The NAEYC accreditation establishes the quality of the Center with the premier mark of excellence recognized throughout the nation."

To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, the UM-Flint ECDC 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 accreditation lasts for five years.

"NAEYC accreditation is the most widely recognized sign of high quality early childhood education and is achieved through a long and challenging process of self-study and documentation," said Linda Pickett, Chair of the Early Childhood Department. "I am so pleased and proud of the early childhood educators at ECDC who have demonstrated the highest standards of quality and commitment to the profession."

In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has set professional standards and 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 UM-Flint ECDC accreditation is a sign that the center and its staff are leaders in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start.""Earning NAEYC Accreditation for UM-Flint ECDC validates to the campus community and greater Genesee County that our program and teaching staff meet the highest standards for an early childhood program," said Della Becker-Cornell, ECDC director. "This demonstrates our commitment to our children, teaching standards and continuous improvement."