Program among the top in the nation
The Center for Child Development (CCD) through The University of Akron’s College of Education jointly sponsored with the College of Health Sciences and Human Services (HSHS) has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals. The accreditation is valid for the next five years.
To earn NAEYC accreditation, the CCD went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 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. The CCD received an excellent rating meeting all standards and criterion.
The official accreditation report stated that 100 percent was attained in all program standards but one, which was 90 percent. The center only needed to meet 80 percent for each program standard to achieve an excellent rating.
Yetty Michael, center director, and Sophia Kraus, associate director (HSHS), along with their staff, have worked diligently over the past three years in preparing the CCD to achieve this accomplishment. “The staff worked relentlessly to ensure a smooth accreditation process. Through their efforts and dedication, we achieved very high standards,” says Michael. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.”
Standards that the CCD was assessed on included relationships between the children and adults, curriculum, quality of the teachers and their teaching practices, relationships with families, promotion of health and nutrition, community relationships, the indoor and outdoor physical environment, and leadership and management.
About The University of Akron
The University of Akron is the public research university for Northeast Ohio. The Princeton Review listed UA among the “Best in the Midwest” in its 2011 edition of Best Colleges: Region-by-Region. Approximately 29,300 students are enrolled in UA’s 300 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate and law degree programs and 100 certificate programs at sites in Summit, Wayne, Medina and Holmes counties. For more information, visit www.uakron.edu.
About NAEYC
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.
Founded in 1926, NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 80,000 members, a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations.
