Pittsfield Y Gets National Accreditation for Early Childhood Ed10:08AM / Wednesday, March 03, 2010
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The YMCA’s infant, toddler and preschool programs have received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.
The Y's receipt of NAEYC accreditation on Jan. 15 is good for a five-year period, and marks the second time the Y has received this accreditation.
To earn NAEYC accreditation, the YMCA’s childcare programming 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 a site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the 10 program standards.
NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation period.
In the 23 years since NAEYC accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. Almost 8,000 programs, serving one million young children, are 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. In September 2006, the association revised program standards and criteria to introduce 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.
The Pittsfield Y has open spots in its toddler and preschool programs, and financial aid is available to those who qualify, potentially covering 80 percent of the overall cost. To enroll your child from the age of 15 months to 5 years, contact the childcare director Laurie Vanuni at 413-499-7650, ext. 27 or email her at lvanuni@nycap.rr.com. More information on the Y's childcare programs and youth involvement can also be found at pittsfieldfamilyymca.org. |
