GFAFB Child Development Center earns NAEYC Accreditation

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Christina De Los Santos
  • 319th Force Support Squadron
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Grand Forks Air Force Base Child Development Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.

The center is being honored for its high-quality, early childhood program which provides a safe and nurturing environment while promoting physical, social, emotional and intellectual development for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years

"We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Monica Morrissey, director of the Grand Forks AFB Child Development Center. "We are thrilled to be one of the ten NAEYC-Accredited programs in all of North Dakota."

To earn NAEYC accreditation, the Grand Forks AFB Child Development Center 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. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

In the 23 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality, early childhood education. Approximately 8,000 programs, serving 1 million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC, eight percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.

"The 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. "Grand Forks AFB Child Development Center'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 for programs for young children since 1985. 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.