Professional Recognition
 
Setting Standards for Our Profession
A number of national organizations exist to promote quality in early childhood programs.
CDA - The Child Development Associate credentialing is administered by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition. Originally developed in 1975 to meet the staffing needs of Head Start programs, CDAs are available to everyone, and there is a growing number of people from other sectors of the field earning credentials.
CDA training can be tailored to individual needs and experiences, focusing on early childhood education in each trainee's work setting. Scholarship money is available in all states to help defray the costs. Call the CDA office to find out who is the contact in your state.
Available for:
- Infant Teachers
- Preschool Teachers
- Family Child Care Providers
Professional Recognition:
Qualifications:
- 640 hours or more working with children
Regulatory Requirements:
- Program meets state requirements
Self-Study Process:
- Portfolio Development
- Parent Observation
- CDA Rep Observation
Evaluation Measures:
- CDA Competencies and Functional Areas
Contact:
CDA
2460 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(800) 424-4310
(203) 265-9161 Fax
www.cdacouncil.org
NAA - The National After School Association launched its accreditation process in 1998 and there are currently more than 550 accredited programs. The NAA standards were developed through a collaboration with the National Institute on Out-of-School Time. The standards address: human relationships, indoor environment, outdoor environment, activities, safety, health, nutrition, and administation.
Available for:
- Center based programs serving school-age children
Professional Recognition:
Regulatory Requirements:
Self-Study Process:
- Parent and staff questionnaires
- review of policies
Evaluation Measures:
- Review of application
- Review of staff and parent questionnaires
- endorsement visit
Contact
NAA
National After School Association
1137 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
(617) 298-5012
(617) 298-5022 FAX
www.naaweb.org
NAEYC - The National Academy of Early Childhood (a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children) has been operating since 1985. In order to establish accreditation requirements the Academy, in collaboration with hundreds of early childhood professionals, developed a list of criteria. Their standards address: administration, staffing, interaction among staff and children, curriculum, staff-parent interaction, staff qualifications and development, physical environment, health and safety, nutrition and food service and evaluation. About 150 new centers (nationwide) begin the self-study process each month.
Available for:
- Child Care Centers
- Preschools
Professional Recognition:
Qualifications:
- Operating program for 12 months or more
- Regulatory Requirements:
- Meet state requirements
Self-Study Process:
- Administrator self evaluation
- Questionnaires: staff and parents
- Teacher self evaluation
- Classroom evaluation
- Validator Observation
Evaluation Measures:
- Program Description
- Classroom Observation Form
- Staff Questionnaire
- Parent Questionnaire
Contact
NAEYC
1509 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(800) 424-2460
(202) 328-1846 Fax
www.naeyc.org
NAFCC - In September 1988, the National Association for Family Day Care opened this accreditation program for family day care providers. This system was developed to help professionalize the field of family day care. Providers use "The Assessment Profile to measure 186 criteria, which fall into seven different categories: indoor safety, health, nutrition, interaction, indoor play environment, outdoor play environment and professional responsibility.
Available for:
- Family Child Care Providers
Professional Recognition:
- Provider and Home Accreditation
Qualifications:
- Primary caregiver in own home for 18 months or more
Regulatory Requirements:
Self-Study Process:
- Provider self evaluation
- Parent Questionnaires
- Parent Observation
- Validator Observation
Evaluation Measures:
- Assessment profile for Family Care
- Parent Questionnaire
- Provider Report
Contact
NAFCC
525 SW 5th Street
Suite A
Des Moines, Iowa
(800) 359-3817
www.nafcc.org
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