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JBSA News
NEWS | Jan. 6, 2010

Randolph Child Development Program earns national accreditation

By Sean Bowlin 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

The Randolph Child Development Program recently earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

"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 Tabitha Booker, Randolph Child Development Program director, who oversees children ages two to five. "NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible."

Information from the NAEYC said that to earn NAEYC accreditation, Randolph's CDP went through an extensive self-study process. That meant measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC early childhood program standards and more than 400 related accrediting criteria.

The Randolph CDP program received NAEYC accreditation after a site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards.

"It's an organization that has no affiliation with the government, so it's truly a set of outside eyes looking in," said Amanda Wood, CDC Annex director, where children from six weeks to two years of age are taught motor skill development, social skills and beginning linguistic, science and mathematics. She said NAEYC-accredited programs are 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. Almost 8,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC - approximately 8 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. "Randolph's CDP'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."

In September 2006, the NAEYC accreditation system 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 today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development, the organization said.

Ms. Wood and Ms. Booker both contend that because of the proactive approach staffers take in ensuring adherence to national standards, the level of instruction at the CDC is typically better than what a parent would find in the civilian community.

"Our quality is much higher than most off-base centers," Ms. Wood stated. "We are funded by the federal government, for one. And parents' fees are subsidized. For every dollar we collect, the government matches that. And we have a total of about 70 teachers here on base. You get a lot more value here for your money."

Wood further said all Randolph CDC teachers have an educational background in early childhood development, whether from college or from the Air Force's educational modules for the subject.