Only eight percent of all preschools and early childhood programs in the nation have earned this distinction

The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education Demonstration School, Educare of Miami-Dade, has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – one of the nation’s leading organizations of early childhood professionals.

“Earning this mark of excellence from NAEYC is like winning an Oscar for our commitment to elevating the standards of early care and education,” Harve Mogul, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade, said. “This accreditation further validates our vision that every child should have access to high quality early care and education, so they can have the best possible start in school and in life.”

In 2010, the School also received the (APPLE) Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment accreditation, awarded by the Florida Association for Child Care Management, another leading accrediting organization. The School is also a member of the Educare Learning Network, an exclusive network of high quality, high performing early education centers from around the country.

To earn NAEYC accreditation, the School 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. Then, NAEYC Assessors did an on-site visit to ensure that the program met all NAEYC standards. The School received accreditation for a five-year-period, and is subject to unannounced visits.

In the 25 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC – representing approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.

“The NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Jerlean E. Daniel, Ph.D, executive director of NAEYC. “Having earned NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education Demonstration School, Educare of Miami-Dade, is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education.”

The NAEYC Accreditation system was created to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs. 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. For more information about NAEYC Accreditation, visit www.naeyc.org/academy.