Schools
Child Care Center Earns National Accreditation
Only 7,000 programs are currently accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children -- about 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs, according to a COD official.
The ’s child development program has received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, it was announced Monday.
“Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible,'' said the center's director, Dianne Russom.
The program obtained its accreditation on July 20, she said.
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To earn accreditation, the 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, Russom said.
Only 7,000 programs are currently accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children -- about 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs, she said.
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The accreditation process was funded by a $79,000 grant, which was awarded to the Desert Healthcare District in October 2009.
That grant also spurred a new creative curriculum and training for new teachers, according to Russom.
“The NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Jerlean Daniel, executive director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. “Having earned NAEYC accreditation is a sign that the McCarthy Center at COD is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education."
In 1991, the College of the Desert opened what was then called the Child Development Resource and Training Center, which offered child care to students, staff, faculty and the public, and training in child care careers.
In 2002, it was renamed the McCarthy Family Child Development and Training Center.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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