NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they consistently meet national standards of excellence. MVPNS is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC is the nation’s largest organization of early childhood educators. Early childhood programs accredited by NAEYC have voluntarily undergone a comprehensive process of internal self-study, and have met the highest quality standards.

What is a high-quality early childhood program?
A high-quality early childhood program provides a safe and nurturing environment while promoting the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children.

In accredited programs, you will see:

• Frequent, positive, warm interactions among teachers and children
  Planned learning activities appropriate to children’s age and development, such as block building, painting, reading stories, dress-up, and active outdoor play
• Specially trained teachers and directors
• Ongoing professional development
• Enough adults to respond to the individual children
• Many varied age-appropriate materials
• Respect for cultural diversity
• A healthy and safe environment for adults and children
• Inclusive environments
• Nutritious meals and/or snacks
• Regular, two-way communication with parents who are welcome at all times
• Effective administration
• Ongoing, systematic evaluation