NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items Approved by the NAEYC Council on the Accreditation of Early Learning Programs *Applies to all accreditation site visits beginning July 2019 until otherwise informed. NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items Copyright 2019 National Association for the Education of Young Children. All rights reserved. NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Item 1 National Association for the Permissions Education of Young Children Readers of NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards 1313 L Street NW, Suite 500 and Assessment Items are permitted to photocopy and distribute Washington, DC 20005-4101 up to 25 copies of this publication (including electronic copies 202-232-8777 • 800-424-2460 distributed to more than 25 recipients) for educational or training NAEYC.org purposes only. Photocopies may only be made from an original copy of this publication. 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Siblesz Through its work, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides a forum for discussion of major issues and ideas in the early childhood field, with the hope of provoking thought and promoting professional growth. Introduction .....................................6 Basic Structure .................................7 Limitations of Use...........................7 Overview ............................................8 NAEYC Program Standards and Accreditation Assessment Items 10 1 Relationships ............................ 10 2.H—Technology ................................. 28 Definition of Standard 1— 2.J—Creative Expression and Relationships ........................................10 Appreciation for the Arts .................... 29 Rationale ...............................................11 2.K—Health and Safety .......................30 Topic Areas ...........................................11 2.L—Social Studies .............................30 1.A—Building Positive Relationships Accreditation Assessment Items for Between Teachers and Families ...........11 Standard 2—Curriculum ..................... 32 1.B—Building Positive Relationships 3 Teaching ..................................39 Between Teachers and Children ......... 12 Definition of Standard 3—Teaching ... 39 1.C—Helping Children Make Friends ...13 Rationale .............................................40 1.D—Creating a Predictable, Consistent, and Harmonious Classroom ................13 Topic Areas .........................................40 1.E—Addressing Challenging 3.A—Designing Enriched Learning Behaviors ..............................................14 Environments ......................................40 1.F—Promoting Self-Regulation ...........15 3.B—Creating Caring Communities for Learning ...............................................41 Accreditation Assessment Items for Standard 1—Relationships ...................16 3.C—Supervising Children ................. 42 2 Curriculum ............................... 19 3.D—Using Time, Grouping, and Routines to Achieve Learning Goals .. 44 Definition of Standard 2—Curriculum 19 3.E—Responding to Children’s Interests Rationale ............................................. 20 and Needs ........................................... 44 Topic Areas ......................................... 20 3.F—Making Learning Meaningful for All Children ............................................... 45 2.A—Essential Characteristics ............ 20 3.G—Using Instruction to Deepen 2.B—Social and Emotional Children’s Understanding and Build Development....................................... 22 Their Skills and Knowledge ................ 46 2.C—Physical Development ................ 23 Accreditation Assessment Items for 2.D—Language Development ............. 23 Standard 3—Teaching ........................ 48 2.E—Early Literacy............................... 24 4 Assessment of Child Progress 53 2.F—Early Mathematics ...................... 26 Definition of Standard 4—Assessment of 2.G—Science ........................................27 Child Progress ..................................... 53 Rationale ............................................. 54 Feeding ............................................ 68 Topic Areas ......................................... 54 5.B—Ensuring Children’s Nutritional Well-Being ........................................... 69 4.A—Creating an Assessment Plan .... 54 5.C—Maintaining a Healthful 4.B—Using Appropriate Assessment Environment ......................................... 71 Methods .............................................. 55 Accreditation Assessment Items for 4.C—Identifying Children’s Interests Standard 5—Health ............................. 73 and Needs and Describing Children’s Progress .............................................. 56 6 Staff Competencies, 4.D—Adapting Curriculum, Preparation, and Support ........... 77 Individualizing Teaching, and Informing Definition of Standard 6— Program Development ........................57 Staff Competencies, 4.E—Communicating With Families and Preparation, and Support ....................77 Involving Families in the Assessment Rationale ............................................. 78 Process .................................................57 Topic Areas ......................................... 78 Accreditation Assessment Items for Standard 4—Assessment of 6.A—Supportive Work Environment ... 78 Child Progress ..................................... 59 6.B—Professional Identity and 5 Health ...................................... 61 Recognition .........................................80 6.C—Qualifications of Teaching and Definition of Standard 5—Health ......61 Administrative Staff .............................81 Rationale ............................................. 62 6.D—Ongoing Professional Topic Areas ......................................... 62 Development....................................... 82 5.A—Promoting and Protecting Accreditation Assessment Items for Children’s Health and Controlling Standard 6—Staff Competencies, Infectious Disease ............................... 62 Preparation, and Support ................... 85 Health records ................................. 62 7 Families ................................... 90 Health consultants ........................... 63 Definition of Standard 7—Families .....90 Staff training and program practices Rationale ..............................................91 in the event of illness ....................... 63 Topic Areas ..........................................91 Outdoor activities ............................ 64 7.A—Knowing and Understanding the Diapering .......................................... 65 Program’s Families ...............................91 Hand washing .................................. 66 7.B—Sharing Information Between Staff Children’s medications .................... 66 and Families ........................................ 93 Water play ........................................ 67 7.C—Nurturing Families as Advocates for Their Children ................................ 95 Sudden infant death syndrome....... 67 Accreditation Assessment Items for 9.D—Environmental Health ................ 111 Standard 7—Families ...................... 96 Accreditation Assessment Items for 8 Community Relationships .......97 Standard 9—Physical Environment ... 113 Definition of Standard 8—Community 10 Leadership and Relationships ....................................... 97 Management ............................ 115 Rationale ............................................. 98 Definition of Standard 10—Leadership and Management ................................115 Topic Areas ......................................... 98 Rationale ............................................ 116 8.A—Linking With the Community ..... 98 Topic Areas ........................................ 116 8.B—Accessing Community Resources ............................................ 99 10.A—Leadership ............................... 116 8.C—Acting as a Citizen in the 10.B—Management Policies and Neighborhood and the Early Childhood Procedures ..........................................117 Community ....................................... 100 10.C—Fiscal Accountability Policies and Accreditation Assessment Items Procedures ......................................... 118 for Standard 8—Community 10.D—Health, Nutrition, and Safety Relationships ......................................102 Policies and Procedures .................... 119 9 Physical Environment ............103 10.E—Personnel Policies ....................120 Definition of Standard 9—Physical