Finley Child Development Center earns NAEYC accreditation

  • Published
  • By Chris Sweeney
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Finley Child Development Center here has earned reaccreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children - the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.

In the memorandum announcing the Finley CDC NAEYC Accreditation, Ed Miles, Deputy Chief of Services for Division Directorate of Manpower, Personnel and Services at Air Combat Command, stated, "It takes a total team effort and a lot of perseverance to maintain the high standards set forth by NAEYC. Once again Davis Monthan, Finley CDC, has been nationally recognized as a top-notch program and continues to demonstrate their commitment to provide quality child care for our Air Force families. I want to thank the 355th Mission Support Group leadership for their continued endorsement of this very important program."

To earn NAEYC Accreditation, the Finley CDC went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. The program received NAEYC accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors in May 2011 to ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards. The NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

"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 Kathy Wilcox, Finley CDC Director. "Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible. Our professionally trained child care staff of approximately 95 employees worked extremely hard over the past year in preparations for the NAEYC Accreditation. They are dedicated to ensuring more than 300 children in our care receive the utmost in professional child care services.

"We want all of the families in the entire D-M community to know that the Finley CDC is committed to maintaining the highest standards in child care," she added. "This prestigious accreditation is proof that we have met or exceeded those standards. Our D-M family members and parents can be confident knowing that their children are being well taken care of at the Finley CDC."

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 - 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 Finley CDC is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education."

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. In September 2006, the association 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 association 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.

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. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, a program must meet each of the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period. 

The Finley CDC was originally accredited in 2006. This is their second NAEYC Accreditation since opening in January 2004. The D-M CDC is also a NAEYC Accredited Center and is beginning the one-year self-study process for reaccreditation in 2012.

For more information about NAEYC Accreditation, visit www.naeyc.org/academy.