UD preschool receives honors

The University of Delaware’s Laboratory Preschool received two important honors during the month of October. It received reaccreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), an honor achieved by only seven percent of early childhood programs nationwide, and it received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Early Care and Education at Oct. 18 ceremonies in Dover.

Accreditation by the NAEYC is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they meet national standards of excellence. Child care centers, preschools, kindergartens and before and after school programs are eligible to seek the accreditation.

Those that do undergo an intensive self-study, collecting information from parents, teachers, administrators and classoom observations. They receive an on-site visit, conducted by early childhood professionals trained by NAEYC, to validate their self-study results. All of the information is then reviewed by a team of national experts who grant or defer accreditation. When awarded, accreditation is valid for three years.

The process carefully considers all aspects of a program including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications and physical environment. The greatest emphasis is on the children’s relationships with the staff and how the program helps each child grow and learn intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally.

The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Early Care and Education recognizes excellence among Delaware’s childcare providers and centers. First place winners receive $500 and UD faculty affiliated with the Laboratory Preschool have decided to put their winnings into scholarships for UD students.

“Today more than ever, the spotlight is on early care and education,” the award application reads. “Families benefit and the economy flourishes when children receive high quality out-of-home care. Brain research emphasizes ‘windows of opportunity’ for early learning. Excellent early education also has long-term academic and social benefits, building the foundations for later success.”

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