NAEYC Issues 10 Standards for Quality Preschool and Child Care

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 17, 2006 - The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has issued a 10-point quality checklist designed to help families determine the quality of preschool and child care programs. The checklist is a tool derived from, and designed to be used in addition to, the organization's rigorous accreditation system.
NAEYC’s Quality Checklist provides families with a shorthand way to know whether or not a program provides excellent care and education. High-quality programs should meet the following standards, as outlined in the NAEYC Accreditation system:

1. Promote positive relationships for all children and adults
2. Implement a curriculum that fosters all areas of child development – cognitive, emotional, language, physical, and social
3. Use developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and effective teaching approaches
4. Provide ongoing assessments of child progress
5. Promote the nutrition and health of children and staff
6. Employ and support qualified teaching staff
7. Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with families
8. Establish and maintain relationships and use resources of the community
9. Provide a safe and healthy physical environment
10. Implement strong program management policies that result in high-quality service

NAEYC in the News