EUGENE, Ore. – Lane Community College's on-campus child care center, the Lane Child and Family Center, passed a rigorous review to earn a five-year accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children – the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals. The distinction makes it the only NAEYC accredited child care center in Lane County.
"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 Sue Norton, management coordinator for the Child and Family Education Department. "NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible."
The Lane Child and Family Center provides high quality, affordable and accessible child care to the children of Lane college students, employees and the community. The center serves children 2-1/2 to 5 years old and is open for full-year care. It also serves as an exemplary student teaching training site for students enrolled in the College's Early Childhood Education program.
To earn NAEYC Accreditation, the Child and Family Center went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 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 to ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.
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 Lane Child and Family Center is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education."
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 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.
For more information about the Lane Child and Family Center visit www.lanecc.edu/cfe
Lane is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Visit online at www.lanecc.edu or www.twitter.com/lanenews or www.facebook.com/lanecommunitycollege
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Media contact: Joan Aschim, PIO, aschimj@lanecc.edu or (541) 463-5591