Avery, Tyndall Early Learning Programs Move Toward Accreditation

OAK PARK – The is making progress toward accreditation of its early learning programs – possibly in the spring of 2012 – the Board of Education heard during its meeting Monday at the Avery Center.

Childcare and Community Education Supervisor Beth Pierson reported that National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs has been selected as the district's accrediting agency and improvements have been implemented at the Avery and Tyndall centers to meet its standards.

The Oak Park centers provide education and care for children in infancy through preschool.

Pierson explained that NAC was chosen instead of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a slightly more rigorous accrediting agency, in large part due to structural standards set by NAEYC that would require the district to build more bathrooms, as well as strict academic credentials for even part-time classroom aides.

NAC is a well-respected agency, Pierson said, and its standards have been adopted by the United States Department of Defense, which provides child care at sites around the world.

Pierson said she has asked to have an NAC validator assess the Berkley School District's early learning programs in the spring and the following steps have been implemented to bring them up to snuff, according to her presentation:

• HighScope curriculum. "Children and adults learn best through hands-on experiences with people, materials, events, and ideas.  That principle — validated by decades of research — is the basis of HighScope's approach to teaching and learning," reads the BSD Early Childhood Education webpage. "The HighScope Curriculum emphasizes adult-child interaction, a carefully designed learning environment, and a plan-do-review process that strengthens initiative and self-reliance in children and young people."
• Tooth brushing.
• Lesson reflections.
• Three conferences per year with parents.
• Teacher hours adjusted so the same adults are present before and after children take naps.
• Teachers have been given five paid days off.
• Fire extinguisher/CPR training for all employees.
• Annual evaluations and training plans.
• 24 hours of training.
• Annual emergency procedure training.
• Infant toddler class observations.
• Teacher conferences.
• Inclusion.

After an NAC validator has studied the programs, the district can expect a decision on accreditation within two to six weeks, Pierson said.

Voluntary accreditation helps early learning programs improve the quality of education and care they provide and allows them to be "included in government-funded quality enhancement initiatives," according to NAC.