A preschooler at Aiken Village Preschool carefully carried her slice of cake at a celebration April 23 of the preschool’s accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. (Kenny Billings) Click on photo for larger view.   Carol Jones (right), director of Aiken Village Preschool, helped one of her charges at the refreshments table. (Kenny Billings) Click on photo for larger view.   Staff and children celebrated on the grounds of the preschool. (Schanna McClintock) Click on photo for larger view.

Institute’s Preschool Earns Re-Accreditation
By National Association for the Education of Young Children

JUNE 10, 2009 │Aiken Village Preschool, the model program of the Mississippi State University (MSU) Early Childhood Institute, recently earned new accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

“We are proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” Carol Jones, director of the preschool, said. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community and university know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.”

To earn NAEYC accreditation, Aiken Village 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 criteria. The program received accreditation after a 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.

“The NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. “Aiken Village Preschool’s NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that [it is] a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start.”

46 Blackjack Rd. / P.O. Box 6013 / Mississippi State, MS / 39762
tel. 662-325-4836 / fax 662-325-5436

© 2004- Mississippi State University