Accreditation

Child care programs that wish to become accredited must submit to a lengthy process of self-evaluation, parent evaluation, and a validation visit.  Accreditation standards are set above and beyond basic licensing standards for programs in the state of Maine.  By choosing a program that has received accreditation, your family is eligible for an additional tax credit.  Each type of program (center, family child care, and school-age care) has its own accrediting body.

NAEYC Accreditation for Child Care Centers
Child care centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Information about accreditation and to conduct an accredited program search, visit their website at www.naeyc.org.
What is NAEYC Accreditation?

• An early childhood program--child care center, preschool, kindergarten, or before- and/or after-school program--voluntarily applied for accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. The program then engaged in an extensive self-study based on the Academy's Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Program. The accuracy of the program's self-study was verified during a site visit to the program by a team of trained volunteer validators. The validated self-study, including the program director's responses to the validation visit, was reviewed by a 3-member national commission composed of recognized experts in child care and early childhood education, judged to be in substantial compliance with the Academy's Criteria, and granted accreditation for a three-year period.

The early childhood program agreed to act upon the commission's suggestions regarding areas needing improvement and to submit annual written reports documenting improvements and continued compliance.

NAFCC Accreditation for Family Child Care
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) sponsors the nationally recognized family child care Accreditation System, designed especially for family child care by hundreds of providers, parents, and other experts during a 4-year, consensus-building process. Accreditation helps providers set and reach quality improvement goals and helps parents and policy-makers identify high-quality family child care.
For more information, or to do an accredited program search, visit NAFCC's website at www.nafcc.org.