What you have described sounds like have some misunderstanding about aspects of the portfolio process. For early learning program accreditation, programs are asked to prepare 2 kinds of portfolios -- a Program Portfolio (PP), and one or more Class Portfolios (CPs).
These 2 types of portfolios assess different assessment items.
You can find a copy of the Program Portfolio assessment tool on our website, here:
https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/accreditation/early-learning/pp_2019.pdf
Here is the site for a Class Portfolio tool that includes all the items we assess for all eligible ages:
https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/accreditation/early-learning/cp_sv_itpks_-_2019.pdfThe Program Portfolio assesses recommended practices at the program level. You must always prepare a Program Portfolio; this is usually done by a program administrator.
Class Portfolios (CPs) assess practices for classes of different ages, and are intended to show the practices within classrooms. We recommend that classroom teaching staff take the lead in preparing CPs, with administrative staff support.
Here you have some options as to how many CPs you prepare. Each class can create its own CP, or you can create "shared" CPs if you have several classes within one of the age categories NAEYC has used to discriminate the assessment items, which themselves reflect differences in recommended practices for different ages of children. Age categories are
Infant, Toddler/Two,
Preschool (3's, 4's, sometimes 5s),
Kindergarten, and
Schoolage. So if you had a toddler class and a twos class, you could create a one CP to represent both those classes. If you had 2 or more classes serving children in our preschool category, you could create a single CP to be assessed for those classes, even if one class is all 3s and the other is 4's and up -- they are all assessed on Preschool age category items.
You cannot create a single CP that spans all your age categories. However, if you have a "mixed age" group (spanning more than one of the NAEYC age categories), your CP would address all items applicable the age categories in that class. For example, if you have a group of infants and toddlers combined, your CP for that group must address all items applicable to both infants and toddler/two age categories.
I hope this is helpful!
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Susan Hedges
Director, Quality Assessment and Assurance
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Rockville MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2020 10:42 AM
From: Susan Pollack
Subject: Reaccreditation Visits During Covid?
I hope you will be able to answer a question I have regarding portfolios. It is my understanding that we have two options. One is to create a universal portfolio that would be applicable for all classrooms and develop individual portfolios for each age group focusing on specifics for that classroom. The other option is to create a portfolio for each classroom that would be all inclusive and policies, procedures, and other information might be duplicated in each classroom.
Is my understanding correct about the portfolios?
Thanks so much.
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Susan Pollack
Norfolk VA
Original Message:
Sent: 10-21-2020 04:18 PM
From: Susan Hedges
Subject: Reaccreditation Visits During Covid?
Hello Rebecca -- As you probably know, program accreditation site visits had to halt in March due to the pandemic, and they resumed in September. Over the summer the Early Learning Program accreditation staff developed some additional guidance related to assessing some items in the covid environment; you can find that on our website (https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/accreditation/early-learning/covid-related_assessment_item_guidance.pdf). These guidance changes mostly address program portfolio items. In terms of class observations, we do note that we will be carefully evaluating sanitation practices in classrooms -- handwashing, cleaning of tables, and retrieving toys that have been mouthed.
We did not write specific additional guidance for the situation you describe, in which equipment out in your classrooms has been limited so you can best maintain sanitary practices. However, we have discussed this with our assessors, and they understand that classrooms may look different at this time. That said, it has always been true that we do not expect all materials to be out at all times. Assessors not only observe what is visible, but with your permission they open closets and cupboards to view additional equipment not currently out. They rate based upon all they see.
We absolutely do not want you to alter your classroom set-up before your site visit! You have made careful and reasoned choices about how to mitigate the health risks you face in these times, and that must remain in place for as long as you judge it is needed. We wish you and all programs the best in your quality improvement journey, and in your ongoing care for families and children at this tough time.
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Susan Hedges
Director, Quality Assessment and Assurance
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Original Message:
Sent: 10-19-2020 05:40 PM
From: Rebecca Mayfield
Subject: Reaccreditation Visits During Covid?
Hello Everyone,
We have submitted our paperwork and are now in our 6 month window for a potential visit. We did have some questions about items in the classroom observations. Due to Covid and suggestions from our county health officials, our dramatic play areas have been closed due to the inability to properly sanitize the clothes on a daily basis. As there is a big section of the class observation of seeing culturally diverse dramatic play, etc how is this being handled? Are there now items that will be rated N/A that do not have that option shown on the current tool? Should we set it up again just before the visit and proceed as we would during non-Covid times? Any advice or information from those who have gone through it during this different and constantly evolving situation would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rebecca Mayfield
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Rebecca Mayfield
Pre-K Teacher
Sequoia Children's Center
Redwood City CA
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