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NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

  • 1.  NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-19-2020 10:06 PM
    Our center is actively working towards accreditation this year and we need support and sounding boards to bounce ideas off of. We'd really like to be able to share resources and exchange ideas about what is good evidence for a Site Visit. We need to work on programmatic changes like strategic planning and a program-wide professional development plan among other things. I was really hoping this could become an Interest Forum that people, on the same quest, could come to at anytime in the future and see what has worked for others recently. Looking forward to being a part of a community of leaders striving to take their programs to the highest levels!

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-21-2020 09:19 AM
    I would love this! We are about 2 hours (give or take) from our closest NAEYC accredited program, so visiting and communicating is rough. 

    Also -- I wish that there was a way to have AFP's for programs that are in affiliate areas without an active AFP. From what I've heard, they are tremendous resources during the accreditation process.

    ------------------------------
    Toni Dickerson

    "Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." - Jess Lair
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-22-2020 01:54 AM
    Hello Accreditation Friends, 
    I would love to share advise and helpful tips, especially Sources of Evidence (SOE's).  It may have been problematic, but I appreciated certain things about the old TORCH, like good tips on SOE's or rationales directly related to the particular standard or criteria.

    Always remember NAEYC Accreditation makes your center, staff, and you better and wants you to win!

    ------------------------------
    Vonetta Rhodes
    Educator/Trainer/Consultant
    NCCC Child Development Center
    Buffalo NY
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-23-2020 12:15 PM
    Hello Amy,

    I like the idea of sharing resources/strategies regarding NAEYC Accreditation. In fact, in my current role, I support a group of child care Directors that are either pursuing Accreditation or are going through the Re-Accreditation process. This "co-hort" of sort is what we (my project) call NAEYC Accreditation Network. The Directors I work with have found it helpful and we recently had one of our centers successfully become Re- Accredited!!! In addition, I have two other Directors that are now withing their six month window (I actually have a meeting with them tomorrow) I know Standard 6 and Standard 10 can be a little intimidating...but I LOVE Program Design and Management...I'm happy to connect and share.

    ------------------------------
    Yolanda C Franklin
    Infant Toddler Professional Facilitator
    Collaborative for Children
    United Way Bright Beginnings
    Houston, TX
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-23-2020 12:36 PM
    Dear Toni, Yolanda, and Vonetta,
    I'm so glad to hear you all are interested in working together to help us all reach higher levels with our programs! I'm excited to share and work with you all. Is there anything particular someone wants to work on? Right now we are working on a new Program Professional Development Plan.

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-23-2020 01:13 PM
    I'm happy to share the PPDP that we developed. Currently, I'm traveling...but when I make it home, I'll send and you can decide what you think. As I mentioned, I have a meeting scheduled tomorrow with the co-hort I'm working with and we're actually discussing the strategic plan and annual program evaluation and how that would look. The Directors I work with come from varying backgrounds...some are located in Independent School Districts, Non Profits, or are privately owned. I've developed the structure (strategic plan; annual assessment), however...it will look a little different in each program...but this is my current focus right now. Other thoughts????

    ------------------------------
    Yolanda C Franklin
    Infant Toddler Professional Facilitator
    Collaborative for Children
    United Way Bright Beginnings
    Houston, TX
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-23-2020 01:29 PM
    Sounds good to me! I've gathered a couple of samples plus the NAEYC PPDP online, but like you said, some parts work well for our setting and some not as much. We are a privately owned community-based child care center with about 100 children and 34 teachers and licensing through the state Dept of Health and Environment.

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-24-2020 11:44 AM
    Our center just kicked off its journey to accreditation. I would like to be part of the discussion group and share resources, questions and make comments. I wish all of us well and that we have successful accreditation visits. When are your programs anticipating your "visit window"? We are hoping for mid-to-late summer 2020. Look forward to hearing from you.

    ------------------------------
    Julie Dey
    Administrative Assistant
    University of Wisconsin - Oskosh
    Children's Learning and Care Center
    Oshkosh, WI 54901
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-24-2020 11:50 AM
    I wonder if we'd all be able to make a Facebook group to chat in more "real time" if that makes sense? We can add people as we go along, and share files, etc.

    ------------------------------
    Toni Dickerson

    "Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." - Jess Lair
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-24-2020 12:01 PM
    Welcome Julie! And Toni, yes! I was thinking the same thing. My only concern with Facebook, is not everyone is on it. It may not be as fancy, but maybe we could start a Google group? That way we'd also have everyone's emails to communicate by. Or there may be some other option. What do you all think?

    The only other drawback is then we're pulling the conversation off of Hello and others who come along later won't know where to find us. I wish there was a way with Hello that we could keep our thread in one place, but allow people to veer off in focused directions if they wanted to have pointed conversations on different topics such as classroom environment, strategic plan, policies, etc. Maybe Lark Sontag at NAEYC can help us? Could this be a separate Interest Group, then people could create individual threads under that interest group and people could go to whatever thread topic they were working on at the time?

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-24-2020 12:11 PM
    Yes to all the above! I love it!! As an interest forum are you able to upload documents? I believe so, but not 100% sure. @Lark Sontag is this something we could make happen? ​​

    ------------------------------
    Toni Dickerson

    "Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." - Jess Lair
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 01-24-2020 12:33 PM
    Also, if having a separate Interest Group requires a volunteer coordinator, I'd be happy to talk about that with @Lark Sontag.

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-13-2020 03:22 PM
    Hi All,
    I've spoken with Lark and April and we think the best way to proceed would be to create an Interest Forum. It can be set up so people can add resources and share ideas. I'm trying to think how it would be most effective to meet everyone's needs. For example, if we set up threads to organize it by, it would make sense to break it into Stages 1, 2, 3, & 4. We'll all have different needs at each step of the accreditation or reaccreditation processes. I'm also thinking when you're in Self-Study, it might also be helpful to break it down by Standard, so you have a general idea where to look for the information you need. What do you all think? You'd have to sign up to be a member of the interest group, but of course everyone would be welcome. Any thoughts, comments, or concerns?

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-14-2020 06:23 AM
    I think that is brilliant! I especially love the set up

    ------------------------------
    Toni Dickerson

    "Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." - Jess Lair
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-23-2020 11:31 AM
    Hi All,
    I've got another question. We're looking at the Program Portfolio, in particular, standard 1. In 1B.10 it states "Show that your guidance/discipline policy does not include any circumstances when it is permissible for staff to use any form of physical punishment, psychological abuse, or coercion when disciplining a child. Appropriate use of restraint for safety reasons is permissible."

    Of course, our discipline policy includes all the prohibited forms of punishment, but it does not specifically include "Appropriate use of restraint for safety reasons is permissible." Should that language be included? Should there also be some policy about when and how restraint is used and by whom? Our staff have not had any training on how to do that safely.


    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 06:19 AM
    I would maybe also include the training & orientation process for teachers to learn appropriate techniques if that's something that is used. As well as the process for what happens later: are they removed from the stimulus/trigger, parents contacted, etc.  my understanding is to show the rationale & intent behind what you do, as well as the next steps... if that makes sense

    ------------------------------
    Toni Dickerson

    "Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." - Jess Lair
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-02-2020 03:49 PM
    We just completed our successful accreditation visit.  When I was going over the program portfolio in preparation for the visit, I noticed that we were missing some verbage here and there.  I redid the entire parent handbook, as well as the employee handbook and included all of the words that NAEYC would be looking for.  It worked.

    ------------------------------
    Catherine Awong
    Director
    Mililani Presbyterian Preschool
    Mililani, HI, USA
    ------------------------------



  • 18.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-02-2020 04:07 PM
    Are there any examples of the portfolios and how they are supposed to look?

    ------------------------------
    Vicky Flucke
    Disabilities & School Readiness Specialist
    GrowingFutures Early Education Center
    Overland Park KS
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-02-2020 04:29 PM
    I did ours electronically, using a power point presentation.  The previous director just used one manila folder for each standard and placed them all in a plastic bin.  I donʻt think NAEYC assessors care about the presentation too much.  They are mainly looking for whatʻs included and whatʻs missing.

    ------------------------------
    Catherine Awong
    Director
    Mililani Presbyterian Preschool
    Mililani, HI, USA
    ------------------------------



  • 20.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-03-2020 09:45 AM
    Our NAEYC assessor was happy that we did not do an electronic portfolio.  We had a page for each criteria in a big 3" binder and attached the "proof" to the page or right after it.  Our inspection was at the end of January and we just heard that we have been reaccredited.

    ------------------------------
    Judi Clyman
    Childworks Preschool
    Pennsylvania
    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-02-2020 04:45 PM
    Vicky, not to my knowledge. But, I have seen a great variety in person. I've seen actual 3-ring binders, and fancy custom digital ones. In my center we have both digital PowerPoints, and paper in binders. At conference, I believe, I saw one that was file folders in a hanging file box.

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 22.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-03-2020 04:47 PM
    As I check the accreditation criteria, I have a question about the first aid training. Can this training be online or does it need to be face-to-face?

    Also I have teachers asking whether the shoe removal policy in classrooms is one that is enforced all year long or just during the winter months?

    I look forward to your answers and discussions.



    ------------------------------
    Julie Dey
    Fond Du Lac WI
    ------------------------------



  • 23.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-04-2020 10:25 AM
    Hi and I would love to join!

    ------------------------------
    Michelle Kiefer
    Waco TX
    ------------------------------



  • 24.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-04-2020 04:20 PM

    I remember when NAEYC had TORCH.  It was an online resource for everything accreditation. It was not always user friendly, but it was helpful. It was divided into sections using the accreditation standards  And had a section for sample forms and templates. Perhaps we could get something like that?
    Susan Pollack 
    Sent from my iPhone





  • 25.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-04-2020 04:35 PM
    I would love to see something like that, just so we can get some ideas how things are supposed to look.

    ------------------------------
    Vicky Flucke
    Disabilities & School Readiness Specialist
    GrowingFutures Early Education Center
    Overland Park KS
    ------------------------------



  • 26.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 07:25 AM
    Good Morning! 

    We are going through our final check of the classroom portfolios. In regards to 2A.4, we keep waffling back and forth between 2 weeks of consecutive lesson plans with all of the content areas listed OR just 2 weeks of non-consecutive lesson plans reflecting the content areas? 

    Highlight and label two weeks of lesson plans to show where they include
    each of these content areas: literacy, mathematics, science, technology,
    creative expression and the arts, health and safety, social studies

    We just want to be sure we are putting our highest quality plans in our portfolios. 

    Thanks!

    ------------------------------
    Alexandra Del Biondo
    The Goddard School
    Brownsburg IN
    ------------------------------



  • 27.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 07:36 AM
    I believe we have examples of both...

    ------------------------------
    Toni Dickerson

    "Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." - Jess Lair
    ------------------------------



  • 28.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-25-2020 06:47 AM
    When the lessons take place does not matter to the assessor, they just have to be two weeks of lesson plans.  Mine were consecutive.

    ------------------------------
    Mary Porter
    Lead Teacher
    Macfeat Laboratory School
    Rock Hill SC
    ------------------------------



  • 29.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 10:15 AM
    We just went through our 16th year of NAEYC reaccreditation.  We completed our reaccreditation visit two weeks ago.  When going through the process, I was very surprised and disappointed that there was not an accreditation thread on this website.  It would be most helpful and informative.

    ------------------------------
    Judi Clyman
    Lansdale PA
    ------------------------------



  • 30.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 10:55 AM
    Our program just completed reaccreditation in September of 2019, celebrating our 5 year anniversary. I would be very interested in joining this group to use as a resource for questions regarding NAEYC and licensing standards. I'm in the process of updating our PPDP and aligning it with the requirements through DHS in Minnesota. Thanks for starting the conversation!

    Becky Steffensen
    Director, Westwood Preschool
    Excelsior, MN

    ------------------------------
    Becky Steffensen
    Preschool Director
    Westwood Preschool
    Excelsior MN
    ------------------------------



  • 31.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 11:05 AM
    Welcome Judi and Becky! I'm working on what this could look like with @Community Engagement Manager so stay tuned!

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 32.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-25-2020 07:16 AM
    I would like to be part of the accreditation discussion group, too. Please include me. Thanks!

    ------------------------------
    Susan Pollack
    Norfolk VA
    ------------------------------



  • 33.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 02:06 PM
    I would love to be part of this community, I would like to see a portfolio so I have an idea of what they need to consist of.  I am very excited to get our program accredited, I know it is going to be a long journey but I want to show how good we are.

    ------------------------------
    Vicky Flucke
    Disabilities & School Readiness Specialist
    GrowingFutures Early Education Center
    Overland Park KS
    ------------------------------



  • 34.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-24-2020 03:11 PM
    As I talk with people just starting out, I always hear that they were already doing much of what NAEYC is looking for! When first introducing it to my staff I just gave them 3 pages of each tool and told them to get together in classroom teams and read through it. Once, they realized how much they already did, they felt much better about the process and realized it was not as overwhelming as they thought. Glad to have you join us Vicky!

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 35.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-25-2020 10:57 AM
    I am in phase 1 of this journey. I would love to connect with others who have experience and can share their journeys.

    Raizel Shemtov
    Gan Yeladim Preschool
    Toledo Ohio

    ------------------------------
    Raizel Shemtov
    Administrator
    Gan Yeladim Preschool
    Sylvania OH
    ------------------------------



  • 36.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-25-2020 02:32 PM
    So, my question today is for centers that have mixed age groups. In particular, when working with the accreditation tools, what do you do when you have a 2.5-3-year-old room? Which tool do you use? The biggest problem is there is such a wide range of normal, so when we enroll a 2.5-year-old, but developmentally they are much closer to a toddler than a preschooler, we're not sure which tool we should be using. In the same class we have almost 3's and 3's that are significantly above typically developing, and one ESL child who is more difficult to assess because of the language barrier, but seems to be developing exactly where he should be. Of course the teacher is individualizing instruction, but feels like when it comes to putting her portfolio together, that she's just not exactly in the right place no matter what she does. Any thoughts?

    Welcome, Susan, Vicki, and Raizel! Keep dropping in and you'll hear if our hope to have our own interest group pans out. :-)


    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 37.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-25-2020 03:52 PM
    We use teaching strategies gold

    ------------------------------
    Toni Dickerson

    "Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded." - Jess Lair
    ------------------------------



  • 38.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-25-2020 05:44 PM
    I'm sorry, I should clarify. I meant which Portfolio and Observation Tools? Toddler/Twos or Preschool?

    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 39.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-26-2020 07:15 AM
    We use the toddler tool for our 2.5 - 3 year old classroom. This age group IS the most challenging portfolio wise....not yet fully preschoolers, but past some of the toddler stage! 

    Thanks, 
    Alex

    ------------------------------
    Alexandra Del Biondo
    The Goddard School
    Brownsburg IN
    ------------------------------



  • 40.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-26-2020 11:16 AM
    Good morning all, when we do have a mix of 2.5 and 3 year old in one classroom, we first use the toddler curriculum to review and then "add" the preschool curriculum to challenge those who need to be challenged.

    That is why it is very important to have individualized "set time of the day". Just because one may not have the verbal skills another child does, does not mean they do not know the material.
    Hope that makes sense.

    Great question! 







  • 41.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-26-2020 09:22 AM
    We look at the age of the children when entering in September.  Our youngest classroom has 2's turning 3 years old.  There may be children turning three in the fall or not until the following summer.  The Toddler criteria is used for this group's portfolio.
    Hope this helps!

    ------------------------------
    Judi Clyman
    Childworks Preschool
    Pennsylvania
    ------------------------------



  • 42.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-27-2020 12:30 PM
    We are just beginning the progress, being a visual learner, I was wondering if there is an example of the portfolios that they are asking for?  4A.1 asks that we show that your written child assessment plan describes how children are assessed.  Do you just type something up?  We use COR Advantage, do I just give a definition from them?

    ------------------------------
    Vicky Flucke
    Disabilities & School Readiness Specialist
    GrowingFutures Early Education Center
    Overland Park KS
    ------------------------------



  • 43.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-27-2020 01:19 PM
    Hi Vicky. As for the child assessment, ours is a written description, but it exists in our Staff Handbook, so, I included that page in our portfolio. I've saved the page as a pdf and attached it here if you're interested. I also include a front page that shows our answer to the questions in the tool. So, I've attached that here too. Hope that makes sense.
    Amy


    ------------------------------
    Amy Gottschamer
    Executive Director
    Googols of Learning Child Development Center
    Lawrence KS
    ------------------------------



  • 44.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 02-27-2020 01:59 PM
    We have an assessment policy similar to Amy's.  I just copied the policy and included it in our program portfolio.  If there is anything that is asked specifically in the criteria, I include the policy and highlight the specific sentences that address the criteria.  I put the criteria number next to the highlight.  That way I can often use one policy for many criteria.

    ------------------------------
    Judi Clyman
    Childworks Preschool
    Pennsylvania
    ------------------------------



  • 45.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-05-2020 12:02 AM
    Hi All,

    Great discussion, and I would love to join! 


    ------------------------------
    Alma Ortega
    Executive Director
    Sequoia Children's Center
    Redwood City CA
    ------------------------------



  • 46.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-06-2020 07:50 AM
    ​Hi there,
    We are awaiting our accreditation observation to complete our re-accreditation. We did paper portfolios for program and classroom. We did not attempt digital. The portfolios were very streamlined this time around and we ended up with 1 for each part, where last time there were 2 portfolios just for the classroom part! I guess I can keep track better on paper what needs to be in it and can see and mark off when completed. Of course, I'm an 'old timer' in this profession and not as tech-savvy as the younger ones are!

    ------------------------------
    Sue Miller
    team leader
    Child Development Center
    Hawarden IA
    ------------------------------



  • 47.  RE: NAEYC Accreditation Self-Study

    Posted 03-05-2020 12:11 PM
    Hello!
    I would love to join this group. We are beginning the re-accreditation process, and are trying to decide between digital and paper portfolios. It's so helpful to have others who are trying to figure out all of these things! It can be overwhelming.
    Thank you!

    ------------------------------
    Nina Burrows
    Preschool Director
    FUMC Preschool
    Fort Worth TX
    ------------------------------